I can't decide if this book was brilliant, or ridiculously disappointing. On the one hand, it seems to lack the dark gristly mood of the first book, aI can't decide if this book was brilliant, or ridiculously disappointing. On the one hand, it seems to lack the dark gristly mood of the first book, and the all the rage and vigor of the second book. The plot seems to trudge forward: more details, deaths, violence, danger, passion. It seems almost monotonous after a while, and I couldn't help but wonder how this is all going to reach some sort of resolution I'd be happy with. On the other hand, there seems to be some grand metaphor afoot with a fairly lackluster ending and continual allusions to a certain Robert Browning poem. The closer we get to the mysterious beginnings of werewolves, that echo through all three books, the more pointless they seem to become. I'd like to think that was Duncan's point. That the meaning we force upon our lives, or the existence of life in general, brings us the furthest from our enjoyment from it, and the value we gain from it. Those moments in the beginning, when everything seemed so mysterious, were so strong, crisp, and heavy with a deeper meaning than the facts brought about....more
An astoundingly well written novel that breaks out genre stereotypes and any other expectations I had for it. Definitely not for the weak of heart (anAn astoundingly well written novel that breaks out genre stereotypes and any other expectations I had for it. Definitely not for the weak of heart (and stomach) The Last Werewolf is wickedly dark and cruel, the characters seem to be overflowing with humanity and the author seems to lack any fear of going to unfathomable depths of emotion and desire. ...more
Not what I expected at all. I was suggested this graphic novel by a few people through the years and just never managed to pick a copy up until now. VNot what I expected at all. I was suggested this graphic novel by a few people through the years and just never managed to pick a copy up until now. Very captivating, face paced and engrossing. I read it cover to cover in one sitting as soon as I managed to get going. Definitely picking up the next volume....more
A haunting tale of our immediate future, The Passage details a viral epidemic spreading through North America, changing people into gruesome vampiric A haunting tale of our immediate future, The Passage details a viral epidemic spreading through North America, changing people into gruesome vampiric creatures. Starting at the beginnings of a government experiment on death-row prisoners, doomed to turn catastrophic; the novel stretches far into the future where few uninfected people are left to survive in the empty reaches of a post-apocalyptic continent.
The first thing that came to mind when reading this novel was how much it reminded me of The Stand by Stephen King. Besides the obvious similarities the books have in simply being epic post apocalyptic stories, there is something much deeper that these books share. Both authors build elaborate back-stories for their characters, explore every nuance of their motivations and then seem to set them free to choose their own fates. Cronin and King can be ruthless, killing off major characters in the turn of a sentence. What is surprising to me is that I hated The Stand, and I loved this book and for the life of me I can’t decide what the distinction is.