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Black Chuck
Psycho. Sick. Dangerous. Réal Dufresne's reputation precedes him. When the mangled body of his best friend, Shaun, turns up in a field just east of town, tough-as-hell Réal blames himself. But except for the nightmares, all Ré remembers is beating the living crap out of Shaun the night of his death. Shaun's girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Evie Hawley, keeps her feelings locked up tight. But now she's pregnant, and the father of her baby is dead. And when Réal looks to her to atone for his sins, everything goes sideways. Fast. The tighter Evie and Réal get, the faster things seem to fall apart. And falling in love might just be the card that knocks the whole house down.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
13 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Regan McDonell
1 book12 followersRegan McDonell writes dark, funny, weird and creepy books for adults and teens.
Her 2019 White Pine Award Honour Book, Black Chuck, is a gritty, small-town coming-of-age novel that Booklist called "a superb debut," School Library Journal says is "a read that sticks in the gut," and Kirkus Reviews noted for its "dynamically complex characterization and storytelling."
Boston Globe-Horne Book Award winner Andrew Smith says Black Chuck is: “a stunning work of prose—poetic and haunting, tender and gritty—this is a remarkable novel.”
A proud member of The Horror Writer’s Association and The Writers’ Union of Canada, Regan is a past recipient of multiple arts grants from Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council.
Regan lives in Toronto, where she writes, makes art and leaves love letters on subways for strangers to find.
Her 2019 White Pine Award Honour Book, Black Chuck, is a gritty, small-town coming-of-age novel that Booklist called "a superb debut," School Library Journal says is "a read that sticks in the gut," and Kirkus Reviews noted for its "dynamically complex characterization and storytelling."
Boston Globe-Horne Book Award winner Andrew Smith says Black Chuck is: “a stunning work of prose—poetic and haunting, tender and gritty—this is a remarkable novel.”
A proud member of The Horror Writer’s Association and The Writers’ Union of Canada, Regan is a past recipient of multiple arts grants from Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council.
Regan lives in Toronto, where she writes, makes art and leaves love letters on subways for strangers to find.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 19, 2017
Well heck, I wrote it didn't I? ;)
May 14, 2018
I received this eARC from Orca Book Publishers on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
Warning: This book contains graphic scenes of abuse, mutilation, and rape, as well as language that may not be suitable for some younger YA readers.
I AM BEYOND SHOOK
The Writing
The writing was mostly very well done, with a very unique and strong voice and style, but sometimes I found myself having to reread a line several times and still not understand it. Luckily, the gripping mystery, character development, and suspense really made up for it.
I really appreciated that there was a really strong Native American (First Nation in this case, as the book takes place in Canada) influence on the spiritual beliefs of one of the main characters, Réal. It was unique and interesting. I'm sure most people have heard about the Windigo but not many know much beyond that, myself included, so it was refreshing and added a whole other element to the story.
The Characters
The cast was believably diverse; no one felt like a token or an addition just to fill a quota. They all felt like actual people with actual lives.
Réal Dufresne: He was just that. Real. He felt like a real person. He was the best friend of the dead boy and deep down, he believes that he's has something to do with his death, but his kind soul shows who he really is. His journey of letting go of your fears and accepting love is so wonderful. His inner struggle made sense with his actions, and I was really rooting for him to have nice things.
Evelyn (Evie) Hawley: She finds herself pregnant with her dead boyfriend's baby at the beginning of the story and isn't sure what to do. She was quiet and shy and really reminded me of Ellie from I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter, which was released February 27 of this year (*shameless plug* check out my review) but with more spunk and more fire to her.
Shaun Henry-Deacon: The dead boy. As the story goes on, we learn more of what kind of person Shaun really was: the best friend, the boyfriend, the King. He was just as complex as all of the characters who were alive and present.
Sunny: She was the scary pretty girl who's secretly insecure and caring, who feels too deeply and internalizes too much. Her cold beauty was a shield just like Ré's toughness was, to protect herself.
