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missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
Es gibt ein paar Dinge, die Robin Wasserman hier gut hinbekommen hat. Allem voran baut sie mit ihrem sehr erwachsenen Schreibstil (allwissender Erzähler, filmartige Beschreibung von Szenen, wechselnde Perspektiven) eine schaurige Atmosphäre auf. Es geht brutal und gruselig zu, was Spannung erzeugt. Leider geht diese zwangsweise flöten, weil das Buch viel zu lang und das Tempo unglaublich unstimmig ist. Am Anfang fällt die Leserin in die Handlung, nur damit kurze Zeit später ein Jahr vergeht. Danach folgen immer wieder Kapitel, in denen ständig zwischen den (teils unwichtigen) Perspektiven gesprungen wird, ohne dass die Handlung vorankommt. Der Hinweis zur Auflösung folgt viel zu spät und verliert sich schnell in lachhaften Erklärungen und “die böse Regierung” Klischees. Trotzdem konnten mich die Figuren ganz gut bei der Stange halten, ich wollte lange Zeit doch wissen, was ihnen als nächstes zustößt.
dreizehn's review
3.0
On entertainment value alone, this was a 2 star book. It was slow-paced, confusing at times, light on actual plot development at others. However, it was a generally well-crafted, technically good, exceptionally creepy novel. I'd say it's best suited for older readers, due to unflinching violence and a more mature, literary style.
beastreader's review against another edition
1.0
Seriously, someone tell me what this book is about. I picked up up for the creep factor that it sounded like it would have. Well it was creepy but not in a scary make the hair on your arms stand up creep factor. It was creepy in more of a gross way. The way that the guys saw the women in this book like they are just to be used like throw away trash was degrading and I was not impressed. In fact, I was shocked that this type of language would be in a young adult book. This is not really the best impression that we want to give to this targeted age group.
Then there is the issue that I cared nothing for any of the characters. Seriously by chapter seven I should feel something for some if not all of the characters. For example there was Jule. How am I suppose to feel sorry for her because her mom's boyfriend is a jerk. Yeah that is bad but when Jule has a nasty attitude then it is hard to find anything endearing about her. I guess I will never find out what caused all the people in Oleander to go crazy and kill each other. Not that I will miss any sleep worry and wondering about it.
Then there is the issue that I cared nothing for any of the characters. Seriously by chapter seven I should feel something for some if not all of the characters. For example there was Jule. How am I suppose to feel sorry for her because her mom's boyfriend is a jerk. Yeah that is bad but when Jule has a nasty attitude then it is hard to find anything endearing about her. I guess I will never find out what caused all the people in Oleander to go crazy and kill each other. Not that I will miss any sleep worry and wondering about it.
christajls's review against another edition
3.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
This book reads like an ode to Stephen King. Young characters in very dark and violent situations, lots of detail and descriptions. But I felt like Wasserman didn’t go that one step further and allow her own voice to shine through. This was particularly disappointing because I really liked The Book of Blood and Shadows but The Waking Dark fell short in comparison.
I think the central problem with The Waking Dark is the sheer volume of characters. With so many running around and such short scenes it was difficult to become invested in any of them. If one of them was hurt or in danger, I didn’t feel that sense of urgency or despair I normally feel when characters are threatened. I was also less than impressed with the big twist at the end. It felt reminiscent of so many other stories and I was hoping for something with a little more punch.
Robin Wasserman is clearly a skilled writer, there was obviously a lot of thought and planning that went into this story. As I said, there are a lot of characters and the fates of all of them are intertwined. Often in ways I didn’t even think possible. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to keep them all straight. The Waking Dark is an interesting horror story but at the end of the day it didn’t manage to set itself apart from other horror novels and left me underwhelmed.
This book reads like an ode to Stephen King. Young characters in very dark and violent situations, lots of detail and descriptions. But I felt like Wasserman didn’t go that one step further and allow her own voice to shine through. This was particularly disappointing because I really liked The Book of Blood and Shadows but The Waking Dark fell short in comparison.
