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noori's review
4.0
Reading this had me holding my breath. I caught myself worried about life in Baywood!
Isolating Baywood from the rest of the world reminded me of life during covid but it was much much worse. People started turning against each other and the road to survival is unknown.
Its my first time reading horror and it didn’t disappoint.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
Isolating Baywood from the rest of the world reminded me of life during covid but it was much much worse. People started turning against each other and the road to survival is unknown.
Its my first time reading horror and it didn’t disappoint.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
monithetigerempress's review
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for a review.
DNF at 14% of the way through. Sorry, I tried but I could not bring myself to continue without it seeming like a chore. I really wanted to like this book but i did not.
I’d like to start this review by starting with the positives. When requesting this book, the cover instantly took my fancy. It is beautiful and I love the colour scheme of it. The colours didn’t clash on the cover and went well together with the font. The description as well also pulled me in. With the small descriptions we did get through the book, I quiet enjoyed the imagery shown and how is easily gripped me.
With all the above said, let’s move on to the aspects of the book that I enjoyed less AKA the negative part of the review. Now some of what I want to say may not be negative but others may be. This is just my opinion so take it with a pinch of salt.
There were times where I felt like there was some serious info dumping and it made me overwhelmed to say the least. Some of the information I felt like we didn’t need to know and could be weaved into the narrative as it made me skim over them. The info dumping made it seem like I was reading a text book instead of a novel. There were also some small parts while reading that I felt were ‘told’ outright to us, like the author/narrator telling us a character saying something in a current scene where it can be shown the character said/done such thing instead.
I did want to stop reading once I got to the end of chapter one but I kept reading in hopes I would enjoy it after. I really did try but I just couldn’t. The side characters I felt were ‘forgettable’. I probably don’t remember but I don’t think I know what any of them look like especially the people the main character works with. I found myself not remembering who these people were when their names came up as well.
There were also times where some sentences read as if we were reading from the middle of one instead of a complete sentence. One example would be where sentences started with ‘Has’ or some variant of that. I do feel like some of the sentences could be reworded so they didn’t feel odd or out of place. I also felt like the chapters didn’t flow well from each other and the timeline threw me off as it seemed to me we were thrown from one scene to another scene? It just confused me a little as well.
Overall, I’d rate this book a two out of five stars. I just couldn’t get past 14% on this book.
DNF at 14% of the way through. Sorry, I tried but I could not bring myself to continue without it seeming like a chore. I really wanted to like this book but i did not.
I’d like to start this review by starting with the positives. When requesting this book, the cover instantly took my fancy. It is beautiful and I love the colour scheme of it. The colours didn’t clash on the cover and went well together with the font. The description as well also pulled me in. With the small descriptions we did get through the book, I quiet enjoyed the imagery shown and how is easily gripped me.
With all the above said, let’s move on to the aspects of the book that I enjoyed less AKA the negative part of the review. Now some of what I want to say may not be negative but others may be. This is just my opinion so take it with a pinch of salt.
There were times where I felt like there was some serious info dumping and it made me overwhelmed to say the least. Some of the information I felt like we didn’t need to know and could be weaved into the narrative as it made me skim over them. The info dumping made it seem like I was reading a text book instead of a novel. There were also some small parts while reading that I felt were ‘told’ outright to us, like the author/narrator telling us a character saying something in a current scene where it can be shown the character said/done such thing instead.
I did want to stop reading once I got to the end of chapter one but I kept reading in hopes I would enjoy it after. I really did try but I just couldn’t. The side characters I felt were ‘forgettable’. I probably don’t remember but I don’t think I know what any of them look like especially the people the main character works with. I found myself not remembering who these people were when their names came up as well.
There were also times where some sentences read as if we were reading from the middle of one instead of a complete sentence. One example would be where sentences started with ‘Has’ or some variant of that. I do feel like some of the sentences could be reworded so they didn’t feel odd or out of place. I also felt like the chapters didn’t flow well from each other and the timeline threw me off as it seemed to me we were thrown from one scene to another scene? It just confused me a little as well.
