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katherine_a_d 's review for:
Swarm
by Jennifer D. Lyle
(ah yes, another stream of consciousness review)
And so my hatred and/or general feelings of mediocrity about the Youngstown State University English Festival books begin. My teacher gave me the scoop last year that the board is a bunch of older/middle-aged adults picking books for teens to read based on what they think they’ll enjoy, and it shows. Sometimes there’s bangers in there ngl. Last year had Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, you can’t fail with that. A few years ago was Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko—another banger. Me (Moth) by Amber McBride was the first book I read this year (bc it was the only one on my actual tbr), and I LOVED IT. And I knew it would only be downhill from there. But it’s ok because this is my last year I’m able to do English Festival🥲👍
Swarm—omg—I cracked open the first chapter and just KNEW it would be mid. I lasted like 5 chapters then gave up and switched to audio. The idea is cool (I guess) but I found the execution and general vibes to be juvenile. The way they handled the main character’s mental heath issues, mostly with panic attacks, was quite good and I commend the author. That’s the only standout quality to me, the rest is mid. Not BAD, I gave it 3 stars after all, but just MID. The 4 year old little brother was written like a 4 year old, so kudos, but also—4 year olds can be very annoying ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO LOCK YOURSELVES UP IN THE BASEMENT AND CAN’T LEAVE!!!!!!
There’s also the matter of Swarm being horror. I have been treated—spoiled, even—by my fictional horror podcasts/audio dramas. I know what phenomenal horror looks like…Swarm is not that. Parts I was jiving with. Even got an “oh—ewww! ok, no, stop that” out of me on occasion (in a good way). The problem is that nothing was ever really scary. Partly due to the fact that I couldn’t give two flying shits about any of the characters ESPECIALLY THAT LITTLE BROTHER!! It’s like “oh no big man-eating bug scarwy🥺👉👈” Yeah, I don’t give a shit. I was never going “😟😱😰😨🫣,” I was just going “🫥.” To me, there was nothing *horrific* about anything. Just MID. PAINFULLY MID! I could see right through the horror writing tactics AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY! I can could see what you’re trying to do, and you’re doing it mediocrely.
And so my hatred and/or general feelings of mediocrity about the Youngstown State University English Festival books begin. My teacher gave me the scoop last year that the board is a bunch of older/middle-aged adults picking books for teens to read based on what they think they’ll enjoy, and it shows. Sometimes there’s bangers in there ngl. Last year had Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, you can’t fail with that. A few years ago was Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko—another banger. Me (Moth) by Amber McBride was the first book I read this year (bc it was the only one on my actual tbr), and I LOVED IT. And I knew it would only be downhill from there. But it’s ok because this is my last year I’m able to do English Festival🥲👍
Swarm—omg—I cracked open the first chapter and just KNEW it would be mid. I lasted like 5 chapters then gave up and switched to audio. The idea is cool (I guess) but I found the execution and general vibes to be juvenile. The way they handled the main character’s mental heath issues, mostly with panic attacks, was quite good and I commend the author. That’s the only standout quality to me, the rest is mid. Not BAD, I gave it 3 stars after all, but just MID. The 4 year old little brother was written like a 4 year old, so kudos, but also—4 year olds can be very annoying ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO LOCK YOURSELVES UP IN THE BASEMENT AND CAN’T LEAVE!!!!!!
There’s also the matter of Swarm being horror. I have been treated—spoiled, even—by my fictional horror podcasts/audio dramas. I know what phenomenal horror looks like…Swarm is not that. Parts I was jiving with. Even got an “oh—ewww! ok, no, stop that” out of me on occasion (in a good way). The problem is that nothing was ever really scary. Partly due to the fact that I couldn’t give two flying shits about any of the characters ESPECIALLY THAT LITTLE BROTHER!! It’s like “oh no big man-eating bug scarwy🥺👉👈” Yeah, I don’t give a shit. I was never going “😟😱😰😨🫣,” I was just going “🫥.” To me, there was nothing *horrific* about anything. Just MID. PAINFULLY MID! I could see right through the horror writing tactics AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY! I can could see what you’re trying to do, and you’re doing it mediocrely.