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soulfullyalex's Reviews (383)
This review was originally post on Sincerely Soulful on November 26, 2019
Oooh boy! This was an amazing first volume in a series! I mean, American vampires are different and better than the originals? They have infighting? The vampires are corrupt businessmen, as well as horrible monsters. I mean, how could I not like it? It was scary and horrible and I loved it. The art was good, it wasn’t my favourite but it was good. I liked that there were different timelines happening and that they were highly related. If you like vampires that are dark and murderous this is the one for you. I am so excited to continue the series!
3.5 stars
Oooh boy! This was an amazing first volume in a series! I mean, American vampires are different and better than the originals? They have infighting? The vampires are corrupt businessmen, as well as horrible monsters. I mean, how could I not like it? It was scary and horrible and I loved it. The art was good, it wasn’t my favourite but it was good. I liked that there were different timelines happening and that they were highly related. If you like vampires that are dark and murderous this is the one for you. I am so excited to continue the series!
3.5 stars
This review was originally posted on Sincerely Soulful on November 19, 2019
This book! This book lulled me into a sense of safety. Of parody. It started off with some humour and some levity. I was expecting it to be a parody of horror. To make fun of the genre and the tropes. I was happily enjoying that lightness of the first half of the novel. I was enjoying it. It was a good laugh until the carpet was ripped out from under me and I was left staring up at the horrors that came to be. It gave me whiplash so intense that my mind was lost and confused and hungry to know more. I was like those employees, locked inside Orsk wanting to understand, see the truth, and completely scared and horrified with the outcome!
This book was the first horror book I have read in a long time that actually scared me. I think a huge part of that was the fact that I was not expecting what came. The characters were real and complicated and funny. They were different and felt like a group of people you would randomly find in a retail job. It was just amazing. It was so amazing that I want to read more from Grady Hendrix going forward. If this is his style of horror I think it is a style that I will love.
4.5 stars
This book! This book lulled me into a sense of safety. Of parody. It started off with some humour and some levity. I was expecting it to be a parody of horror. To make fun of the genre and the tropes. I was happily enjoying that lightness of the first half of the novel. I was enjoying it. It was a good laugh until the carpet was ripped out from under me and I was left staring up at the horrors that came to be. It gave me whiplash so intense that my mind was lost and confused and hungry to know more. I was like those employees, locked inside Orsk wanting to understand, see the truth, and completely scared and horrified with the outcome!
This book was the first horror book I have read in a long time that actually scared me. I think a huge part of that was the fact that I was not expecting what came. The characters were real and complicated and funny. They were different and felt like a group of people you would randomly find in a retail job. It was just amazing. It was so amazing that I want to read more from Grady Hendrix going forward. If this is his style of horror I think it is a style that I will love.
4.5 stars
This review was originally posted on Sincerely Soulful on November 12, 2019
I did not get what I was looking for when I picked this up. I was looking for horror and terror, absolute carnage and mayhem. I wanted horror. This is categorized as horror on places like goodreads, but it’s also categorized as Science Fiction and I think that the latter fits much better. This book did not scare me in the general sense of horror. I wasn’t afraid of the zombies. What I got was a look at the human condition, at humanity in all its ugly glory. I got a look at the horror that living, breathing, uninfected humans would create in this post-apocalyptic climate.
Did I like this book? That’s probably the question you’re asking right now. That’s what reviews are for, and I can say that it is complicated. I loved the different take on zombies (though I wont spoil it). It’s a minor difference but it is absolutely fascinating and horrifiying at the same time. It’s something that you could only think of in your absolute nightmares. I loved the characters. They were deep and complicated and funny and so so real. They felt real and I felt for them. I loved and hated the ending, and if that doesn’t tell you anything well… I hope you find out for yourself.
What I didn’t love about this book was the pacing. It took far too long for the action to happen. Granted the first half of the book was interesting in terms of the little things going on. That good, good foreshadowing and those twists, but for me it dragged. I had started reading it physically and had to switch over to the audiobook 200 pages in. Thank god I did though. I don’t think I would have finished it otherwise. Halfway through things really picked up and I was hooked. I will give the book some credit in that it is the first in a series, so first-book-itus is bound to be happening here, but still it felt slow.
4 stars
I did not get what I was looking for when I picked this up. I was looking for horror and terror, absolute carnage and mayhem. I wanted horror. This is categorized as horror on places like goodreads, but it’s also categorized as Science Fiction and I think that the latter fits much better. This book did not scare me in the general sense of horror. I wasn’t afraid of the zombies. What I got was a look at the human condition, at humanity in all its ugly glory. I got a look at the horror that living, breathing, uninfected humans would create in this post-apocalyptic climate.
Did I like this book? That’s probably the question you’re asking right now. That’s what reviews are for, and I can say that it is complicated. I loved the different take on zombies (though I wont spoil it). It’s a minor difference but it is absolutely fascinating and horrifiying at the same time. It’s something that you could only think of in your absolute nightmares. I loved the characters. They were deep and complicated and funny and so so real. They felt real and I felt for them. I loved and hated the ending, and if that doesn’t tell you anything well… I hope you find out for yourself.