Alex Janes: While he wasn't a key player until the climax, he was a steady character who was interesting in his own right. I'd have liked to know more about him.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book! It's a very fast, gripping read that will have you guessing and second guessing until the very end, which was extremely satisfying. It felt like what I would have liked from Pretty Little Liars. There is a love story plot that was kind of the A plot, and usually I hate those, especially in a contemporary, but I actually really loved this. It was a great book that tackled topics like rape, murder, domestic abuse, parental neglect, poverty, and mental illness in a smart, considerate, and effective way. The ending was somewhat open ended but I was very happy with it and am currently stuck trying to figure out if this was a 4 star or a 5 star rating...
Warning: This book contains graphic scenes of abuse, mutilation, and rape, as well as language that may not be suitable for some younger YA readers.
I AM BEYOND SHOOK
The Writing
The writing was mostly very well done, with a very unique and strong voice and style, but sometimes I found myself having to reread a line several times and still not understand it. Luckily, the gripping mystery, character development, and suspense really made up for it.
I really appreciated that there was a really strong Native American (First Nation in this case, as the book takes place in Canada) influence on the spiritual beliefs of one of the main characters, Réal. It was unique and interesting. I'm sure most people have heard about the Windigo but not many know much beyond that, myself included, so it was refreshing and added a whole other element to the story.
The Characters
The cast was believably diverse; no one felt like a token or an addition just to fill a quota. They all felt like actual people with actual lives.
Réal Dufresne: He was just that. Real. He felt like a real person. He was the best friend of the dead boy and deep down, he believes that he's has something to do with his death, but his kind soul shows who he really is. His journey of letting go of your fears and accepting love is so wonderful. His inner struggle made sense with his actions, and I was really rooting for him to have nice things.
Evelyn (Evie) Hawley: She finds herself pregnant with her dead boyfriend's baby at the beginning of the story and isn't sure what to do. She was quiet and shy and really reminded me of Ellie from I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter, which was released February 27 of this year (*shameless plug* check out my review) but with more spunk and more fire to her.
Shaun Henry-Deacon: The dead boy. As the story goes on, we learn more of what kind of person Shaun really was: the best friend, the boyfriend, the King. He was just as complex as all of the characters who were alive and present.
Sunny: She was the scary pretty girl who's secretly insecure and caring, who feels too deeply and internalizes too much. Her cold beauty was a shield just like Ré's toughness was, to protect herself.
Alex Janes: While he wasn't a key player until the climax, he was a steady character who was interesting in his own right. I'd have liked to know more about him.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book! It's a very fast, gripping read that will have you guessing and second guessing until the very end, which was extremely satisfying. It felt like what I would have liked from Pretty Little Liars. There is a love story plot that was kind of the A plot, and usually I hate those, especially in a contemporary, but I actually really loved this. It was a great book that tackled topics like rape, murder, domestic abuse, parental neglect, poverty, and mental illness in a smart, considerate, and effective way. The ending was somewhat open ended but I was very happy with it and am currently stuck trying to figure out if this was a 4 star or a 5 star rating...
February 8, 2018
*Thank you to the author and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars
This book was, surprisingly, really enjoyable! Obviously, I was sucked in by the synopsis: "Psycho. Sick, Dangerous." I was pretty adamant to read this book after that!
Then I started reading, and I wasn't entirely aware of what was going on. A few parts of the book were confusing and made me question what the point of the book actually was, especially in the first half.
...And honestly, 99.9% of the book consisted of people either throwing up or crying, or both!
So Shaun is dead, right, and in the aftermath of this, his pregnant girlfriend Evie, and his best friend Real, are brought closer together. I really like these two characters and I was rooting for them to have a happy ending. Their budding relationship didn't feel forced or sudden, but natural and like they were always the ones that were meant to be.
Many a revelation was made throughout this book, some more interesting than others. Like the whole and and also Then there was the less interesting one that
It's a book that leaves you hanging and makes you question everybody's motive - and also... Who done it?
I was also surprised to find that this is the authors first novel - and what a fine debut it was! I'm delighted I got the chance to read it, and I can't wait to see what she has set to come out in the future!
3.5 stars
This book was, surprisingly, really enjoyable! Obviously, I was sucked in by the synopsis: "Psycho. Sick, Dangerous." I was pretty adamant to read this book after that!
