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hirvimaki's review
3.0
This one got very...existential. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of the book, with the mystery and vague villains lurking. Four and a half stars. But the last part...it really got too utterly heavy and serious and, frankly, self-important, and I felt it was a disconnect from the previous books and the previous half of this book. Two stars. So I'll mush those together and give it three stars. A kind of satisfying read if you're looking for Nietzsche and absinth. The shocking gore is still present from previous books, it just starts to take itself too seriously.
verylargeants's review
5.0
I love this series so much, Yancey really creates amazing characters that I feel like I've known throughout reading the series.
earthier's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely redeemed my interest in the series, versus the second novel which I disliked because it more a slow-burning-psychological-thriller type of book. The book is at times very poetic and philosophical. I enjoy the character dynamic and the continual development of both Warthorp and Will Henry. I do gather some major foreshadowing in Will's character shift in this book but we'll see.
stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
5.0
"It is the magnificum. It lives in that space between spaces, in that spot one ten-thousandth of an inch outside your range of vision. You cannot see it. It sees you. And when it sees you, it does not see you. It has no conception of you. There is magnificum and nothing else.” (excerpt from The Isle of Blood)
Like the previous Monstrumologist books, The Isle of Blood is yet another satisfying entry in the spine-chilling series. Horrifically grotesque, eloquent written, and existentially complex, this series transcends anything you've ever read. The characters are richly flawed and possess colorful layers that are revealed in tantalizing fashion, book after book. Author Rick Yancey possesses an imagination that will twist and warp the readers’ imaginations in ways you didn't think possible.
When a past foe of Dr. Warthrop's manipulates a man into delivering an artifact from across the Atlantic, a nest weaved from human remains and laced with a deadly contagion poetically described as “the rot of stars”, the irreverent, sanity-straddling Warthrop realizes he now possesses physical evidence of Monstrumology's proverbial white whale. Unfortunately, direct exposure to the infectious nest causes the distraught messenger to succumb in nightmarish fashion—but not, of course, before it attacks young Will Henry. In order to spare Will Henry the same dreadful fate, Warthrop must do the unthinkable. Despite saving Will Henry's life, Warthrop cannot get past the lingering notion that he's placing his young apprentice in grave peril even as the duo go off in search of the greatest and most elusive monster ever to grace the annuals of aberrant biology—"The Faceless One". Interestingly, in Warthrop's quest for the magnificum and in Will Henry's dogged devotion to the doctor, the reader is also witnessing a startling transformation within Will Henry. A transformation that, by the end of the book, is perhaps as horrifying as the magnificum itself.
As with the preceding books, there is a compelling philosophical vein running through The Isle of Blood. Within its 500+ pages, the narrative plumbs new depths, and in this venture the stakes have never been higher. With British intelligence agents infiltrating the Monstrumology Society’s ranks, ruthless Russians nipping at their heels—even the malevolent John Kearns resurfaces in all his arrogant glory—Will Henry maintains his unbreakable devotion to our Shelleyian doctor through it all, though the consequences of his choice are heartbreaking. Will Henry’s emergence as Warthrop’s iron-clad protector pits the young apprentice in an inescapable orbit—yet he seems content to settle there, giving up a chance at normalcy to pursue aberration and hold onto the deadly, dysfunctional world he is destined to inhabit. The monster that he eventually finds is the one that every man must face.
Like the previous Monstrumologist books, The Isle of Blood is yet another satisfying entry in the spine-chilling series. Horrifically grotesque, eloquent written, and existentially complex, this series transcends anything you've ever read. The characters are richly flawed and possess colorful layers that are revealed in tantalizing fashion, book after book. Author Rick Yancey possesses an imagination that will twist and warp the readers’ imaginations in ways you didn't think possible.
