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the_sunken_library's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this at first but then it got quite slow and was a struggle to finish. I really enjoyed the supernatural aspects but it just didn't grab me like his other novels. I think maybe I just didn't connect with the main character. Jess just didn't do it for me.
renee820's review against another edition
3.0
Slow but ultimately worth it. I wouldn't really call it horror though, just a ghost story.
akkalabuns's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I don't know if I loved this book quite as much as The Girl with All the Gifts, but then, it's a very different book from that one. Either way, it was a fantastic book.
I don't want to spoil things, so I won't give any real details away, other than to say that this book is very violent and deals in many, many shades of gray. The characters are complex, and whether you'll root for any of them is the question. These are not nice people, and some of them are the very extreme opposite of nice.
But the characters are this book's--and The Girl, in my opinion--true strength. M.R. Carey is breathtakingly masterful at creating complex, distinct characters. He does not truck in cardboard cutouts, crafting this novel with such deft care that it's not so much the plot that's the complicated part of this book, it's the intricate mindset of Fellside he establishes. I was consistently, page after page, paragraph after paragraph, blown away by how vivid his characters are. I read a LOT and rarely do I ever read books with characters as fully realized, complicated, and just plain real as his are.
I'm definitely on board for whatever this author writes next. I know his next book is set in the same world as The Girl with All the Gifts, but at this point, he could write a cereal box and I'd read it, that's how in awe of his skills I am. If you love books featuring deep, complex characters whose psyches you're going to spend a lot of time exploring, his books are for you.
I don't know if I loved this book quite as much as The Girl with All the Gifts, but then, it's a very different book from that one. Either way, it was a fantastic book.
I don't want to spoil things, so I won't give any real details away, other than to say that this book is very violent and deals in many, many shades of gray. The characters are complex, and whether you'll root for any of them is the question. These are not nice people, and some of them are the very extreme opposite of nice.
But the characters are this book's--and The Girl, in my opinion--true strength. M.R. Carey is breathtakingly masterful at creating complex, distinct characters. He does not truck in cardboard cutouts, crafting this novel with such deft care that it's not so much the plot that's the complicated part of this book, it's the intricate mindset of Fellside he establishes. I was consistently, page after page, paragraph after paragraph, blown away by how vivid his characters are. I read a LOT and rarely do I ever read books with characters as fully realized, complicated, and just plain real as his are.
I'm definitely on board for whatever this author writes next. I know his next book is set in the same world as The Girl with All the Gifts, but at this point, he could write a cereal box and I'd read it, that's how in awe of his skills I am. If you love books featuring deep, complex characters whose psyches you're going to spend a lot of time exploring, his books are for you.
gh00st13's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
For a book in which very little actually happens, it's a fascinating read. The narrative flows like the dreamscape Jess and her fellow inmates navigate. The narration of the audiobook was so superb that I had a very hard time taking breaks, and always looked forward to being able to press "play" again.
If you're looking for a plot-driven novel, this isn't for you. In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of Neil Gaiman's adult novels: Fellside isn't about the destination or the plot or the action. Instead, it's about the slow journey through a very scenic landscape.
If you're looking for "The Girl With All The Gifts," this isn't that book, and there aren't a lot of similarities to be found. This is a very different style of story, and the kind of slow, meandering narrative I don't normally enjoy. But Carey is one of my favorite writers, dating back to his days penning "Lucifer," and I always look forward to each new release. He has yet to disappoint.
If you're looking for a plot-driven novel, this isn't for you. In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of Neil Gaiman's adult novels: Fellside isn't about the destination or the plot or the action. Instead, it's about the slow journey through a very scenic landscape.
If you're looking for "The Girl With All The Gifts," this isn't that book, and there aren't a lot of similarities to be found. This is a very different style of story, and the kind of slow, meandering narrative I don't normally enjoy. But Carey is one of my favorite writers, dating back to his days penning "Lucifer," and I always look forward to each new release. He has yet to disappoint.
swyant42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tishywishy's review against another edition
4.0
Flew through this novel. The Girl with All the Gifts was a good book but Fellside really drew me in. Jess was a bit of an unlikely heroine. There were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into her because she was utterly frustrating in her naiveté. The other characters really brought this novel together as the author wrote their histories into the storyline. The ending was unexpected but I guess M.R Carey has a penchant for non-fairy tale endings.