Then I started reading, and I wasn't entirely aware of what was going on. A few parts of the book were confusing and made me question what the point of the book actually was, especially in the first half.
...And honestly, 99.9% of the book consisted of people either throwing up or crying, or both!
So Shaun is dead, right, and in the aftermath of this, his pregnant girlfriend Evie, and his best friend Real, are brought closer together. I really like these two characters and I was rooting for them to have a happy ending. Their budding relationship didn't feel forced or sudden, but natural and like they were always the ones that were meant to be.
Many a revelation was made throughout this book, some more interesting than others. Like the whole and and also Then there was the less interesting one that
It's a book that leaves you hanging and makes you question everybody's motive - and also... Who done it?
I was also surprised to find that this is the authors first novel - and what a fine debut it was! I'm delighted I got the chance to read it, and I can't wait to see what she has set to come out in the future!
May 29, 2019
I think my best description for how I felt is this: I wanted a chocolate chip cookie. I bit in and there were raisins. I still enjoyed the dang cookie, but there's still a twinge of disappointment, because I expected chocolatey goodness.
I was so excited to read this book. I saw it online and put it in my to-buy-at-a-later-date list. It seemed like something right up my alley. Murder, Native American folk lore and legends, unreliable narrators. I eat that up. This wasn't that, to an extent, which makes me very sad. I think that's my own fault, for hyping it up in my head and going in with expectations.
This is more of a YA romance-ish novel with some dark twisted elements. The gore is there, the mature themes are there. Sure, there's some grit in the deeper details of gore, but at the end of the day, it's irresponsible kids doing irresponsible teenager stuff.
I wish there was more of the folk lore and a bit of a deeper culture dive. I got a taste, but I wanted to eat the whole damn sandwich, you know? The Nibble was good but I thought I'd have a whole meal. (Also i'm very hungry, I apologize for my food analogies.
I was so excited to read this book. I saw it online and put it in my to-buy-at-a-later-date list. It seemed like something right up my alley. Murder, Native American folk lore and legends, unreliable narrators. I eat that up. This wasn't that, to an extent, which makes me very sad. I think that's my own fault, for hyping it up in my head and going in with expectations.
This is more of a YA romance-ish novel with some dark twisted elements. The gore is there, the mature themes are there. Sure, there's some grit in the deeper details of gore, but at the end of the day, it's irresponsible kids doing irresponsible teenager stuff.
I wish there was more of the folk lore and a bit of a deeper culture dive. I got a taste, but I wanted to eat the whole damn sandwich, you know? The Nibble was good but I thought I'd have a whole meal. (Also i'm very hungry, I apologize for my food analogies.
January 29, 2019
Reagan McDonnell makes a powerful debut with this dark, gritty thriller that brings into play indigenous beliefs that are not the norm in dark fiction or horror genres. Black Chuck is a tale of grief, loss, love, secrets and cultural identity, expertly fused together for a romp into uncharted, eerie territory with Miss McDonnell.
The story takes place in a small Canadian town of Cold Water, and centers around a group of high school friends, Shaun and his pregnant girlfriend Evie, long time couple Alex and Sunny, and the town bad boy Real, who is half French Canadian and half Ojibwe. When Shaun's disemboweled body is found one morning in a field east of town, Real blames himself. He remembers beating Shaun the night before, but he was alive when Real left. His dreams, however, tell a different story. He has reoccurring nightmares of eating flesh and wonders if he was possessed by a Windigo or Wendigo- a demon or monster in Native lore, with a taste for killing and which also pops up in Real's family history. As distrust grows between the four remaining friends, Evie and Real grow closer, but can Real trust himself with anyone? Has he inherited the curse from his ancestor Black Chuck?
This was an entertaining and interesting story to read! Heavily rooted in indigenous beliefs that are rarely explored in modern day stories today. The idea of the Wendigo is fascinating and something I am personally familiar with. Growing up in the Northwestern part of the United States, I've been immersed in Native American culture all of my life, so this was not the first time I've heard of the Wendigo. But different indigenous tribes beliefs can vary, so it was interesting seeing this version of it. The references to Ojibwe mythology and language seemed to add texture to the mystery surrounding what happened to Shaun. And the inclusion of traditional healing rituals, spirit animals, and visions made the story rich with a culture not often spoken about, which I found refreshing.
