adamz24's review against another edition
3.0
There's some really good stuff, but this really isn't as compelling as any of the other trades.
maddelleine's review against another edition
5.0
The 8th volume of Sandman follows the flow of story-within-a-story(-within-a-story-within-a-story), gathering all sorts of characters in the World's End Inn who tell tales from their own realities.
Though any of the Endless barely make an appearance, it is nonetheless beautifully woven. Especially Cerements, the story before the last one (my personal favourite of the volume).
Though any of the Endless barely make an appearance, it is nonetheless beautifully woven. Especially Cerements, the story before the last one (my personal favourite of the volume).
nitnatbug's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
hollystribe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
karlk's review against another edition
3.0
Felt middling ultimately. I imagine there was foreshadowing, but having never read the entire series before, it didn't mean anything to me.
linbronkhorst's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
notasilkycat's review against another edition
5.0
These “camp/storm” stories are pure delight. I think going through all these Gaiman’s volumes helps me to understand better what kind of reader I am.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about stories within stories (within stories...) - this is intricately constructed, and clever but with heart and imagination. I like some stories more than others (the hangman one, and Charlene Mooney's little spiel), but that's par for the course.
That ending. I know what's coming, since I've come late to this series, but just... the beautiful eerie feeling of Death looking right at you, the art on those two-page spreads. This is an immense story in every sense.
That ending. I know what's coming, since I've come late to this series, but just... the beautiful eerie feeling of Death looking right at you, the art on those two-page spreads. This is an immense story in every sense.
tcgarback's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C-
Reading Experience: 📘📘(2/5)
Well, the Sandman continues its disappointment streak with its most promising story collection, thanks to its delightful frame narrative, but I finished with mostly a sense of relief that I could move on to The Kindly Ones.
This batch of tales is maybe the weirdest, but I still felt myself straining to get through them. The other two collections had higher highs and lower lows. This is the most meh of the three.
Gaiman has been dipping away from his more emotional theme work and instead favoring a very nauseating classic literature state of mind, with references galore and a lack of modern appeal and missing his signature spark—or at least, that spark of his I liked most.
At this point, I’m looking for the next volume to bring redemption, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
My ranking of the stories:
“World’s End” B. I was so glad to return to the frame narrative, and despite a moment of some weird faux feminism, this is the best part of the volume, though it leaves tons of questions.
“The Golden Boy” B. I loved how weird this one was, though I wanted more from the ending.
“Cluracan's Tale” B-. A mildly entertaining political fantasy.
“Cerements” B-. A creepy world. Dense with embedded narratives.
“Hob’s Leviathan” C. Very meh. Some appealing, but at this point redundant, musings on the nature of stories.
“The Tale of Two Cities” C. The art is dreadful, and the story is almost cool but never quite gets there.
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C-
Reading Experience: 📘📘(2/5)
Well, the Sandman continues its disappointment streak with its most promising story collection, thanks to its delightful frame narrative, but I finished with mostly a sense of relief that I could move on to The Kindly Ones.
This batch of tales is maybe the weirdest, but I still felt myself straining to get through them. The other two collections had higher highs and lower lows. This is the most meh of the three.
Gaiman has been dipping away from his more emotional theme work and instead favoring a very nauseating classic literature state of mind, with references galore and a lack of modern appeal and missing his signature spark—or at least, that spark of his I liked most.
At this point, I’m looking for the next volume to bring redemption, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
My ranking of the stories:
“World’s End” B. I was so glad to return to the frame narrative, and despite a moment of some weird faux feminism, this is the best part of the volume, though it leaves tons of questions.
“The Golden Boy” B. I loved how weird this one was, though I wanted more from the ending.
“Cluracan's Tale” B-. A mildly entertaining political fantasy.
“Cerements” B-. A creepy world. Dense with embedded narratives.
“Hob’s Leviathan” C. Very meh. Some appealing, but at this point redundant, musings on the nature of stories.
“The Tale of Two Cities” C. The art is dreadful, and the story is almost cool but never quite gets there.