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mouse42's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
roaminhohmann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
bonafidefaygo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
I don't know how to describe this book. And I also didn't know what I was getting into, and I think that hampered some of my enjoyment.
If I had known this was a *purely* character driven book, told in largely disconnected vignettes, I might have been able to shift my expectations and gone along for the ride from the beginning. But it took me a solid third of the book to really settle in for the ride, and then it took the half-way/two-thirds point to really be deeply invested.
While this is a werewolf story, it's really a story about poverty and the stigma that comes with an impoverished childhood. I found this to be done exceptionally well, and that probably largely has to do with the SGJ's as he writes in the afterword.
This novel is very melancholy throughout, and the last 25-30 pages really solidified that and made me emotional.
I used to think I didn't like coming-of-age stories, but now I'm beginning to think maybe I just don't like those that are poorly written lol. Because this was very well-done. Mongrels made me feel something and that's what good art should do.
I'd like to revisit this in a few years with more accurate expectations and I think this could be a five star upon re-read.
If I had known this was a *purely* character driven book, told in largely disconnected vignettes, I might have been able to shift my expectations and gone along for the ride from the beginning. But it took me a solid third of the book to really settle in for the ride, and then it took the half-way/two-thirds point to really be deeply invested.
While this is a werewolf story, it's really a story about poverty and the stigma that comes with an impoverished childhood. I found this to be done exceptionally well, and that probably largely has to do with the SGJ's as he writes in the afterword.
This novel is very melancholy throughout, and the last 25-30 pages really solidified that and made me emotional.
I used to think I didn't like coming-of-age stories, but now I'm beginning to think maybe I just don't like those that are poorly written lol. Because this was very well-done. Mongrels made me feel something and that's what good art should do.
I'd like to revisit this in a few years with more accurate expectations and I think this could be a five star upon re-read.
gayatriii's review against another edition
2.0
Very interesting and fresh and HUMAN take on werewolves. We follow a family of werewolves across the country as they deal with very real problems; hunger, poverty, crime, danger, death etc and it makes for a compelling premise.
But I could not deal with the writing at all. Choppy, vague, devoid of any flow. The storytelling jumps across timelines without any real purpose or intensity. Plot points are introduced and abandoned willy nilly.
I really want to like this for its ingenuity but feel angry about the writing.
Might still try his other books as I hear they’re different stylistically.
1.5* rounded off to 2.
But I could not deal with the writing at all. Choppy, vague, devoid of any flow. The storytelling jumps across timelines without any real purpose or intensity. Plot points are introduced and abandoned willy nilly.
I really want to like this for its ingenuity but feel angry about the writing.
Might still try his other books as I hear they’re different stylistically.
1.5* rounded off to 2.
hdanley73's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
sweetteeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Absolutely delightful drama about the horrors of loving your family and being yourself no matter what the world thinks of you.
The down-to-earth development of life as a werewolf - horrific and beautiful - and beautifully horrific - was incredible. This is the first and maybe best example I've found of what I consider urban fantasy. A good story about people trying to survive life's more invisible struggles, using fantasy creatures as allegory to say things it would be hard to say otherwise.
The down-to-earth development of life as a werewolf - horrific and beautiful - and beautifully horrific - was incredible. This is the first and maybe best example I've found of what I consider urban fantasy. A good story about people trying to survive life's more invisible struggles, using fantasy creatures as allegory to say things it would be hard to say otherwise.
kingjustiniii's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautifully written coming of age story of a young werewolf trying to find his place in a world that doesn’t want him and a family that doesn’t really know what to do with him.
It’s more of a case study than on the life of a boy growing up with werewolf family than full on story but it works perfectly! SGJ is able to weave in and out of past and present timelines seamlessly and it adds so much depth to the story. It’s such a fresh take on the werewolf story with just enough homage to its inspirations to feel familiar and I loved it so much.
It’s more of a case study than on the life of a boy growing up with werewolf family than full on story but it works perfectly! SGJ is able to weave in and out of past and present timelines seamlessly and it adds so much depth to the story. It’s such a fresh take on the werewolf story with just enough homage to its inspirations to feel familiar and I loved it so much.
lanideltoro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
carmenghia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Wildly intense metaphor.