The characters are diverse and multidimensional and flawed, which made them very relatable. I thought the author made a good choice in using Evie and Real's points of view for the main narrative. All five high schoolers were each given their own unique backstories, I wish the author would have delved into those more. I think it would have given the reader some more insight on their actions and motives. I felt the romance between Real and Evie made the story not seem so dark and disturbing. As if the author used the budding romance between the two as a bit of a silver lining. I appreciated that, but it did feel a bit forced at the beginning, but evened out as the novel progressed.
Black Chuck is a great example of complex storytelling and dynamic characterization. Miss McDonnell uses real Native beliefs to introduce her audience to an ancient evil that has been lurking since the beginning of time, thirsting for blood, not picky about its victim. There is a new demon in town to plague your dreams boys and girls! And it's name is Black Chuck. Or Wendigo? Or both? You'll have to read this creepy fun novel to find out!
The story takes place in a small Canadian town of Cold Water, and centers around a group of high school friends, Shaun and his pregnant girlfriend Evie, long time couple Alex and Sunny, and the town bad boy Real, who is half French Canadian and half Ojibwe. When Shaun's disemboweled body is found one morning in a field east of town, Real blames himself. He remembers beating Shaun the night before, but he was alive when Real left. His dreams, however, tell a different story. He has reoccurring nightmares of eating flesh and wonders if he was possessed by a Windigo or Wendigo- a demon or monster in Native lore, with a taste for killing and which also pops up in Real's family history. As distrust grows between the four remaining friends, Evie and Real grow closer, but can Real trust himself with anyone? Has he inherited the curse from his ancestor Black Chuck?
This was an entertaining and interesting story to read! Heavily rooted in indigenous beliefs that are rarely explored in modern day stories today. The idea of the Wendigo is fascinating and something I am personally familiar with. Growing up in the Northwestern part of the United States, I've been immersed in Native American culture all of my life, so this was not the first time I've heard of the Wendigo. But different indigenous tribes beliefs can vary, so it was interesting seeing this version of it. The references to Ojibwe mythology and language seemed to add texture to the mystery surrounding what happened to Shaun. And the inclusion of traditional healing rituals, spirit animals, and visions made the story rich with a culture not often spoken about, which I found refreshing.
The characters are diverse and multidimensional and flawed, which made them very relatable. I thought the author made a good choice in using Evie and Real's points of view for the main narrative. All five high schoolers were each given their own unique backstories, I wish the author would have delved into those more. I think it would have given the reader some more insight on their actions and motives. I felt the romance between Real and Evie made the story not seem so dark and disturbing. As if the author used the budding romance between the two as a bit of a silver lining. I appreciated that, but it did feel a bit forced at the beginning, but evened out as the novel progressed.
Black Chuck is a great example of complex storytelling and dynamic characterization. Miss McDonnell uses real Native beliefs to introduce her audience to an ancient evil that has been lurking since the beginning of time, thirsting for blood, not picky about its victim. There is a new demon in town to plague your dreams boys and girls! And it's name is Black Chuck. Or Wendigo? Or both? You'll have to read this creepy fun novel to find out!
March 15, 2018
I received an e-book arc of this novel to review from NetGalley, but that does not influence my opinion in any way.
There were more issues than positives in my reading experience of this novel, one of the biggest issues being the lack of plot development. It started out as engaging, but fell flat for about 70% of the story, before picking up as interesting again. The story slowly became less about the friendships and grieving, and more about the budding insta-love that was happening between Real and Evie. I felt as though there wasn’t enough consistency, too many cliches to count, and a few confusing plot elements that lost my attention.
However, I did appreciate that it is Canadian and focuses on some diverse characters - that being French and of Native heritage. Some of the religious and cultural beliefs recognized in this novel were ones that I was only partially familiar with, so I enjoyed being exposed on a deeper level. I did find this to be a quick read, probably aided by the fact that I read it on my iPad, since I tend to fly through ebooks. Her writing style was engaging and flowed well, but she was also descriptive in her atmospheres which I liked.
