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adalieslittlelibrary's review
I'll come back to this one. I just have to have the time/be in the right mood for it
taydizzy's review against another edition
Will try again (probably? Maybe?) just couldn’t wrap my head around what was going on and why
tmntallthewaydw's review against another edition
Too long and convoluted for my taste
woodsybookworm's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
Jonathan Lambshead has inherited his grandfather's massive mansion filled floor to ceiling with oddities and curiosities. While exploring the seemingly neverending mansion, Jonathan happens upon a doorway to another world full of talking animals, occultists, and a terrifying evil.
I'd compare this to a darker version of Narnia, where you can't guarantee everyone will make it out in the end.
This is probably the most off his usual path work for Jeff Vandermeer - while his voice is still in it - it's much more like a young adult fantasy than the cosmic horror of his usual work. If you're reading this because you're a fan of Jeff Vandermeer this might not be what you're expecting.
I'd compare this to a darker version of Narnia, where you can't guarantee everyone will make it out in the end.
This is probably the most off his usual path work for Jeff Vandermeer - while his voice is still in it - it's much more like a young adult fantasy than the cosmic horror of his usual work. If you're reading this because you're a fan of Jeff Vandermeer this might not be what you're expecting.
4thcaballero's review
Interesting prose but ultimately too dense to get any kind of flow going.
theo_thefrog's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Surprisingly boring, and I have a deep fondness for almost anything involving sorting through and cataloging weird mysterious potentially magical trinkets. Could have done with a lot more world building, which is what VanderMeer usually does well from other books of his I've read. I admit I'm biased against the whole "young British student trio" vibe, it's very tired even in 2020 when this was published. There's not a lot of urgency. Way too much whimsy with even the villains like a cartoony puppetshow. It all feels inconsequential, and the characters feel very flat for it.
dreamgalaxies's review against another edition
2.0
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Idk if I’m just in the wrong state of mind but this was really not doing it for me, and I’m a fan of Vandermeer! Seemed odd for the sake of it with many side characters and dramas playing out with slight connection to the plot. I can’t imagine how a prospective YA audience would find this digestible either. Also way too long. I could see some of what he was going for and there was some clever weird prose but I finally gave up when I was still struggling to focus at 70%. Can’t say I didn’t try.
Idk if I’m just in the wrong state of mind but this was really not doing it for me, and I’m a fan of Vandermeer! Seemed odd for the sake of it with many side characters and dramas playing out with slight connection to the plot. I can’t imagine how a prospective YA audience would find this digestible either. Also way too long. I could see some of what he was going for and there was some clever weird prose but I finally gave up when I was still struggling to focus at 70%. Can’t say I didn’t try.
pantsreads's review
3.0
Wholly bizarre, nonsensical, and confusing. But at the same time, utterly delightful, engaging, and hilarious.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
shoosha's review
3.0
What a fun read! It was a tad hard for me to get started, and it's heavy... like literally heavy. Which made it difficult to commit to before bed, my arms usually saying 'we out' before I could gettsome good work in. But that's not the books fault, I need to get back into "Tome Reading Shape"
owlyreadsalot's review
3.0
This book had me everywhere, mixed in those pages with the bizarre, the eerie, the ever-growing beings that seemed to have no end in sight. And even when that sounds a bit troublesome, it proved to be quite fantastical. Yes, I may have been fighting a battle with this novel (the areas that went on without needing to, or the moments that clarity was needed more than anything, even the kookiness that should have made it unforgettable that became mildly muddled).
There was so much more to keep the mind wondering, fascinated, and reading through (even with a few of those tidbits above). One area I enjoyed most out of this novel, were the chapter setups, plus the titles that were given to each one of them. It made for an even more interesting read. It was a good thing also, because the chapters jumped from one place to another, always showing the reader something different (creatures are really the most bizarre things I've read in awhile).
At times though, the characters introduced in here were not always the most memorable, but in other instances they really shined... such as Jonathan and his friends fighting some of those creatures I mentioned, or Wretch and Crowley venturing into the other worlds and finding their way to the land "of men, war elephants, and strife. Once more.", or Crikey the giant talking marmot that knew more than he was saying. So much in here to be discovered.
So yes, I can't say I was completely swayed one way or another, but it did keep me reading on, even when the story left me a bit frazzled at times. But, I can't say there wasn't enough supernatural, sciency goodness, or realms that weren't peculiar. There was so much of that in here that will leave the reader reeling for days. Even with those bumps on the road, I was glad to have gotten to experience the world within those walls and doors.
***I received this copy from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
There was so much more to keep the mind wondering, fascinated, and reading through (even with a few of those tidbits above). One area I enjoyed most out of this novel, were the chapter setups, plus the titles that were given to each one of them. It made for an even more interesting read. It was a good thing also, because the chapters jumped from one place to another, always showing the reader something different (creatures are really the most bizarre things I've read in awhile).
At times though, the characters introduced in here were not always the most memorable, but in other instances they really shined... such as Jonathan and his friends fighting some of those creatures I mentioned, or Wretch and Crowley venturing into the other worlds and finding their way to the land "of men, war elephants, and strife. Once more.", or Crikey the giant talking marmot that knew more than he was saying. So much in here to be discovered.
So yes, I can't say I was completely swayed one way or another, but it did keep me reading on, even when the story left me a bit frazzled at times. But, I can't say there wasn't enough supernatural, sciency goodness, or realms that weren't peculiar. There was so much of that in here that will leave the reader reeling for days. Even with those bumps on the road, I was glad to have gotten to experience the world within those walls and doors.
***I received this copy from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***