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ID #113834 |
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Further Comments... | ||
I snagged this little gem from my local e-library collection when the book I wanted wasn't available. I had no idea who Darren Shan was (I still don't, really). I wasn't even very excited - this was not the cover of the book from the library. The library cover was terrible, and I honestly picked it because I was part of a challenge to 'pick a book with a cover that puts you off'. The cover was so pitiful I figured the writing would match. Wrong. This was dark stuff, man. I was really (pleasantly?) surprised at how good it was. And by good, I mean it was genuinely scary at times, and Shan has certainly explored a Barker-esque gore. In terms of YA, it is definitely for the older-end of young adult. I can't really say that Shan writes like any other particular author (this is a good thing), but his writing is certainly accessible, vivid and intense. His characters are well done, and when they are meant to be evil, he doesn't screw around. While both the beginning and the end were great, the middle lagged quite a bit for me. It wasn't enough for me to put the book down, but did slightly annoy - just get to the point already. It didn't feel like filler, but I can't put my finger on what it was. It doesn't lack cohesion, and the story stays linear, it just slows down a bit too much. It is written in first person POV, which I generally do not enjoy. But in this instance, the thoughts are in line with the mind of the narrator (or what I assume would be in the mind of a teenage narrator). While a few characters take some time to get to a connection with, the connection between the characters is never in doubt, and most of the relationships are quite well rendered, touching and believable. The story is both familiar and unique (I can't say much without spoilers). It is simple in its narrative and complex in its woven threads. It is disturbingly dark and gory, while allowing for some breathing room with Shan's genuinely funny scenes, though they are not as evident in this book as they are in the next. As an adult, I would certainly recommend it as a fun read to other adults who enjoy gore and dark humour and are looking for something enjoyable but not overwhelming in the time-commitment area, provided that the reader is willing to recognize that this IS written as young-adult material. For young adults, this is definitely skewed to the older-end of the spectrum, but in terms of story would be well-suited to those who enjoy horror movies and the like. I'm glad I went into it knowing nothing. It was a nice treat. | ||
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Created Dec 06, 2018 at 9:12pm •
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