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embereye's review
4.0
A series of short stories all relating to the character of Dancey Flammarion, an albino girl-child who hunts really scary monsters at the direction of a terrifying angel. I definitely got the shivers reading about some of the things she encounters... the story Bainbridge ends up linking up with all the rest of Caitlin's other books and for that reason is a good thing to read.
jelundberg's review
5.0
An incredible collection that gathers up all the short stories featuring monster-slayer Dancy Flammarion (first introduced in Kiernan's second novel Threshold, which still may be my favorite of hers), as well as "Bainbridge," an original novella. Subterranean Press has once again outdone themselves in the gorgeousness and gorgeosity of the book design, and Ted Naifeh's cover art and interior illustrations are the perfect counterpoint to the short stories within.
fluffymao's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a very different book compared to what I normally read. It's told in a very chopped up kind of way that only gets more haphazard as the story progresses, but I kinda loved that. It's not so much a full story as these tiny slices in time that hints at a more involved story.
roschie123's review
4.0
I’m probably going to catch a lot of flack for this, I don’t much care. When I start a book I usually skip over whatever the author has to say about the story. I read what one specific author has to say but I skip by what other authors have to say. I want to dive straight into the story and escape reality for awhile.
However, I may have learned my lesson with this book. I should have read what the author had to say, it turns out it was a bit important. I should have finished this book in one day. As I began reading it I found myself getting pretty confused. Go back to the beginning and start again. About two stories in I figured out why I kept getting so confused, the beginning is actually the ending. As you go further into the story it starts to make sense. At least that is my take on it.
The author is able to transport you into the world they wanted to create. After much confusion, I truly enjoyed this world.
However, I may have learned my lesson with this book. I should have read what the author had to say, it turns out it was a bit important. I should have finished this book in one day. As I began reading it I found myself getting pretty confused. Go back to the beginning and start again. About two stories in I figured out why I kept getting so confused, the beginning is actually the ending. As you go further into the story it starts to make sense. At least that is my take on it.
The author is able to transport you into the world they wanted to create. After much confusion, I truly enjoyed this world.
scottishben's review
3.0
This is a short collection of inter-related short stories that have also been the subject of a series of graphic novels.
Basically they are about a young albino monster hunter who may or may not be led/ guided by an angel. They are atmospheric and effocative and dark as well as full of wonderful moments but I sometimes feel that they dont know quite what they want to be.
Here is a section "And this time the laughter rises like a storm, like an ugly bit of flotsam buoyed on the crest of a wave, echoing off the high obsidian walls of Kearvan Weal."
not the sort of quick easy reading bit of description that fits some of the more actiony moments and we have something with its feet in several different types of story that does not fully work the way I want it to (both feet in any one would be better).
I found the graphic novel Alabaster: Wolves to be superb and recommend if you only read one version of the Darcy stories you go for it but if you feel like there is plenty of worth and value in picking this up.
Basically they are about a young albino monster hunter who may or may not be led/ guided by an angel. They are atmospheric and effocative and dark as well as full of wonderful moments but I sometimes feel that they dont know quite what they want to be.
Here is a section "And this time the laughter rises like a storm, like an ugly bit of flotsam buoyed on the crest of a wave, echoing off the high obsidian walls of Kearvan Weal."
not the sort of quick easy reading bit of description that fits some of the more actiony moments and we have something with its feet in several different types of story that does not fully work the way I want it to (both feet in any one would be better).
I found the graphic novel Alabaster: Wolves to be superb and recommend if you only read one version of the Darcy stories you go for it but if you feel like there is plenty of worth and value in picking this up.
darylnash's review
4.0
This is my third book of Kiernan's to read, and either it was better than the other two, or her style has finally "clicked" for me. I found Dancy a captivating character, and the vagueness and shadowed suggestions that bothered me about the other two books seemed to be a positive attribute here. I know that this short book has made me move Threshold to near the top of my "to read" pile after I had abandoned it a couple of chapters in several years ago.
oliverreeds's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
readbycandle's review
4.0
I listened to this on Audiobook and it just sent me to another place. The narrative was so good from title page to back cover, authors notes and quotes just made this so enjoyable. I'm on the look out for more!
noysh's review
5.0
See my comments on 'Alabaster: Pale Horse'. That's effectively an updated and current printing of this book. I just grabbed this volume and read from it as a bibliophile who likes to have first editions if possible.