There are frightening experiences and grotesque and sinister characters that only elicited an intellectual response (from me), but not an emotional one. For macabre atmosphere and monsters are nightmarish, and yet the protagonists don't truly engage emotionally. I simply couldn't feel the appropriate concern for the characters despite the frightening circumstances. The author mentions a reader as young as ten, so maybe my evaluation isn't the best, but I won't be reading more in the series. Goodreads reviews are very positive, but I found it disappointing.
Neat cover, though.
"The beginning of a Harry Potter-esque series for those
who prefer gross-out horror to magical whimsy."
- Kirkus Reviews
Purchased.
YA/Horror. 2013. 249 pages.
Generation V by M.L. Brennan. Moves back and forth from an effort at being sincerely horrified at evil and just plain shallow--with attempts at humor. Characters are thin and not particularly likable. Again Goodreads reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but I wasn't much impressed with plot or writing.
NetGalley.
YA/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy. 2013. 319 pages.
Hmm... I'll probably give this book a miss. It has a cool, atmospheric cover, though.
ReplyDeleteI didn't find either Nightfall Gardens or Generation V really worth the effort. That, of course, is a personal opinion--neither book appealed to me, but I know they have appealed to others. It is always interesting to see conflicting opinions. :)
DeleteThis doesn't sound like something I would like. I'm so picky when it comes to horror.
ReplyDeleteActually, I've noticed that a lot of horror doesn't do much character development. Maybe I prefer "suspense novels" to "horror novels." The Kirkus review pretty much summed up my opinion for Nightfall Gardens.
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