Check out my entire review on my blog!
https://www.netgalley.com/member/book...
There were more issues than positives in my reading experience of this novel, one of the biggest issues being the lack of plot development. It started out as engaging, but fell flat for about 70% of the story, before picking up as interesting again. The story slowly became less about the friendships and grieving, and more about the budding insta-love that was happening between Real and Evie. I felt as though there wasn’t enough consistency, too many cliches to count, and a few confusing plot elements that lost my attention.
However, I did appreciate that it is Canadian and focuses on some diverse characters - that being French and of Native heritage. Some of the religious and cultural beliefs recognized in this novel were ones that I was only partially familiar with, so I enjoyed being exposed on a deeper level. I did find this to be a quick read, probably aided by the fact that I read it on my iPad, since I tend to fly through ebooks. Her writing style was engaging and flowed well, but she was also descriptive in her atmospheres which I liked.
Check out my entire review on my blog!
https://www.netgalley.com/member/book...
March 2, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
Well, that was a let down. What I hoped would be a creepy murder mystery turned into a YA drama/love fest. The romance felt like a bad Mills and Boon for me; forced, pointless, meant to be the driving part of the story...except I kind of thought SHAUN was the driving point of the story? Not Evie, romance, Sunny tantrums or parties. But that's the direction the story took, with the final chapter being the grand reveal on the mystery that was basically forgotten to help the romance along.
The story takes place over the course of three weeks, in which timeit feels like not much gets done in the case of Shaun, or his Nan for that matter. Surely the police could see his Nan could not live alone? But nope, she's just there for story progression.
All in all I found the story wanting, the characters gritty and unlikable, and the writing only OK (it was probably the best part, if I'm honest) Not the book I was expecting. Two stars.
Well, that was a let down. What I hoped would be a creepy murder mystery turned into a YA drama/love fest. The romance felt like a bad Mills and Boon for me; forced, pointless, meant to be the driving part of the story...except I kind of thought SHAUN was the driving point of the story? Not Evie, romance, Sunny tantrums or parties. But that's the direction the story took, with the final chapter being the grand reveal on the mystery that was basically forgotten to help the romance along.
The story takes place over the course of three weeks, in which timeit feels like not much gets done in the case of Shaun, or his Nan for that matter. Surely the police could see his Nan could not live alone? But nope, she's just there for story progression.
All in all I found the story wanting, the characters gritty and unlikable, and the writing only OK (it was probably the best part, if I'm honest) Not the book I was expecting. Two stars.
January 15, 2018
*** I received this book in exchange with Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for an honest review***
The Breakdown:
Shaun is dead. That is all that the characters in Black Chuck can think about and everyone is in shock. This story weaves a tale of death under a complete mystery of who did killed Shaun and why? Re is Shaun’s beast friend and they are practically brothers. All of their lives they have lived next door to each other in a very rural town with limited friends to call on. Everyone calls Re a psycho, so he is the clear suspect and Re even thinks that he could be the culprit as well. There is so much more going on in this small town just waiting to rise to the surface.
I am not huge horror/mystery fan, but the cover was very intriguing, and I was reminded of the show Hannibal. The Elk on the terrified me and had me dreaming crazy things so I thought I would request this book to give into the fear already there. I did not love the book, but it was an alright story. I must admit that I wanted the main character to actually be an evil demon and didn’t like the change in his circumstances in the end. There were also some missing details that I needed cleared up that never seemed to be brought to the light in the book. That’s why I gave it a 3.5 Star rating.
The Characters:
Réal Dufresne is often called a psycho and has quite the reputation. However, I still have no idea where that comes from and his character is very caring and compassionate. Re takes care of his four younger brothers on a daily basis because their parents must work so hard to raise a growing family of teenage boys. He also finds out that Shaun’s girlfriend is pregnant and now going to be a single mother. He goes out of his way to keep her secrets and even starts to consider raising the baby as his own with her. Their new “relationship” is quite tenuous and seems wrong to both of them as it is a betrayal to the person that they were supposed to love – Shaun- who is now deceased. When another best friend of Real named Sunny and girlfriend of the fourth piece in their clique, Alex, throws herself at him, Re turns her down because he is a good guy. He cannot hurt anymore of his friends. Now does that sound like a psycho to you? Hence 3.5 stars.
