scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Devastating. All too real, all too possible, all too breathtaking, despite the fantastic/paranormal elements. But with some hope in love through action in the end. And rich characters with rich relationships between them.
romonko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was given to me as a gift, so I read it until the end, but I can't tell you how many times I wanted to put it away. It is very confusing, yes, but it is also graphic and it hits really close to home with its take on community vigilantism and acts of terrorism which we see so much of in the news today. I found all the characters were hateful, spiteful and loathsome. I did not like any of them, and the main character is probably the worst of the lot. Ronan has a lot of anxiety that he left behind him in Hudson, NY, and a lot of unresolved issues leftover from the early death of his mother, and the bullying that he received in school. Ronan is openly gay, which the students in the school had no tolerance for. He is called back to the nightmare of his childhood to look after his ailing father, but all his demons were still there waiting for him. Ronan's hate and unresolved issues actually ignite the town to violence and destruction. The "old" Hudson is no longer there. Instead it is an up and coming town that is becoming the playground for the rich and famous and all the older citizens have been displaced. Interspersed throughout the book are supernatural occurrences which don't appear to make any sense to anyone, including Ronan. After reading about the violence and hatred in the community for the first 50 pages, I soon grew tired of it and stopped trying to make sense of it. I finished the book only because it was a gift, but I certainly cannot recommend it.
awesomejen2's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting book that centers on what it means to 'go home'. The protagonist moves away from his small and small minded town at the earliest opportunity vowing never to come back but years later due to some unusual circumstances he comes home only to find that everything is changed. He then has to face the people he left behind and his own complicated feelings about his hometown. This novel beautifully portrays the many layered emotions that someone can have about their hometown, how you can both love and hate a place. Ultimately this just wasn't for me, it was darker than I imagined and felt overly complicated. This is less for scifi/fantasy fans and more for those who enjoy psychological suspense.
starslang's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bossman8680's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.75
This was a very imaginative story that takes place in a town being gentrified by YUPPIE's. I enjoyed learning about the background of the main character along with the town. With the author being so similar with the town helped add to the authentic feeling of the story.
dgrachel's review
I've listened to 3 1/2 hours of this audiobook and (a) I'm struggling to follow what's going on with the POV switches, (b) I don't care at all about any of the characters, and (c) there's a lot of sexual content that just seems vulgar, and this is coming from someone who regularly reads romance. Based on some other reviews I've read, none of the above gets better. This is the first book by this author that I have attempted and it will probably be the only one.
neillikestoread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
"And we all have to learn to love the cages we’re in, because we carry
them with us wherever we go."
them with us wherever we go."
karlycay's review against another edition
4.0
What a strange book! The last third was super thrilling and fast-paced. The spooky parts were my favorite. I loved the whales and the sense of doom you feel when old gods don't give a shit about you. As for the ... political heist coup? Domestic terrorism plot against gentrifiers? Hard to describe and took a while to get into. Many of the smaller characters were hard to keep track of, and it was difficult for me to see Ronan as a three-dimensional, real person. But it was a fun, spooky time for most of the book and THAT HOOK (harpoon?) in the beginning about the whaling trade, wow! So good.
hturtleguy's review against another edition
4.0
Don't think I've ever read a book quite like this.
Miller does a stellar job of weaving together the supernatural and the all too real in this novel and creating an enthralling thriller that is simultaneously an allegory, a narrative on so many sociopolitical topics from gay rights and homophobia to gentrification and drug use (something I must say I was not prepared for). The storyline was at times a bit difficult to follow but this was a quick read and I did feel I understood the plot despite this. Miller's commentary on one's hometown- hating it, loving to hate it, and thus, loving it- really gave me a lot to think about, and the discussions of gentrification and its impact on the community is something I'm quite familiar with, growing up in a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Overall, there isn't too much to say, as this was rather a short novel, compared to other ones I've read recently; it's a fantastic story with great social undertones, and something I'd recommend to city dwellers and small town folk- as well as anyone who enjoys fantasy type psychological horror and a look at the dark side of the world. Is this novel perfect? No- I think it lives just a bit too much in Miller's mind and I think details could have been expanded upon more. But it's for sure a great book.
Miller does a stellar job of weaving together the supernatural and the all too real in this novel and creating an enthralling thriller that is simultaneously an allegory, a narrative on so many sociopolitical topics from gay rights and homophobia to gentrification and drug use (something I must say I was not prepared for). The storyline was at times a bit difficult to follow but this was a quick read and I did feel I understood the plot despite this. Miller's commentary on one's hometown- hating it, loving to hate it, and thus, loving it- really gave me a lot to think about, and the discussions of gentrification and its impact on the community is something I'm quite familiar with, growing up in a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Overall, there isn't too much to say, as this was rather a short novel, compared to other ones I've read recently; it's a fantastic story with great social undertones, and something I'd recommend to city dwellers and small town folk- as well as anyone who enjoys fantasy type psychological horror and a look at the dark side of the world. Is this novel perfect? No- I think it lives just a bit too much in Miller's mind and I think details could have been expanded upon more. But it's for sure a great book.
b00kbab3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0