Scan barcode
emperorcupcake's review against another edition
Ah, there's nothing like re-reading a book from your adolescence for the first time as an adult. All I can tell you is when I was 17, this shit hit. That final reveal smacked me to my core, so much so that I remembered it all these years later. (I first read this book sometime in the 90s.) So even though this book is so much sillier than I remembered, and it was very much written by a man in the early 80s with all that that entails, I can't say it wasn't memorable. Even though it was a different reading experience this time, I'm glad I reread it. It was fun. I mean, I glossed over the "romantic" scenes and the detailed descriptions of young women being SA'd - written by a man in the early 80s, remember - but I enjoyed reading up to the reveals, knowing they were coming. They hold up, in an unhinged Paperbacks from Hell sort of way.
Unrated, but 17 yo me gives it a solid 4.
Unrated, but 17 yo me gives it a solid 4.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
angus_mckeogh's review
3.0
Paperbacks from Hell. Is it about the supernatural and Dungeons & Dragons? Sort of. Is it a horror novel? Sort of. Coming of age story? Sort of. Pretty good and contains the controversial material of a lot of books from this era. Has several set pieces involving sexual assault of minors without repercussions. But still a fun read. Just keep in mind, it’s a fictional narrative.
drewdietsch's review
3.0
Coyne is a solid, efficient writer and there's plenty in the bones of the story that make it intriguing, but the revelations and climactic sequence are a letdown. A breezy but half-baked outing.
thought_ballune's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ponycanyon's review
5.0
Legitimately creepy YA novel about a Dungeons and Dragons-esque role-playing game that comes to life. Written in the early eighties at the height of D&D's popularity and growing parental concern, this goes straight for the supernatural. Still holds up well in spite of some clunky prose and occasional melodrama. A preteen favorite of mine.
More...