For most of the book Real is convinced that he is a Wendigo like his uncle named Black Chuck who ate his own daughter one cold winter. Real has had nightmares about this his entire life and when the state of Shaun’s body is revealed it appears that something as eaten most of him. Real even enlists the help of local tribesman healers to cure the demon raging in him. I love a good tale of murder and mayhem but to avoid spoilers let’s just say that the ending did not live up to my expectation and was in fact quite the opposite of what I was expecting.
Evie was Shaun’s girlfriend and is now facing the world as a single mother who hasn’t graduated high school yet. With Shaun gone, Evie turns to his friends for comfort and finds more than she bargained for with Real. I thought she was the weakest character and did not really feel a connection for her. Plus, she never really evolved, and I hated that this horror book took the happy ending route.
Sunny and Alex were the last two pieces to the quartet that Evie and Shaun hung out with on a regular basis. Also, they are kind of close to Real and Sunny proclaims to Evie that he also belongs to her even though she is with Alex. Sunny is the opposite of her name and pretty much a bitch the entire book. Alex seems to be your average stoner but hides the fact that he trying to join a random drug dealing motorcycle club that has nothing to really to with the story until like the last 2 chapters. Why were they needed in this story arc? Yet another unanswered question and unnecessity that caused the 3.5 stars.
Conclusion:
This book was an easy read. I read all but 3 chapters today but there was too much outside weirdness going on to really be a great 5 Star read. Now I am not saying that I did not enjoy it, but I believe that it could have been edited better and a few minor changes introduced to explain the issues laid out in the other portions of the review. I was seriously expecting a full-on Wendigo attacks, faces to be ripped off, and entrails scattered over the ground to form intricate, morbid mosaics. Instead it is a romance story disguised with mayhem and I even ended up hating Shaun. You cannot hate the dead it’s not right. Even if they are book characters!
I would, however, read more books if the story was set as a series. Since then, perhaps, some of the questions could be better answered. I also must commend the author on doing her research and using the Native American cultures referenced in the content in a tactful, educational way. I do believe that she gave them justice!
The Breakdown:
Shaun is dead. That is all that the characters in Black Chuck can think about and everyone is in shock. This story weaves a tale of death under a complete mystery of who did killed Shaun and why? Re is Shaun’s beast friend and they are practically brothers. All of their lives they have lived next door to each other in a very rural town with limited friends to call on. Everyone calls Re a psycho, so he is the clear suspect and Re even thinks that he could be the culprit as well. There is so much more going on in this small town just waiting to rise to the surface.
I am not huge horror/mystery fan, but the cover was very intriguing, and I was reminded of the show Hannibal. The Elk on the terrified me and had me dreaming crazy things so I thought I would request this book to give into the fear already there. I did not love the book, but it was an alright story. I must admit that I wanted the main character to actually be an evil demon and didn’t like the change in his circumstances in the end. There were also some missing details that I needed cleared up that never seemed to be brought to the light in the book. That’s why I gave it a 3.5 Star rating.
The Characters:
Réal Dufresne is often called a psycho and has quite the reputation. However, I still have no idea where that comes from and his character is very caring and compassionate. Re takes care of his four younger brothers on a daily basis because their parents must work so hard to raise a growing family of teenage boys. He also finds out that Shaun’s girlfriend is pregnant and now going to be a single mother. He goes out of his way to keep her secrets and even starts to consider raising the baby as his own with her. Their new “relationship” is quite tenuous and seems wrong to both of them as it is a betrayal to the person that they were supposed to love – Shaun- who is now deceased. When another best friend of Real named Sunny and girlfriend of the fourth piece in their clique, Alex, throws herself at him, Re turns her down because he is a good guy. He cannot hurt anymore of his friends. Now does that sound like a psycho to you? Hence 3.5 stars.
