So I just finished this book and found it very enjoyable.
Matt Dunn is really good at setting the mood of each scene and fleshing out the setting (sometimes a bit *too* often for my taste though), and keeps the tone consistent throughout.
Its biggest strengths to me are the way she describes the settings, as I said, but also in keeping things grounded in reality. The book that inspired Hungerstone, Carmilla, was fairly supernatural as you’d expect from a book involving vampires and whatnot, but Hungerstone didn’t really focus on it at all, the word “Vampire” doesn’t even come up once if I recall correctly, and I feel the entire plot benefits from it heavily, as with how much happens, having a super heavy supernatural angle would just be overwhelming. The book relies more on the psychological breakdown on the main character and a massive shift in her decision making to produce unease and suspense rather than “a spooky monster in the dark”, not saying Carmilla does that but you get it.
The book does have flaws, but I’d have to dwell on it more to put them together in a fare way, so I don’t seem ignorant or nitpickey, but I’ll say the main like, general flaw is some of the messaging is odd and inconsistent sometimes, and the some of the actions of the main character are definitely shortsighted and cruel considering the circumstances they happen in, along with that we as the reader are supposed to like, like these actions and root for the main character.
Overall I did enjoy the book, vampire literature is something I enjoy heavily as I find the creatures an their dynamics with humans very intriguing and thought provoking when done well, but also funny and amusing if not done well, this attempt being 100% the former.
If I had to give it a star rating id say like a good 3.5/5.
I’m no critic or reviewer and don’t do this often so sorry if I come off as a dunce or a yapper, I swear I’m not stupid lol. I’d also like to hear your thought on the book if you’ve read it, recommendations or criticism of my likes and dislikes and stuff.
by Equivalent_Waltz8890