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isobeltr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
effaly's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this book, I really do. I was absolutely fascinated with [b:The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle|36337550|The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle|Stuart Turton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506896221l/36337550._SY75_.jpg|57528323] and was looking for another book like it. Unfortunately, The Devil and the Dark Water didn't even come close to his predecessor.
The Good:
- I enjoyed the writing style. Like in The 7½ Deaths... it held the right amount of details, and never overexplained things.*
- Short Chapters. Sorry, I'm just a fan of short chapters.
- Two characters were actually really interesting and I loved reading about them.
The Bad:
- * I really don't need to know who is when relieving themselves. Especially not every other chapter. I get it, the author wanted to show us how dirty the ship is, but seriously... There are other ways.
- Though the writing style helped to get through the book quickly, there were many times when it felt like nothing happens, which made it a hard and long read.
- IMHO the book could easily 100 pages shorter, without sacrificing anything of the plot.
- Too many characters that are too similar. I didn't mind the many characters in The 7½ Deaths... since they were all distinctively different, and I never had a problem telling them apart. Here, however, I constantly confused characters, because many of them were so similar.
- The end was... not that surprising. About halfway into the book, there weren't many options left. I suspected the character to be at least involved in things since then so...
- Generally was the ending rather disappointing. After so much build-up, I expected something bigger. It's just nothing new and something you will definitely have read before.
- The consequences of the ending were... weird. "Let's forgive and forget. Everything's fine UwU"
Overall:
A very disappointing reading experience.
The Good:
- I enjoyed the writing style. Like in The 7½ Deaths... it held the right amount of details, and never overexplained things.*
- Short Chapters. Sorry, I'm just a fan of short chapters.
- Two characters were actually really interesting and I loved reading about them.
The Bad:
- * I really don't need to know who is when relieving themselves. Especially not every other chapter. I get it, the author wanted to show us how dirty the ship is, but seriously... There are other ways.
- Though the writing style helped to get through the book quickly, there were many times when it felt like nothing happens, which made it a hard and long read.
- IMHO the book could easily 100 pages shorter, without sacrificing anything of the plot.
- Too many characters that are too similar. I didn't mind the many characters in The 7½ Deaths... since they were all distinctively different, and I never had a problem telling them apart. Here, however, I constantly confused characters, because many of them were so similar.
- The end was... not that surprising. About halfway into the book, there weren't many options left. I suspected the character to be at least involved in things since then so...
- Generally was the ending rather disappointing. After so much build-up, I expected something bigger. It's just nothing new and something you will definitely have read before.
- The consequences of the ending were... weird. "Let's forgive and forget. Everything's fine UwU"
Overall:
A very disappointing reading experience.
seyahrue's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ when I read it last year, so I was so excited when I saw Turton was releasing another book shortly after.
The Devil and the Dark Water took me a little while to get into, and I was skeptic as to whether it was something I would enjoy reading. But I was unsure of 7 Deaths at the start and ended up loving it, so I pushed myself through the slightly slow beginning hoping I would end up feeling the same way.
Devil is a very long book, and the mystery surrounding the Saardam unravels very slowly, at times infuriatingly so. But once I got into the book I really started to enjoy it, trying to piece together the clues that were being offered up to figure out what was going to happen to the people onboard the ship. I didn’t figure it out, wasn’t even close - and I don’t know if that was down to the clues being pretty vague, or just me not paying enough attention to detail, but it made the ending a little underwhelming and seemingly out of nowhere. At no point in the book had I even considered the main people involved in the mystery as suspects.
Despite that, I really enjoyed most of this book, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Turton writes next - maybe this time I can figure out the mystery.
The Devil and the Dark Water took me a little while to get into, and I was skeptic as to whether it was something I would enjoy reading. But I was unsure of 7 Deaths at the start and ended up loving it, so I pushed myself through the slightly slow beginning hoping I would end up feeling the same way.
Devil is a very long book, and the mystery surrounding the Saardam unravels very slowly, at times infuriatingly so. But once I got into the book I really started to enjoy it, trying to piece together the clues that were being offered up to figure out what was going to happen to the people onboard the ship. I didn’t figure it out, wasn’t even close - and I don’t know if that was down to the clues being pretty vague, or just me not paying enough attention to detail, but it made the ending a little underwhelming and seemingly out of nowhere. At no point in the book had I even considered the main people involved in the mystery as suspects.
Despite that, I really enjoyed most of this book, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Turton writes next - maybe this time I can figure out the mystery.
maleahhend's review against another edition
4.0
Started out a little slow but started to really peak my interest about a quarter of the way through. Ended not how I expected and kept me on my toes the whole time.
mollyhyland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.0
trupointacu's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Page Turner, ending was not my favorite and a little of a let down but enjoyed the ride
tvhinrichs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
3.0
In a fit of rage I would like to give this a 2 but that would be childish.
Its compelling, imaginative and intricate and other readers will love it. However, I was bitterly disappointed. I loved Seven Deaths. It was so unique. This however lacked that quality. Samuel Pipps and Arent Hayes are Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, though perhaps more extreme versions with a slightly unfair comparison for the deerstalker wearing Brit.
The plot is fairly straight forward; a ship sets sail for Amsterdam and is marked by a devil to be besieged by disaster. Each passenger will be offered a choice; join the devil or die. But is that what's really happening? Is this the supernatural or just those dastardly humans running amock.
Renowned problematacist (detective) Samuel Pipps is onboard. Surely he can solve the mystery? Nope, hes a prisoner unaware of his crimes. His burly, broadchested sidekick Arent will have to do the hardwork. And find some friends to help him. Its ugh fairly Scooby Doo in its construction. While this is happening those onboard are being seduced and the sailors, dangerous at the best of times, are succumbing to the whispers. Tension between them and the soldiers and aristocracy is always bubbling away. Violence stalks the corridors.
The description of what being on one of these ships was like makes me want to peel my skin off. No thanks.
I don't want to delve into much detail as I don't want to spoil anything. Like I say, there are those who will love this but I have read too many mysteries to be that impressed.
I guessed one twist but not the other. I admit I didn't see it until the author wanted me too. Clever. However, screw this ending. And screw rich people.
Its compelling, imaginative and intricate and other readers will love it. However, I was bitterly disappointed. I loved Seven Deaths. It was so unique. This however lacked that quality. Samuel Pipps and Arent Hayes are Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, though perhaps more extreme versions with a slightly unfair comparison for the deerstalker wearing Brit.
The plot is fairly straight forward; a ship sets sail for Amsterdam and is marked by a devil to be besieged by disaster. Each passenger will be offered a choice; join the devil or die. But is that what's really happening? Is this the supernatural or just those dastardly humans running amock.
Renowned problematacist (detective) Samuel Pipps is onboard. Surely he can solve the mystery? Nope, hes a prisoner unaware of his crimes. His burly, broadchested sidekick Arent will have to do the hardwork. And find some friends to help him. Its ugh fairly Scooby Doo in its construction. While this is happening those onboard are being seduced and the sailors, dangerous at the best of times, are succumbing to the whispers. Tension between them and the soldiers and aristocracy is always bubbling away. Violence stalks the corridors.
The description of what being on one of these ships was like makes me want to peel my skin off. No thanks.
I don't want to delve into much detail as I don't want to spoil anything. Like I say, there are those who will love this but I have read too many mysteries to be that impressed.
I guessed one twist but not the other. I admit I didn't see it until the author wanted me too. Clever. However, screw this ending. And screw rich people.