Overall, I’d rate this book a two out of five stars. I just couldn’t get past 14% on this book.
mals_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
i getttt the criticism of the birds there are a lot of early bird references and i do agree it’s a little draining BUT the novel really turns around about halfway through for me.
this is an awesome survival eco-horror that analyzes humanity’s strained relationship with the natural world. very character heavy and i enjoyed the pov switches from first- to second- to third-person — there was a lot of nuance there and i was quickly able to catch on to what the author was doing there. this beginning/middle of the book focuses much more on the characters and their experiences with folks “deading” and protecting themselves than it focuses on the environment changes, though i think the end stretch really makes up for it with the sheer creepiness of our characters’ discoveries.
very atmospheric and brought me a general sense of unease that i yearn for in a horror book — more psychological and unnerving but there’s a smidge of body horror throughout as well. loved this arc 🥹🥹
this is an awesome survival eco-horror that analyzes humanity’s strained relationship with the natural world. very character heavy and i enjoyed the pov switches from first- to second- to third-person — there was a lot of nuance there and i was quickly able to catch on to what the author was doing there. this beginning/middle of the book focuses much more on the characters and their experiences with folks “deading” and protecting themselves than it focuses on the environment changes, though i think the end stretch really makes up for it with the sheer creepiness of our characters’ discoveries.
very atmospheric and brought me a general sense of unease that i yearn for in a horror book — more psychological and unnerving but there’s a smidge of body horror throughout as well. loved this arc 🥹🥹
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Body horror, and Death
meggeorge's review
2.0
Many thanks to Erewhon and Netgalley for the ARC.
If the beautifully uncanny cover of this book wasn't enough to draw me in, then the premise definitely did the job. The Deading by Nicholas Belardes is exactly the type of story I've been craving- some science fiction horror to make me question human consciousness.
The book centres around a cast of characters and their experience of the strange contagion that takes over their small coastal town. People are dying in the streets and coming back to life changed in sinister ways. As the town is put under strict quarantine, strange new semi-religious factions emerge, violence breaks out and everyone seems to steadily lose their minds.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I really wish I liked the actual book as much as I liked the blurb.
Unfortunately, I only got through 60% before I decided to put it down for good. This story was a gem, but the execution was decidedly not for me. Some of the creative decisions here were simply not my cup of tea. Others were dangerously close to objectively bad writing.
To start from the beginning, readers are presented straight away with the points of view of a cast of completely deplorable characters. There wasn't a single POV character that earned my sympathy for the first 20%. This made it hard enough to get immersed in the story, and when you add the frankly bewildering amount of barely related techno-bable and bird anatomy info-dumping, it started to get aggravating.
Still, I wanted to give it a fair shot as the publisher was kind enough to approve this copy for me, so I kept going. Then came an increase in the tension, with the sudden mass spread of the contagion, and I thought it was finally starting to resemble the structure of an average book, but alas, I was wrong. It quickly returned to paragraphs and paragraphs of filler that I just did not care about. So much filler that I often forgot where the characters were or what they were supposed to be doing. Unfortunately, this continued, with brief parts of clarity that were gripping, and then a return to the aimless soliloquising that put me into a hazy-eyed stupor.
Another major gripe I had was the constant change from 1st person to 3rd person to 1st person plural, even. The chapters in 1st person singular were all told from one character's perspective which I believe was the most unsubtle thing I've read in a while. Every other sentence was her thinking about how old and Japanese she is.
Overall, this book seems to suffer from the application of short story structure to a full-length novel. Everything felt vaguely disconnected. The prose is simultaneously ascetic with the story and characters, and overly indulgent with information about bird watching and other uninteresting (to me) things.
By the time I reached halfway and was still actively forcing myself to continue reading, I knew that this book was just not for me. All of my kudos to the author for coming up with such an enticing premise, but the execution was astronomical units from my preference. I rate it two stars in recognition that there was a lot that I disliked simply because it wasn't my thing. Thanks again to the publisher.
If the beautifully uncanny cover of this book wasn't enough to draw me in, then the premise definitely did the job. The Deading by Nicholas Belardes is exactly the type of story I've been craving- some science fiction horror to make me question human consciousness.