I think the central problem with The Waking Dark is the sheer volume of characters. With so many running around and such short scenes it was difficult to become invested in any of them. If one of them was hurt or in danger, I didn’t feel that sense of urgency or despair I normally feel when characters are threatened. I was also less than impressed with the big twist at the end. It felt reminiscent of so many other stories and I was hoping for something with a little more punch.
Robin Wasserman is clearly a skilled writer, there was obviously a lot of thought and planning that went into this story. As I said, there are a lot of characters and the fates of all of them are intertwined. Often in ways I didn’t even think possible. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to keep them all straight. The Waking Dark is an interesting horror story but at the end of the day it didn’t manage to set itself apart from other horror novels and left me underwhelmed.
bmg20's review against another edition
4.0
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A copy of The Waking Dark was provided to me by Netgalley/Knopf Books for Young Readers for review purposes.
The killing day.
The day the devil came to Oleander.
That day.
Oleander, Kansas is a small, quiet town that was never cause for much attention... until the killing day. The day when twelve people were killed in a few short hours by the hands of their friends and neighbors. Once all surrounding them were dead they then killed themselves having outlived their purpose. One survived to tell her tale, but she remembers nothing of the horrors that she dealt out. When the town is placed under quarantine after a horrific storm does further damage to the town, a darkness wakes in the citizens. The deacon decides this is the perfect opportunity to cleanse the town and the remaining citizens begin to take the law into their own hands.
This book is insanity incarnate. It's dark and distressing. It's maddening and stupefying. It's one of the most horrific books I've ever read. It was fantastic. I have never been left more shocked and appalled by a single chapter and that's just what Robin Wasserman managed to do. The Waking Dark is horror, but it's not exactly scary. The madness that consumes this small town is more vexing and mortifying than anything and showcases perfectly the mentality of a small town and what can happen when it all goes wrong.
The story is extremely character driven and is told from several different points of view with very distinct characters so it didn't cause any confusion as its fantastically written. It's a sordid tale told over the span of a few short weeks with enough violence to last a lifetime. The Waking Dark has drawn comparisons to Stephen King and Gillian Flynn, I believe for good reason. Having read both authors I feel that they both possess a subtle eeriness in their writing, a creepiness and unflinching details that sneaks up on you and takes you by surprise.
I feel it must be said that this is one of the most violent and mature YA books I've read and is definitely not meant for a younger crowd. It involves infant murders, detailed meth use, crucifixion and people being burned at the stake (and that's not even half of the craziness that goes down in these pages). This is not for the faint of heart.
There is so much to say about this story, but so much that needs to be experienced firsthand. I have to say though, I was extremely pleased at how the violence was maintained throughout the story because I figured it would letup at some point, (nope) but I expected it to end in a manner as shocking as the first chapter but it was a bit too tidy of an ending for my liking. Nevertheless, I am most impressed with this author and will be seeking out her past works.
A copy of The Waking Dark was provided to me by Netgalley/Knopf Books for Young Readers for review purposes.
The killing day.
The day the devil came to Oleander.
That day.
Oleander, Kansas is a small, quiet town that was never cause for much attention... until the killing day. The day when twelve people were killed in a few short hours by the hands of their friends and neighbors. Once all surrounding them were dead they then killed themselves having outlived their purpose. One survived to tell her tale, but she remembers nothing of the horrors that she dealt out. When the town is placed under quarantine after a horrific storm does further damage to the town, a darkness wakes in the citizens. The deacon decides this is the perfect opportunity to cleanse the town and the remaining citizens begin to take the law into their own hands.
This book is insanity incarnate. It's dark and distressing. It's maddening and stupefying. It's one of the most horrific books I've ever read. It was fantastic. I have never been left more shocked and appalled by a single chapter and that's just what Robin Wasserman managed to do. The Waking Dark is horror, but it's not exactly scary. The madness that consumes this small town is more vexing and mortifying than anything and showcases perfectly the mentality of a small town and what can happen when it all goes wrong.