When a past foe of Dr. Warthrop's manipulates a man into delivering an artifact from across the Atlantic, a nest weaved from human remains and laced with a deadly contagion poetically described as “the rot of stars”, the irreverent, sanity-straddling Warthrop realizes he now possesses physical evidence of Monstrumology's proverbial white whale. Unfortunately, direct exposure to the infectious nest causes the distraught messenger to succumb in nightmarish fashion—but not, of course, before it attacks young Will Henry. In order to spare Will Henry the same dreadful fate, Warthrop must do the unthinkable. Despite saving Will Henry's life, Warthrop cannot get past the lingering notion that he's placing his young apprentice in grave peril even as the duo go off in search of the greatest and most elusive monster ever to grace the annuals of aberrant biology—"The Faceless One". Interestingly, in Warthrop's quest for the magnificum and in Will Henry's dogged devotion to the doctor, the reader is also witnessing a startling transformation within Will Henry. A transformation that, by the end of the book, is perhaps as horrifying as the magnificum itself.
As with the preceding books, there is a compelling philosophical vein running through The Isle of Blood. Within its 500+ pages, the narrative plumbs new depths, and in this venture the stakes have never been higher. With British intelligence agents infiltrating the Monstrumology Society’s ranks, ruthless Russians nipping at their heels—even the malevolent John Kearns resurfaces in all his arrogant glory—Will Henry maintains his unbreakable devotion to our Shelleyian doctor through it all, though the consequences of his choice are heartbreaking. Will Henry’s emergence as Warthrop’s iron-clad protector pits the young apprentice in an inescapable orbit—yet he seems content to settle there, giving up a chance at normalcy to pursue aberration and hold onto the deadly, dysfunctional world he is destined to inhabit. The monster that he eventually finds is the one that every man must face.
avalin1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rkking's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn with this book.
Like the previous two entries in the Monstrumologist series, Isle Of Blood is very well-written. The descriptions are visceral and splattered over the grotesque and macabre. Scenes are chilling and keeps you wanting to learn the answers to the mysteries. The characters are as strong, if not stronger, as they've ever been. So what's the problem?
The monster.
In the previous books, the monsters were defined in their own ways. This time around, things are far more...vague. There is a thematic reason, of course. The dark heart of man, man being the true monsters, etc. That works. I get it, and enjoyed it. But when it came to the actual...things... on the island, my understanding of the story suffered. I've heard storied of raining blood, or of meaty flesh falling from the sky. Using these strange stories as the basis for this one was great. But then tying it all into this existential message, I guess it was the mechanics of everything that didn't add up for me.
I see so many 4/5 star reviews, so maybe this issue is just me. Don't get me wrong; the story, the scenes, the characters, everything is top notch.... it's just this one element I didn't catch on to, but would love to be informed lol.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
Like the previous two entries in the Monstrumologist series, Isle Of Blood is very well-written. The descriptions are visceral and splattered over the grotesque and macabre. Scenes are chilling and keeps you wanting to learn the answers to the mysteries. The characters are as strong, if not stronger, as they've ever been. So what's the problem?
The monster.
In the previous books, the monsters were defined in their own ways. This time around, things are far more...vague. There is a thematic reason, of course. The dark heart of man, man being the true monsters, etc. That works. I get it, and enjoyed it. But when it came to the actual...things... on the island, my understanding of the story suffered. I've heard storied of raining blood, or of meaty flesh falling from the sky. Using these strange stories as the basis for this one was great. But then tying it all into this existential message, I guess it was the mechanics of everything that didn't add up for me.
I see so many 4/5 star reviews, so maybe this issue is just me. Don't get me wrong; the story, the scenes, the characters, everything is top notch.... it's just this one element I didn't catch on to, but would love to be informed lol.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
aliciaf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ghost3_14159's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
dormilona's review
4.0
I haven't read the last book yet, but pretty sure this is the best one of the lot. I thought the second one got all deep and introspective, but this one is way more like emotional. Almost too much sometimes, with the whole monster in me stuff. But I like to think that Will just became more like Warthrop as he got older, tending to wax poetic.
Overall, a great book, really fun!
Overall, a great book, really fun!