nanu_nanu_narnett's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book.... I really did.
Perhaps it was too young for me, and if I was five or ten years younger than I might have really enjoyed it. The stories that go off and put an original spin on old-fashioned ghost stories and folklores and superstitions are usually some of my absolute favourite.
But I just couldn't finish this one........
Actually, the only reason I did keep reading it was Milo. Milo was an interesting character who had room for a lot of development.
The rest was just.... meh.
And I can't say that I've read Skulduggery Pleasant, so I had no expectations with this one.
I really didn't understand why Amber was called out for being ugly all the time. Perhaps because (referring to the beginning here) when I've worked with customers the worst I've gotten is people calling me stupid or confusing my gender..... Either way, it felt like Landy was trying to create sympathy, and other than that Amber was just really plain as a character. Admittedly, I did enjoy the descriptions of how she became a red, horned demon, but that was quickly crushed by the fact that it was the 'big solution' to every problem they came across, and Demon Amber seemed to have no flaws and no weaknesses or any kind of struggle.
The novel was based around them travelling through backroads and quiet towns, and it was very much a 'rinse, wash, repeat' kind of flow.
- They arrive at a quiet country town that seems nice
- Town has secrets
- They discover the big bad evil hidden in the town
- Some kind of hell breaks loose
- They defeat/quieten the evil
- Move on to next town.
Though I will say, that despite its repetition, the separate issues in the separate towns were a part that I enjoyed. The vampire aspect was creepy (I do miss the old-school vampires) and the attention to detail to each separate situation was compelling.
One thing absolutely killed it for me though. There was one part of this novel that I absolutely could not stand, no matter what.
Glen.
Glen was ANNOYING. His constant chattering made me want to punch the page as a substitute for punching his face. While his situation was suspenseful at first, it was brushed aside with absolutely no regard for said suspense, and did not further the plot in any way. After this of course, his existence did not further the plot in any way. He was useless, and annoying, and either there just to fill in the role of "(lovable) idiot". the "trio of weirdos" that makes up all these stories since Harry Potter, or be the "damsel in distress."
All in all, this book was a disappointment.
Perhaps it was too young for me, and if I was five or ten years younger than I might have really enjoyed it. The stories that go off and put an original spin on old-fashioned ghost stories and folklores and superstitions are usually some of my absolute favourite.
But I just couldn't finish this one........
Actually, the only reason I did keep reading it was Milo. Milo was an interesting character who had room for a lot of development.
The rest was just.... meh.
And I can't say that I've read Skulduggery Pleasant, so I had no expectations with this one.
I really didn't understand why Amber was called out for being ugly all the time. Perhaps because (referring to the beginning here) when I've worked with customers the worst I've gotten is people calling me stupid or confusing my gender..... Either way, it felt like Landy was trying to create sympathy, and other than that Amber was just really plain as a character. Admittedly, I did enjoy the descriptions of how she became a red, horned demon, but that was quickly crushed by the fact that it was the 'big solution' to every problem they came across, and Demon Amber seemed to have no flaws and no weaknesses or any kind of struggle.
The novel was based around them travelling through backroads and quiet towns, and it was very much a 'rinse, wash, repeat' kind of flow.
- They arrive at a quiet country town that seems nice
- Town has secrets
- They discover the big bad evil hidden in the town
- Some kind of hell breaks loose
- They defeat/quieten the evil
- Move on to next town.
Though I will say, that despite its repetition, the separate issues in the separate towns were a part that I enjoyed. The vampire aspect was creepy (I do miss the old-school vampires) and the attention to detail to each separate situation was compelling.
One thing absolutely killed it for me though. There was one part of this novel that I absolutely could not stand, no matter what.
Glen.
Glen was ANNOYING. His constant chattering made me want to punch the page as a substitute for punching his face. While his situation was suspenseful at first, it was brushed aside with absolutely no regard for said suspense, and did not further the plot in any way. After this of course, his existence did not further the plot in any way. He was useless, and annoying, and either there just to fill in the role of "(lovable) idiot". the "trio of weirdos" that makes up all these stories since Harry Potter, or be the "damsel in distress."
All in all, this book was a disappointment.
boris's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thomasgammon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
astelianervosa's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book. If you like Supernatural, you should read it.
queernhere's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - 33% - I tried. I tried really hard with this book. A friend recommended it to me, singing it’s praises. I got about twenty chapters in and I had to give it up. Landy is quite obviously not a teenage girl, and has never been one, his portrayal of one isn’t great. There is no sense of urgency. It maybe that Landy writes for a younger audience or he simply isn’t my preferred writer style but this book didn’t really interest me. Normally, I’ll be wondering what will happen. Nope. Genuinely couldn’t care what happens to Amber. It also greatly irked me how much Amber was described as plain, or a little ugly. I’m sorry but it wasn’t necessary. We! Get! It! She’s! Ugly! Till! She’s! A! Demon! And the demon form is completely perfect with her toned body, red skin and boobs (no girl I’ve ever met, including myself, has ever talked about boobs like that and that frequently) Glen is annoying and was the final nail in the coffin for me. No hate to Landy or any fans, just not my type of book.
robin_h's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
thereadingwren's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
IT'S FINALLY OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every page of this book I wanted it to be over. I kept reading this because the idea of it was good, a supernatural road trip with a demon girl and a ghost driver. It could have been great BUT IT WAS SO BORING OMG! The writing was so dense and dull, even during the action bits. I had such high hopes for Derek Landy's writing but this was awful.
Did you know that this was a 5 star prediction for me? Yeah, this let me down so damn much.
The whole time reading this I kept imagining how it could be done better... you should never think that while actively reading a book.
Amber was an inconsistent character, flip flopping between emotions and reactions. Glen was the single most annoying character I've ever read about and the entire book I wanted him to die. Milo was my favourite... he didn't talk much, I don't know what that says about this book but it can't be good. Like I said the idea of them was better than the execution.
Their whole quest/scavenger hunt thing was also kind of boring, I just didn't care what happened. The betrayal I saw coming as soon as the character was introduced, it did not shock me or even interest me when it happened. The whole idea of Imelda loving Amber was absolutely stupid, especially when Amber loved her back like wtf. The resolution of the story was good, I like that Amber got to cheat the Shining Demon but I honestly don't care about what happens next and will not be reading the rest of the series.
IT'S FINALLY OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every page of this book I wanted it to be over. I kept reading this because the idea of it was good, a supernatural road trip with a demon girl and a ghost driver. It could have been great BUT IT WAS SO BORING OMG! The writing was so dense and dull, even during the action bits. I had such high hopes for Derek Landy's writing but this was awful.
Did you know that this was a 5 star prediction for me? Yeah, this let me down so damn much.
The whole time reading this I kept imagining how it could be done better... you should never think that while actively reading a book.
Amber was an inconsistent character, flip flopping between emotions and reactions. Glen was the single most annoying character I've ever read about and the entire book I wanted him to die. Milo was my favourite... he didn't talk much, I don't know what that says about this book but it can't be good. Like I said the idea of them was better than the execution.
Their whole quest/scavenger hunt thing was also kind of boring, I just didn't care what happened. The betrayal I saw coming as soon as the character was introduced, it did not shock me or even interest me when it happened. The whole idea of Imelda loving Amber was absolutely stupid, especially when Amber loved her back like wtf. The resolution of the story was good, I like that Amber got to cheat the Shining Demon but I honestly don't care about what happens next and will not be reading the rest of the series.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
4.0
I loved his previous series and Landy, you've been promoted to one of my favourite authors with this book because amazing. Landy can go no wrong.
molly5_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0