The story is extremely character driven and is told from several different points of view with very distinct characters so it didn't cause any confusion as its fantastically written. It's a sordid tale told over the span of a few short weeks with enough violence to last a lifetime. The Waking Dark has drawn comparisons to Stephen King and Gillian Flynn, I believe for good reason. Having read both authors I feel that they both possess a subtle eeriness in their writing, a creepiness and unflinching details that sneaks up on you and takes you by surprise.
I feel it must be said that this is one of the most violent and mature YA books I've read and is definitely not meant for a younger crowd. It involves infant murders, detailed meth use, crucifixion and people being burned at the stake (and that's not even half of the craziness that goes down in these pages). This is not for the faint of heart.
There is so much to say about this story, but so much that needs to be experienced firsthand. I have to say though, I was extremely pleased at how the violence was maintained throughout the story because I figured it would letup at some point, (nope) but I expected it to end in a manner as shocking as the first chapter but it was a bit too tidy of an ending for my liking. Nevertheless, I am most impressed with this author and will be seeking out her past works.
jesschaney's review against another edition
3.0
This book promised chills and it definitely delivered in a very subtle Stephen King-ish way. King is the....well...King of the subtly creepy. He gets in your head and stirs up the demons hiding in the dark corners and leaves you with just really disturbing images. Wasserman does the same thing on a slightly less adult level. Although I definitely wouldn't classify this book as totally YA, I can tell how it is written with more care than King's book as if Wasserman was aware a younger audience may be reading. I was actually surprised reader the book that it was marketed as YA because I can't really picture anyone younger than maybe 16 reading it comfortably due to some of the creepy sexual content and disturbing violence. But maybe that's just my post-graduate adult brain talking.
My full review is here:
http://wp.me/p3O1da-5v
My full review is here:
http://wp.me/p3O1da-5v
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
A long, dark, and immersive ode to Stephen King's style of storytelling. The connection is so obvious that it was apparent for someone (like this girl) who still hasn't read a King novel. It was really hard to put down, even as some of the threads started to become less compelling toward the end. The beginning is haunting and hooks you right away.
My library only had the audiobook, so I took advantage of the $2.99 sale on Kindle to pick this up. I liked the experience of reading it on my iPad and phone, being able to sneak a few pages here and there. I feel like I never really like ebooks until a really good story comes along, at which point I'm so into finding out what happens next that I'll read it any way I can.
My library only had the audiobook, so I took advantage of the $2.99 sale on Kindle to pick this up. I liked the experience of reading it on my iPad and phone, being able to sneak a few pages here and there. I feel like I never really like ebooks until a really good story comes along, at which point I'm so into finding out what happens next that I'll read it any way I can.
danidotporter's review against another edition
4.0
I was given explicit instructions to not read this at night due to the terror it would instill. Like a true stubborn person, I read this at night and when my roommate was out of town. Perhaps it is all the Hanibal I have been watching but I wasn't as scared as warned.
This book is based out of a desolate town in the middle of who knows where. It has a handful of main characters but follows the whole town as they go from your stereotypical small community to one that is plagued and spurred by blood, murder, revenge, and lack of morality.
Don't let me fool you, this book is frightening. Although a YA novel, I wouldn't let my teen read this. But as an adult, this book was captivating and mysterious. I have a skill of predicting the endings before the first chapter ends and I was enthralled and surprised by this book through the end.
This book is based out of a desolate town in the middle of who knows where. It has a handful of main characters but follows the whole town as they go from your stereotypical small community to one that is plagued and spurred by blood, murder, revenge, and lack of morality.
Don't let me fool you, this book is frightening. Although a YA novel, I wouldn't let my teen read this. But as an adult, this book was captivating and mysterious. I have a skill of predicting the endings before the first chapter ends and I was enthralled and surprised by this book through the end.