What I didn’t love about this book was the pacing. It took far too long for the action to happen. Granted the first half of the book was interesting in terms of the little things going on. That good, good foreshadowing and those twists, but for me it dragged. I had started reading it physically and had to switch over to the audiobook 200 pages in. Thank god I did though. I don’t think I would have finished it otherwise. Halfway through things really picked up and I was hooked. I will give the book some credit in that it is the first in a series, so first-book-itus is bound to be happening here, but still it felt slow.
4 stars
This review was originally posted on Sincerely Soulful on November 7, 2019
The one was an… interesting one for me. I am not the biggest Science Fiction fan, so stepping into this read was a bit out of my comfort zone. I don’t typically enjoy sci-fi, something about it just doesn’t catch me (even though I love sci-fi films). The Luminous Dead, however, called to me in terms of its other genre cross-over: horror. We all know I love that good, good horror. So, this one felt like it could be right up my alley.
It really wasn’t a monster horror, BUT the complete isolation, deprivation, and loss of self type horror that was going on in there was real good. For one, I loved how the pacing played out. It was slow where it needed to be and fast paced where it counted. There was definitely a lot of sci-fi elements, it was on an alien planet with futuristic tech and systems, so yeah not for the people who hate that hardcore sci-fi. Surprisingly, I was totally happy with the amount of sci-fi that was in this. It was the perfect amount for someone like me. Enough to understand what was happening and the background, but not too much to completely lose me.
There were some things I didn’t like, but that also made me like the book more, if that makes sense. I loved that the characters were unlikeable, but realistic and had some redeeming qualities. I also liked how very real it felt. I feel like if I was trapped in a mine, lost and needing another human to guide me I would probably feel the same way Gyre did throughout this book. There was some definite creepy reliance and manipulation happening.
Overall, I totally enjoyed this. It isn’t going to push out any of my top favourites but it was creepy, dark, and unsettling! All things I totally love!
The one was an… interesting one for me. I am not the biggest Science Fiction fan, so stepping into this read was a bit out of my comfort zone. I don’t typically enjoy sci-fi, something about it just doesn’t catch me (even though I love sci-fi films). The Luminous Dead, however, called to me in terms of its other genre cross-over: horror. We all know I love that good, good horror. So, this one felt like it could be right up my alley.
It really wasn’t a monster horror, BUT the complete isolation, deprivation, and loss of self type horror that was going on in there was real good. For one, I loved how the pacing played out. It was slow where it needed to be and fast paced where it counted. There was definitely a lot of sci-fi elements, it was on an alien planet with futuristic tech and systems, so yeah not for the people who hate that hardcore sci-fi. Surprisingly, I was totally happy with the amount of sci-fi that was in this. It was the perfect amount for someone like me. Enough to understand what was happening and the background, but not too much to completely lose me.
There were some things I didn’t like, but that also made me like the book more, if that makes sense. I loved that the characters were unlikeable, but realistic and had some redeeming qualities. I also liked how very real it felt. I feel like if I was trapped in a mine, lost and needing another human to guide me I would probably feel the same way Gyre did throughout this book. There was some definite creepy reliance and manipulation happening.
Overall, I totally enjoyed this. It isn’t going to push out any of my top favourites but it was creepy, dark, and unsettling! All things I totally love!
This review was originally posted on Sincerely Soulful on October 30, 2019
“Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me” was such a fun read. I think the thing I loved most about it was all the diversity! I loved that it focused on teen experiences that feel realistic and honest. The characters are so diverse and real and honest. There are characters with different queer identities. Characters with different backgrounds and ethnicities. There are characters with all kinds of parental units and family dynamics.
I also really loved that the story discusses a relationship that isn’t healthy and perfect and loving. It talks about relationships that so many young people get into. They are in love with someone who may not be the best for them. Someone who doesn’t treat them the way they deserve to be treated. It discusses growth and learning about oneself. It really highlights the teenage experience and what teens go through to find themselves and see what is important in their lives. I really did enjoy this one and would absolutely recommend it.
Though I loved the discussions in this book I didn’t fall head-over-heels for this book. It didn’t leave me ripped open and wanting more. I highly recommend it but what I love about it is the discussion and the art.
3.5 stars
“Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me” was such a fun read. I think the thing I loved most about it was all the diversity! I loved that it focused on teen experiences that feel realistic and honest. The characters are so diverse and real and honest. There are characters with different queer identities. Characters with different backgrounds and ethnicities. There are characters with all kinds of parental units and family dynamics.
I also really loved that the story discusses a relationship that isn’t healthy and perfect and loving. It talks about relationships that so many young people get into. They are in love with someone who may not be the best for them. Someone who doesn’t treat them the way they deserve to be treated. It discusses growth and learning about oneself. It really highlights the teenage experience and what teens go through to find themselves and see what is important in their lives. I really did enjoy this one and would absolutely recommend it.
Though I loved the discussions in this book I didn’t fall head-over-heels for this book. It didn’t leave me ripped open and wanting more. I highly recommend it but what I love about it is the discussion and the art.
3.5 stars
