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uniquenessiskey's review
2.0
So.... Where do I even begin? This book was different than my normal reads. Pretty sickening at parts. However, some folks are into that kind of thing. I almost had to put the book down. But I didn't.
The story is written from two different POVs - Hank's and It's. While I thought this was a good idea, it was poorly executed and therefore tended to be a bit repetitive.
I seem to find myself saying this a lot these days, but the character development just wasn't there.
Overall, this book left a lot to be desired. It ended. I rejoiced. But a lot of questions were left unanswered. While I'm sure this book is for somebody, it definitely was not for me!
The story is written from two different POVs - Hank's and It's. While I thought this was a good idea, it was poorly executed and therefore tended to be a bit repetitive.
I seem to find myself saying this a lot these days, but the character development just wasn't there.
Spoiler
I wanted to know who Hank was and how he came to have a gambling problem and alcohol addiction. Why was Mackenzie so out of control? I get the whole spoiled rich kid who likes to party and use drugs just because she can angle but why was murdering her friends so easy? What caused her to be so cold? The "monster" was probably the most interesting part of this book and he/ she/ it seriously grossed me out! Still, I wanted to know where It came from. What happened to the hatchlings? None of this was ever explained.Overall, this book left a lot to be desired. It ended. I rejoiced. But a lot of questions were left unanswered. While I'm sure this book is for somebody, it definitely was not for me!
bsparx's review
4.0
You can find the following review, along with others, at Bookish Ardour.
I, along with millions of other readers I’m sure, enjoy a nice surprise and I don’t mean just the element of surprise when it comes to a good plot twist. What I’m talking about is the surprise of enjoying a story and the surprise of reading something I was not expecting.
I’ve also mentioned several times on BA that I’m not heavily into crime novels unless they have a supernatural touch or are told from the killers’ perspective, á la Dexter.
Symphony of Blood has both combined those two aspects I like in a crime story and has gifted me with a surprise. A surprise I’m grateful for at a time when I’m feeling burnt out from reading. The supernatural element is given away to an extent in the title, but at the same time I wasn’t expecting what it turned out to be. Of course that’s not completely unexpected when we’re not the storyteller, but I find when you read enough supernatural and paranormal stories, the mystical detail can become predictable. That detail was something I found refreshing and appreciated when the book world seems to be overloaded with the same supposedly scary creatures and stereotypical characters.
I found the tale to be a fast paced read, but it tapered off some when it switched over to a different perspective. It began to build up momentum again towards the end of that P.O.V. Unfortunately it tapered off yet again when it switched back to the original P.O.V. and then wasn’t as fast paced in it’s climax as it had been at the half way point (at the end of the first perspective).
In saying that, the book took me 9 days to finish, but only because I was forced to stop reading for several days. In a way I wish I hadn’t of been forced to stop so I could gobble it all up in one go. That’s what it is – a gobble worthy book, but at the same time I’m glad it got stretched out because I could savour it more.
When it comes to characters, I didn’t particularly care for the main character, but that’s mostly because I don’t like alcoholics. I felt no sympathy for him whatsoever when it came to his drinking and gambling. However, I really didn’t mind reading him. This is a case of indifference to a character, but wanting to follow their story.
I appreciated how Hank didn’t change tack with personality when it came to certain obstacles through the story; I felt he stayed true to whom he was. There was a level of sexuality in there and hinting at sexual transgressions, but it wasn’t over the top, and the focus really was set on the main story. The last crime story I read with a supernatural factor, and following a male character, was unpleasant thanks to in part sexualising women. While Hank comments on the women around him at times, I didn’t find his perceptions of them unbearable, and I felt his observations provided a realistic sense of who he was.
I really enjoyed Symphony of Blood. The story itself has a touch of humour, a great level of suspense, and I loved the mix of supernatural and crime. There’s a touch of refreshing horror I don’t get to come across often anymore and I thoroughly relished reading a story with a bad guy who isn’t well known or overly used. Reading from the bad guy’s perspective, even though the momentum tapered off, was quite interesting. I will definitely be reading more of Adam Pepper’s work in future.
I, along with millions of other readers I’m sure, enjoy a nice surprise and I don’t mean just the element of surprise when it comes to a good plot twist. What I’m talking about is the surprise of enjoying a story and the surprise of reading something I was not expecting.
I’ve also mentioned several times on BA that I’m not heavily into crime novels unless they have a supernatural touch or are told from the killers’ perspective, á la Dexter.
Symphony of Blood has both combined those two aspects I like in a crime story and has gifted me with a surprise. A surprise I’m grateful for at a time when I’m feeling burnt out from reading. The supernatural element is given away to an extent in the title, but at the same time I wasn’t expecting what it turned out to be. Of course that’s not completely unexpected when we’re not the storyteller, but I find when you read enough supernatural and paranormal stories, the mystical detail can become predictable. That detail was something I found refreshing and appreciated when the book world seems to be overloaded with the same supposedly scary creatures and stereotypical characters.
I found the tale to be a fast paced read, but it tapered off some when it switched over to a different perspective. It began to build up momentum again towards the end of that P.O.V. Unfortunately it tapered off yet again when it switched back to the original P.O.V. and then wasn’t as fast paced in it’s climax as it had been at the half way point (at the end of the first perspective).
In saying that, the book took me 9 days to finish, but only because I was forced to stop reading for several days. In a way I wish I hadn’t of been forced to stop so I could gobble it all up in one go. That’s what it is – a gobble worthy book, but at the same time I’m glad it got stretched out because I could savour it more.
When it comes to characters, I didn’t particularly care for the main character, but that’s mostly because I don’t like alcoholics. I felt no sympathy for him whatsoever when it came to his drinking and gambling. However, I really didn’t mind reading him. This is a case of indifference to a character, but wanting to follow their story.
I appreciated how Hank didn’t change tack with personality when it came to certain obstacles through the story; I felt he stayed true to whom he was. There was a level of sexuality in there and hinting at sexual transgressions, but it wasn’t over the top, and the focus really was set on the main story. The last crime story I read with a supernatural factor, and following a male character, was unpleasant thanks to in part sexualising women. While Hank comments on the women around him at times, I didn’t find his perceptions of them unbearable, and I felt his observations provided a realistic sense of who he was.
I really enjoyed Symphony of Blood. The story itself has a touch of humour, a great level of suspense, and I loved the mix of supernatural and crime. There’s a touch of refreshing horror I don’t get to come across often anymore and I thoroughly relished reading a story with a bad guy who isn’t well known or overly used. Reading from the bad guy’s perspective, even though the momentum tapered off, was quite interesting. I will definitely be reading more of Adam Pepper’s work in future.
trinforeman's review
2.0
This book was strange and intriguing from the first page to the last. Pepper's writing style is truly unique. Hank Mondale is a sorry excuse for a PI and that is is greatest strength when a celebrity comes calling. He knows Hank will be discreet because Hank plays everything slightly under the radar. However, things in the Blake house start to get more than strange. Hank gets caught up in the Blake world and a world of unexplainable disappearances, which he quickly begins to realize coincide.
For me this book started out great! I was ready to read more until Pepper changed POV's. It began to bounce back and forth an became erratic. I know a lot of people like books like this but it wasn't my cup-of-tea.
For me this book started out great! I was ready to read more until Pepper changed POV's. It began to bounce back and forth an became erratic. I know a lot of people like books like this but it wasn't my cup-of-tea.
kriziaannacastro's review
1.0
The story just doesn't make sense. The characters were not well conceptualize especially Symphony. The characters all are crazy and the plot was just all over the place. I especially did not like the chapter where Symphony is narrating. Gross.
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