For most of the book Real is convinced that he is a Wendigo like his uncle named Black Chuck who ate his own daughter one cold winter. Real has had nightmares about this his entire life and when the state of Shaun’s body is revealed it appears that something as eaten most of him. Real even enlists the help of local tribesman healers to cure the demon raging in him. I love a good tale of murder and mayhem but to avoid spoilers let’s just say that the ending did not live up to my expectation and was in fact quite the opposite of what I was expecting.
Evie was Shaun’s girlfriend and is now facing the world as a single mother who hasn’t graduated high school yet. With Shaun gone, Evie turns to his friends for comfort and finds more than she bargained for with Real. I thought she was the weakest character and did not really feel a connection for her. Plus, she never really evolved, and I hated that this horror book took the happy ending route.
Sunny and Alex were the last two pieces to the quartet that Evie and Shaun hung out with on a regular basis. Also, they are kind of close to Real and Sunny proclaims to Evie that he also belongs to her even though she is with Alex. Sunny is the opposite of her name and pretty much a bitch the entire book. Alex seems to be your average stoner but hides the fact that he trying to join a random drug dealing motorcycle club that has nothing to really to with the story until like the last 2 chapters. Why were they needed in this story arc? Yet another unanswered question and unnecessity that caused the 3.5 stars.
Conclusion:
This book was an easy read. I read all but 3 chapters today but there was too much outside weirdness going on to really be a great 5 Star read. Now I am not saying that I did not enjoy it, but I believe that it could have been edited better and a few minor changes introduced to explain the issues laid out in the other portions of the review. I was seriously expecting a full-on Wendigo attacks, faces to be ripped off, and entrails scattered over the ground to form intricate, morbid mosaics. Instead it is a romance story disguised with mayhem and I even ended up hating Shaun. You cannot hate the dead it’s not right. Even if they are book characters!
I would, however, read more books if the story was set as a series. Since then, perhaps, some of the questions could be better answered. I also must commend the author on doing her research and using the Native American cultures referenced in the content in a tactful, educational way. I do believe that she gave them justice!
June 7, 2019
This is a very dark YA novel with lots of scenes of abuse and violence. It felt somewhat disjointed to me, though they may be my fault and not the author's because I read it in fits and starts. I did like the main character. His personal exploration was interesting. Some of the indigenous spiritual elements seemed a bit forced, as did some of the other characters.
January 23, 2019
Read this in one afternoon til evening. I could not stop.
April 16, 2018
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was fine.
But just fine.
The characters were ok, but just ok.
I didn’t fall for any of them. I didn’t love the dynamics between them. It felt pretty fake to me.
The whole Black Chuck myth sounded pretty wrong to me to and even though I wanted to know how the mystery ended, I just floated through it, not really caring about anything else…
I thought this was fine.
But just fine.
The characters were ok, but just ok.
I didn’t fall for any of them. I didn’t love the dynamics between them. It felt pretty fake to me.
The whole Black Chuck myth sounded pretty wrong to me to and even though I wanted to know how the mystery ended, I just floated through it, not really caring about anything else…
November 9, 2018
⚠️warning: pregnancy, murder, gore, body horror, rape, cannibalism, assault, drug abuse⚠️
🦌
Guilt is a crazy demon? More like grief.
That was one crazy ride but once everything’s been spoiled it comepletely losses it’s weight/punch. So there’s no rereadabilty and you definitely don’t want the book spoiled.
This is smart without trying to be smart and it makes you think by telling a story that may or may not be real.
:World Building/Writing:
It’s tense and hard from the get go. At no point are you given any relief and neither are these damn kids. But there is plenty drunken mishaps that quickly spiral out of hand. Anything that seems pleasant and happy will quickly become the opposite or even the most dark of scenes. Descriptors are freaking great, some are eloquent some are just plain disturbing. Every enviroment jumps off the page. One note of warning with the language; if you’re unaware of modern slang you are going to be confused. But these are teenagers so I’d hope any prospective readers expect as much.
This is easily the most off the rocker graduation party I’ve read. At first it’s very normal even bland but by the end is all sorts of crazy. I really hate the French language so don’t like that is kind of prominate in the story. But I get it, canada is bilingual. Though literally all of Canada, except Quebec, hates Quebec and it’s entitled people.
