Reviews

Threats by Amelia Gray

jwatschun's review against another edition

1.0

I'm sorry. I don't get this book. Not at all. The only reason that I Kept reading was because I thought that maybe somewhere along the lines it would start to make sense. It doesn't.

I read a lot and hardly ever do I come across a book that I think was an absolute waste of my time. This book is just that. I wish I never picked it up.



I would defiantly not recommend this.

rkragsdale's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this book is a super interesting concept that I feel could have come more full circle. its not an unsatisfying ending because its ambiguous - I'm cool with ambiguous endings - it just feels unfinished. I'm definitely going to read more of her work though (:

novabird's review against another edition

4.0

“Where was your mind travelling?”

Threats, is an astounding and subtle feat that accomplishes the task of looking at and probing into the after-effects or long-term consequences of repressed memory on mental health.

One of the threats in this book is; I COULD DEVOUR YOU. Amelia Gray’s first novel threatened to devour me. In the last week I have been so consumed/obsessed that I read it three times in a row and then downloaded a copy of it, so I could look more carefully at Gray’s outstanding work. Each time I uncovered other layers of meaning, ripe with symbolism that unveils itself under a close read and re-reads.

”Threats, is an absolutely superb psychological suspense that slowly creeps forwards and backwards through the phantasmagorical labyrinth of David’s mind as he struggles to find his way through his mental maze that borders on unreality and reality. David subconsciously grapples more with repressed memory while seeming to barely surf conscious thoughts of grief at the loss of his wife through suicide, yet all the while, he seeks the comfort of his origins, solace for his core. “Threats,” is simultaneously surreal and earthy, and readers are afforded clues, which reveal both the cumulative and pivotal events that open up David’s repressed memory and add to his

Spoiler

grief and breakdown

Amelia Gray’s grabs reader’s attention and keeps the suspension found in both the implicit and explicit “Threats,” throughout her novel. Her tone is both dark punchy and edgy poetic. In a very well balanced way, Gray both reifies and describes what is taboo and articulates what the world of ‘breakdown,’ is in a holistic way that microscopically examines the boundaries/bridges/spaces.

“…outside the stone-walled boundaries of possibility.”

Gray counterbalances between the painstakingly described forms of natural cause and effect in the physical world, while at the same time surveys the world of mental cognitive hiccups found in schizophrenic loose associations and attributions that are magnificently visualized in bizarre and abrupt fissures.

ANYTHING GAINS SIGNIFICANCE WHEN YOU PUT IT ON AN ALTAR.

greyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bookwormy614's review against another edition

4.0

Weird. Just weird. I've never heard of this author before but I liked the cover design so I picked it up. The author has an unconventional style of writing which I found interesting and engaging. There are themes of grief, mental illness, and mind games. I gave it 4 stars because there was no closure. You were left with a sense of what the hell did I just read. All you have is speculation. But I guess there's never really any closure when death and those left to deal with the grief are involved.

spidermomsays's review against another edition

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Fascinating book. I was so curious about what the heck was going on with this guy! Beautifully written but as others have mentioned, not the most satisfying ending.

millermn19's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

vandermeer's review against another edition

1.0

Fühlt sich nach Zeitverschwendung an. DNF.

oreo143z's review against another edition

2.0

The writing was beautiful, but all the questions I had ,all through reading the novel never were answered.I wasn't expecting a tidy ending but nothing was ever really answered.

marleah_a's review against another edition

4.0

This is a strange little book. It was poetic and intriguing, but the story is veiled and mysterious. Many reviewers have quoted some fantastic passages, so I won't do that - but there are lots of them.