The book centres around a cast of characters and their experience of the strange contagion that takes over their small coastal town. People are dying in the streets and coming back to life changed in sinister ways. As the town is put under strict quarantine, strange new semi-religious factions emerge, violence breaks out and everyone seems to steadily lose their minds.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I really wish I liked the actual book as much as I liked the blurb.
Unfortunately, I only got through 60% before I decided to put it down for good. This story was a gem, but the execution was decidedly not for me. Some of the creative decisions here were simply not my cup of tea. Others were dangerously close to objectively bad writing.
To start from the beginning, readers are presented straight away with the points of view of a cast of completely deplorable characters. There wasn't a single POV character that earned my sympathy for the first 20%. This made it hard enough to get immersed in the story, and when you add the frankly bewildering amount of barely related techno-bable and bird anatomy info-dumping, it started to get aggravating.
Still, I wanted to give it a fair shot as the publisher was kind enough to approve this copy for me, so I kept going. Then came an increase in the tension, with the sudden mass spread of the contagion, and I thought it was finally starting to resemble the structure of an average book, but alas, I was wrong. It quickly returned to paragraphs and paragraphs of filler that I just did not care about. So much filler that I often forgot where the characters were or what they were supposed to be doing. Unfortunately, this continued, with brief parts of clarity that were gripping, and then a return to the aimless soliloquising that put me into a hazy-eyed stupor.
Another major gripe I had was the constant change from 1st person to 3rd person to 1st person plural, even. The chapters in 1st person singular were all told from one character's perspective which I believe was the most unsubtle thing I've read in a while. Every other sentence was her thinking about how old and Japanese she is.
Overall, this book seems to suffer from the application of short story structure to a full-length novel. Everything felt vaguely disconnected. The prose is simultaneously ascetic with the story and characters, and overly indulgent with information about bird watching and other uninteresting (to me) things.
By the time I reached halfway and was still actively forcing myself to continue reading, I knew that this book was just not for me. All of my kudos to the author for coming up with such an enticing premise, but the execution was astronomical units from my preference. I rate it two stars in recognition that there was a lot that I disliked simply because it wasn't my thing. Thanks again to the publisher.
scarletranger's review
This book has absolutely beautiful language, and the messages about the consequences of climate change and racism are stunningly executed. However, this book was just too slow for me.
While I enjoy some types of literary fiction (mostly surrealist or experimental), this story takes such a literary approach that the actual story - and sometimes, the characters - suffer as a result. For a story that opens with a fast-paced and brilliantly executed explanation of what "deading" is, the following chapters just felt lacking in tension.
With that said, this is a brilliantly written book, and if you are a fan of stories that focus on beautiful language (or if you just enjoy bird watching, as that is a major aspect of one of the characters' personalities), then I think you'll enjoy this book a lot more than I did. This story just wasn't for me, despite the gripping visual language.
While I enjoy some types of literary fiction (mostly surrealist or experimental), this story takes such a literary approach that the actual story - and sometimes, the characters - suffer as a result. For a story that opens with a fast-paced and brilliantly executed explanation of what "deading" is, the following chapters just felt lacking in tension.
With that said, this is a brilliantly written book, and if you are a fan of stories that focus on beautiful language (or if you just enjoy bird watching, as that is a major aspect of one of the characters' personalities), then I think you'll enjoy this book a lot more than I did. This story just wasn't for me, despite the gripping visual language.
jaime_of_gryffindor's review
3.0
This was such an interesting dystopian horror novel and I’m honestly still trying to figure out my thoughts on it. This book was very well written and I loved how the author’s descriptive writing style made this a very atmospheric read. The Deading had such a unique concept and the story was captivating. This was a good read, and if you like horror, science fiction, and dystopian settings you may want to give this one a try when it comes out on July 23.
Thank you to the publisher and goodreads for sending me this advanced copy as a giveaway prize.
madmooney's review
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for providing an advanced copy of this title.
