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issymaae's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
barmyjen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The second book focusing on Bishop, with hopefully more to follow! I like the mix of monsters these books have in the story, and how they're used in a modern setting. This was a fun, fast read, with interesting and likeable characters that you're hoping will succeed!
silenttwg's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Bishop, Troy and Casey come together again in this book to face down monsters on a different level.
So, I recommend not reading the prologue first. I figured out the main antagonist of this novel from the prologue. If you want to piece it together throughout the book, be surprised, you may want to save the prologue for later.
This book had so many references to classic literature, it tickled me and it is steering the series in that direction. I loved Bishop and am looking forward to the next step in his adventures.
This installation was difficult for me to read.
The different viewpoints was easy to understand but sometimes became repetitive. We'd have different perspectives with the exact same concerns or investigating the same scene that was destroyed only a few paragraphs before. The journal aspect didn't mesh well and the style of writing was jarring compared to the rest of the story. And the editing needed some extra love this time around.
I'm hoping these are traits avoided in the next installation because I do enjoy the family unit, the supernatural aspect, and you just can't go wrong with a were-bear. Though, the idea of were-squirrels... hmmm. I want to read more, just with less of a struggle.
So, I recommend not reading the prologue first. I figured out the main antagonist of this novel from the prologue. If you want to piece it together throughout the book, be surprised, you may want to save the prologue for later.
This book had so many references to classic literature, it tickled me and it is steering the series in that direction. I loved Bishop and am looking forward to the next step in his adventures.
This installation was difficult for me to read.
The different viewpoints was easy to understand but sometimes became repetitive. We'd have different perspectives with the exact same concerns or investigating the same scene that was destroyed only a few paragraphs before. The journal aspect didn't mesh well and the style of writing was jarring compared to the rest of the story. And the editing needed some extra love this time around.
I'm hoping these are traits avoided in the next installation because I do enjoy the family unit, the supernatural aspect, and you just can't go wrong with a were-bear. Though, the idea of were-squirrels... hmmm. I want to read more, just with less of a struggle.
shotterwriting's review
4.0
A fun continuation, "Bishop: Man vs Monster" is sure to please fans of the first book while offering a different kind of story that may be more or less appealing given a reader's individual tastes and preferences.
In some ways, I'd almost call this book "cozy," with its themes of found family and characters struggling to find a place for themselves in a world largely not made for them. That said, there is plenty, if not more, of the intensity and almost over-the-top supernatural chaos that served as a foundational element of the first tale and I was pleased to see a few nice additions and wrinkles to those aspects of the storytelling. Unfortunately, I did find myself occasionally struggling with certain details of the narrative that to me felt a little too fast and loose when compared with the dialed-in and methodical execution of the previous effort but in the final tally, there was way more I liked, and found interesting or entertaining, than struck me as suspect or lacking.
It's also worth noting that, being a collaborative work, "Man vs Monster" leverages its two distinct author voices in a way that's fairly clever and makes a lot of sense, so those who might be concerned about that element of its creation need not worry.
All things considered, I had a good time with this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of the previous tale who'd like to see more of its characters and their version of reality. There are some cool and noteworthy moments throughout "Man Vs Monster," and a nice setup for a likely book three that I'll almost certainly read if and when it becomes available, but I'd say to go into this one expecting something a bit different, and perhaps not quite as quintessential as the original.
In some ways, I'd almost call this book "cozy," with its themes of found family and characters struggling to find a place for themselves in a world largely not made for them. That said, there is plenty, if not more, of the intensity and almost over-the-top supernatural chaos that served as a foundational element of the first tale and I was pleased to see a few nice additions and wrinkles to those aspects of the storytelling. Unfortunately, I did find myself occasionally struggling with certain details of the narrative that to me felt a little too fast and loose when compared with the dialed-in and methodical execution of the previous effort but in the final tally, there was way more I liked, and found interesting or entertaining, than struck me as suspect or lacking.
It's also worth noting that, being a collaborative work, "Man vs Monster" leverages its two distinct author voices in a way that's fairly clever and makes a lot of sense, so those who might be concerned about that element of its creation need not worry.
All things considered, I had a good time with this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of the previous tale who'd like to see more of its characters and their version of reality. There are some cool and noteworthy moments throughout "Man Vs Monster," and a nice setup for a likely book three that I'll almost certainly read if and when it becomes available, but I'd say to go into this one expecting something a bit different, and perhaps not quite as quintessential as the original.
rachel_jozie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Loved this one, and “I” totally make an appearance (thanks, M!) but it doesn’t compare to meeting Bishop for the first time.
*I’m not going to give you the ‘what this book is about’ blurb – you can read that elsewhere.
1. Because of my procrastination in reading Bishop, it meant I got to read it and then go immediately into the 2nd installment of the Bishop world. So, I guess that’s a win! We see things switch up a bit in this book – instead of 1 author, this is penned by 2, and it is executed seamlessly. Nola and Ennenbach are both amazing authors on their own, but it’s something special when they team up.
2. Man vs Monster proves that our main man, Bishop, is actually being hunted by…something. Or somethingS. Why? Well, there are a multitude of reasons, and I love that. In book 1 we had a great introduction to the main characters and the plot, and in this installment we see a deeper plot – there’s the action that happens in this book + an underlying dread that perfectly sets up book 3.
3. I’m so freaking nervous something bad is going to happen to Bishop. I know it’s horror and things like that are supposed to happen, but Candace just created such an easy to love character that I feel protective of and don’t want to see any harm befall. GOT IT, NOLA?!? 😉
*I’m not going to give you the ‘what this book is about’ blurb – you can read that elsewhere.
1. Because of my procrastination in reading Bishop, it meant I got to read it and then go immediately into the 2nd installment of the Bishop world. So, I guess that’s a win! We see things switch up a bit in this book – instead of 1 author, this is penned by 2, and it is executed seamlessly. Nola and Ennenbach are both amazing authors on their own, but it’s something special when they team up.
2. Man vs Monster proves that our main man, Bishop, is actually being hunted by…something. Or somethingS. Why? Well, there are a multitude of reasons, and I love that. In book 1 we had a great introduction to the main characters and the plot, and in this installment we see a deeper plot – there’s the action that happens in this book + an underlying dread that perfectly sets up book 3.
3. I’m so freaking nervous something bad is going to happen to Bishop. I know it’s horror and things like that are supposed to happen, but Candace just created such an easy to love character that I feel protective of and don’t want to see any harm befall. GOT IT, NOLA?!? 😉
harp78's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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