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badseedgirl's review
3.0
I thought I was reading a zombie novel......
https://youtu.be/xiSIQzwIPzQ
I'm guessing that was the reason it took me 69 days to read a 337 page book. I was not the author's fault. The unfulfilled expectations fall squarely on my shoulders.
This book was read as part of the 2021 Mt TBR challenge. This book was on my TBR list since 2017 here on Goodreads. It was one of my "Nook Books" so I have owned it for about 10 year.
https://youtu.be/xiSIQzwIPzQ
I'm guessing that was the reason it took me 69 days to read a 337 page book. I was not the author's fault. The unfulfilled expectations fall squarely on my shoulders.
This book was read as part of the 2021 Mt TBR challenge. This book was on my TBR list since 2017 here on Goodreads. It was one of my "Nook Books" so I have owned it for about 10 year.
alexandrabree's review
5.0
Loved it. The best Lebbon novel I have read yet! I've re-read it a few times now and it's just as wonderful each time.
And who else would read it just because of the cover? The cover is awesome! Judge this book by the cover
And who else would read it just because of the cover? The cover is awesome! Judge this book by the cover
zoe_e_w's review
1.0
This is the second Tim Lebbon book I've bought. I finished the first, Bar None and really didn't like it. This book was my attempt to give him another shot, but it left a bad taste in my mouth from the start because the Kindle copy is badly formatted. Font sizes are all over the place, and there's random underscores instead of spaces. Words that look like they were meant to be italicized instead jump three sizes.
Maybe that's what made me hyper critical, but I started growling when I read the line: "His breath stank of fear. Tom had never smelled anything like it before, but he knew exactly what it was." This is absolutely idiotic. But there all kinds of problem lines like this. Another example: "How could someone so alive suddenly become so dead?" Just...guh.
There's nary a physical description for any character, and locations are amorphous and ambiguous. Two side characters get more detail than the main character, and they're named Big Gut and Long-Hair. Between the clichés, the droning introspection, and the horrid formatting, I stopped at page 20. I normally try to give everyone 50 pages, but I'm not sitting through 337 pages of badly formatted ambiguous drivel.
If you're a Lebbon fan and still want to get this book, DO NOT buy the Kindle version. It is butt-ugly, and not a good deal. Buy the print version, but do not waste your money with the ebook. Even on sale, the ugliness of the format is not worth the money.
One star, and I feel bad for losing money on this.
Maybe that's what made me hyper critical, but I started growling when I read the line: "His breath stank of fear. Tom had never smelled anything like it before, but he knew exactly what it was." This is absolutely idiotic. But there all kinds of problem lines like this. Another example: "How could someone so alive suddenly become so dead?" Just...guh.
There's nary a physical description for any character, and locations are amorphous and ambiguous. Two side characters get more detail than the main character, and they're named Big Gut and Long-Hair. Between the clichés, the droning introspection, and the horrid formatting, I stopped at page 20. I normally try to give everyone 50 pages, but I'm not sitting through 337 pages of badly formatted ambiguous drivel.
If you're a Lebbon fan and still want to get this book, DO NOT buy the Kindle version. It is butt-ugly, and not a good deal. Buy the print version, but do not waste your money with the ebook. Even on sale, the ugliness of the format is not worth the money.
One star, and I feel bad for losing money on this.
lauren3101's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
leighnonymous's review
4.0
I decided to attempt a novel by Lebbon because I was moderately impressed with his collection of short stories, "Fears Unnamed." The problem he ran into with those stories, despite the great premises, was the ending. It's rare in my experience to find a horror novel or horror movie that ends things in a satisfactory manner.
Well, this book does. I liked the premise, I liked the set-up, I liked the characters, I liked the action, I liked the twists (that's plural), and I liked the ending. It seemed strange to follow Natasha along, her being an unmoving corpse and all, but after a while you just think to yourself, "Hey, she's a talking corpse who died ten years ago. So, what?" Lebbon's pretty amazing for even making a reader think such a thing.
I couldn't give it a full five stars because it does have a bit of vampire stuff in it; albeit, it's a zombie vampire (if that makes sense), but it's still a vampire. I'll definitely read more of him.
Well, this book does. I liked the premise, I liked the set-up, I liked the characters, I liked the action, I liked the twists (that's plural), and I liked the ending. It seemed strange to follow Natasha along, her being an unmoving corpse and all, but after a while you just think to yourself, "Hey, she's a talking corpse who died ten years ago. So, what?" Lebbon's pretty amazing for even making a reader think such a thing.
I couldn't give it a full five stars because it does have a bit of vampire stuff in it; albeit, it's a zombie vampire (if that makes sense), but it's still a vampire. I'll definitely read more of him.
iroise's review
5.0
Absolutely gripping, fantastic characters. Spent the entire book switching between who I was rooting for
paperbackstash's review
3.0
Tense scenes are tight and strong, chocked to the brim with action and heart pounding suspense. Gore is not spared here, yet it’s not all the book is about. The plot is original in some aspects, all too familiar in others, yet succeeds in the way its delivered. The ending is a bit of a surprise to me, as I figured one of the characters would turn out more dark than she portrayed to Tom, and I can’t say the finale was as satisfying as I’d like. The map of this book is still fun to follow, however, and the twists and turns along the way are entertaining.
Characters ring tried and true, working with the scenes to produce the maximum appeal, and the pacing doesn’t let up. At times the isolation of Tom and the child, Natasha, with the villain Cole can grow slightly repetitive, since it keeps continuing, but the flashbacks injected on each characters part helps ease the pain.
All in all this is another Leisure horror book that’s written with fans of the macabre in mind, aiming at keeping them happy and working. Lebbon has a special talent all his own, something different, unique, dark, and ultimately satisfying.
Characters ring tried and true, working with the scenes to produce the maximum appeal, and the pacing doesn’t let up. At times the isolation of Tom and the child, Natasha, with the villain Cole can grow slightly repetitive, since it keeps continuing, but the flashbacks injected on each characters part helps ease the pain.
All in all this is another Leisure horror book that’s written with fans of the macabre in mind, aiming at keeping them happy and working. Lebbon has a special talent all his own, something different, unique, dark, and ultimately satisfying.
acknud's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Action/adventure and scary enough to make you really wonder what your government is up to!
bert10's review
3.0
I read Tim Lebbon's first two books and really enjoyed them and then basically didn't read any horror books until recently when I thought about him again and looked up some books of his to read. I enjoyed Berserk but not half as much as I enjoyed "The Nature of Balance". I think it was just a bit obvious where Berserk was heading and while the ride was nice I didn't think about the book at all after finishing.
chaannttt's review
3.0
The story focuses on two main persons, the first being a man who is searching for his son who was stated to have died in an accident 10 years ago and the other is a man who is searching to kill the berserker that he failed to kill 10 years ago.
I felt the story seemed a bit samely at times and it took me a long time to read, usually I don’t take over 2 weeks to finish a book.
I wouldn’t say this book is scary, it’s a bit strange.
I wouldn’t recommend for younger readers due to scenes of violence.
I read this on kindle and was attracted to the cover which is absolutely amazing, I think I was a little disappointed in the lack of scariness as the cover made me think this was going to be even scarier than it was.
I felt the story seemed a bit samely at times and it took me a long time to read, usually I don’t take over 2 weeks to finish a book.
I wouldn’t say this book is scary, it’s a bit strange.
I wouldn’t recommend for younger readers due to scenes of violence.
I read this on kindle and was attracted to the cover which is absolutely amazing, I think I was a little disappointed in the lack of scariness as the cover made me think this was going to be even scarier than it was.