The blurbs of The Deading compares the story to that of King's [b:Under the Dome|6320534|Under the Dome|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511289992l/6320534._SY75_.jpg|6760952] and VanderMeer's [b:Annihilation|17934530|Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1)|Jeff VanderMeer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403941587l/17934530._SX50_.jpg|24946895]. In a way, this is true, but only if the format was that of very intimate POV essays & poetry about isolation, climate change, and birdwatching.
The narrative is very fractal, but not in a way where you can say that you forgive forgive it for its format. The constant shifting makes if very hard to follow and keep yourself in the action.
I would be interested in reading Nicholas Belardes in a smaller format (i.e. essays covering topics intimately - like gonzo journalism), but definitely not in the genre of Sci-Fi Horror.
The blurbs of The Deading compares the story to that of King's [b:Under the Dome|6320534|Under the Dome|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511289992l/6320534._SY75_.jpg|6760952] and VanderMeer's [b:Annihilation|17934530|Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1)|Jeff VanderMeer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403941587l/17934530._SX50_.jpg|24946895]. In a way, this is true, but only if the format was that of very intimate POV essays & poetry about isolation, climate change, and birdwatching.
The narrative is very fractal, but not in a way where you can say that you forgive forgive it for its format. The constant shifting makes if very hard to follow and keep yourself in the action.
I would be interested in reading Nicholas Belardes in a smaller format (i.e. essays covering topics intimately - like gonzo journalism), but definitely not in the genre of Sci-Fi Horror.
onceuponanopenbook's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
ARC: JULY 24th 2024
blend of Stephen King’s Under the Dome and the eerie atmosphere of Annihilation, The Deading plunges readers into a harrowing dystopian tale set in a seaside town infected by a mysterious ocean-borne contagion.As sea snails wash ashore, initiating a chain reaction of transformation among the wildlife and residents of Baywood, the once idyllic town descends into chaos. Caught in the crosshairs are Blas, the introverted bird enthusiast, and his cynical brother Chango, who must navigate a landscape of paranoia, isolation, and death-worshiping cults.Tensions reach a fever pitch as the survivors grapple with the choice between escape and assimilation into this new, terrifying reality. Claustrophobic and haunting, yet infused with moments of soulful introspection, The Deading is a lyrical exploration of societal disintegration, the horror of survival, and the resilience found in human and natural connections. Prepare to be spellbound from beginning to end.
blend of Stephen King’s Under the Dome and the eerie atmosphere of Annihilation, The Deading plunges readers into a harrowing dystopian tale set in a seaside town infected by a mysterious ocean-borne contagion.As sea snails wash ashore, initiating a chain reaction of transformation among the wildlife and residents of Baywood, the once idyllic town descends into chaos. Caught in the crosshairs are Blas, the introverted bird enthusiast, and his cynical brother Chango, who must navigate a landscape of paranoia, isolation, and death-worshiping cults.Tensions reach a fever pitch as the survivors grapple with the choice between escape and assimilation into this new, terrifying reality. Claustrophobic and haunting, yet infused with moments of soulful introspection, The Deading is a lyrical exploration of societal disintegration, the horror of survival, and the resilience found in human and natural connections. Prepare to be spellbound from beginning to end.
awatkins's review
challenging
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
I’ll go with the bad first: it’s way overwritten. There are just too many words, too much info dumping, too much exposition. You could cut the book by a third and it would have no impact on the plot’s development.
Despite that I don’t actually want to discourage people from reading this book because as far as eco-body-horror stories go, it’s bit of a banger. The story structure itself is somewhat experimental; there are multiple POVs, including third person, first person, and a Greek chorus of sorts. The author explores the way Baywood is stratified by age, class, and race and the impact the isolation and deading phenomenon have on this structure very well. In addition, the horror is actually horrifying.
nerdmuffin's review
1.0
I found the narrator in the "before" absolutely insufferable. Following that, the disregard Bernhard has for the health of the ocean seems unbelievable, considering he makes his living from it. The sections consisting of supposed climate/ecological reports are simultaneously boring and implausibly unprofessional. Finally, Chango's concern that old people are, worst of all, undateable and his subsequent unironic use of the word pecker and then later "borb" made it pretty clear this book wasn't for me. I made 11%.