The whole raw meat in a bag is so out of no where that it’s almost as shockingly disgusting to the Read as it is to Real. This isnt even a spoiler because there isn’t anyway to see this coming.
Hooray for the pro-choice stuff! It makes it clear that carrying a baby is the woman’s choice and hers alone. Abortion is completely acceptable and is encouraged if the girl doesn’t want it. The father or anyone trying to force her to stay pregnant is a trash person and needs to fuck right off. On the note of consent, if your partner doesn’t not say “yes” they did not consent. That is rape flat out. Thank you to the book for being blunt about that. Also, that someone who you love or who is kind can be the perpetrator. You do not owe your lover sex, ever.
One other great thing I need to mention is with Nan, she basically has dementia and instead of reminding her that her grandson is dead. Evie just says the he’s out having fun. That’s exactly what you should do, there is no damn reason to keep reminding them that their loved one is dead. All you’d be doing is hurting them.
Now there are some serious unrealistic things here or this place has the worst cops ever. Why didn’t these cops tell the damn kids? When peole dead while I was in school their friends not only found out first they found out how it happened immediately. These cops just simply don’t tell them shit. This entire book would have been avoided, well sort of, if the cops did their damn job. Further on the cops, Real should have been one of the very first they talked to. He was Shaun’s friend, was recently at his house, was beat up and wearing stuff covered in Shaun’s blood........like the cops would instantly have a mile high pile of evidence against this kid. Then Evie should literally be suspect number one from the damn get go. She’s pregnant with his kid for crying out loud. Then Alex with the goddamn biker gang family? Of course he would be a massive suspect. At least with Alex it can be shrugged off with a “cops were bribed”. Sunny is litterally the only one of the group that shouldn’t be a top suspect to these cops.
Romance:
The build up between Evie and Real is woulderfully paced and is completely organic feeling. All the doubts, all the leaps of faith, and all the genuine care. These two are damn soul mates and not just because they’re both the silent closed off type. However, this is definiert a romance that shouldn’t have realistically happened; Immediately going out dating you recently killed best friends lover is a flat out psychopathic thing to do. Even more so if you believe you’re the one who killed him. Even her wanting to date him and making the first move was psychopathic of her to do. Though the drunken kiss is a good and realistic way to get the grief love going. That’s exactly the shit drunk grieving teens would do.
Then there’s Alex and Sunny, Christ this is messed up especially for a Highschool relationship. Alex is a weak puppy being strong along by a bitchy dominatrix. She flatout seems to hate him and only dates him as something to do. Then of course there’s the whole cheating problem which is not cool. The whole biker gang family sure throws a wrench into all of this mess even more.
Finally, there’s Evie and Shaun. If you need tips on how not to treat any other human being then here you go. Shaun is controlling, manipulative and flat out abusive. Evie Both seems to like this and dislike it. It’s great that Shaun is open and honesty and all but that don’t mean shit when your honesty constantly harms others. But ultimately there’s to much taking and not enough giving. I’m glad Evie is free from this prick.
:Characters:
The kids are not alright. Holy shit.
All these kids are broken and come from broken homes.
Real: Completely broken mess but with damn good reasons. Dudes got some serious night terrors or demons. He’s a giver and hides any of his own needs. But he’s also a serious hardass and will bust anyone’s ribs or face right open. I’d probably date him. For a kid freaked out at the possibly of getting caught for what he believes he did, he sure doesn’t make any attempt to hide it. Litterally wears the blood covered shoes constantly.
Evie: Sweet little thief and a great example of a quiet withdrawn girl. Life’s hard but she’ll deal but maybe not in any way that’s healthy. Distant and closed off from her family. We have a lot in common. We seem to have the same taste in men.
Alex: Skinny pothead extrodare, seriously this guy basically breathes weed. Frequently called a puppy. But what the sweet shit did you do man? Why did you fuck everything up and so aggressive too? Holy hell, gangs are something else. This is an example of someone taking a piss on their own life.
Sunny: Total controlling bitch. Goth girl who leads lover boy around like a litteral puppy. But she does have a heart and she knows when enough is enough. She will stand by your side even if that means lighting the world on fire.
Shaun: Good dude whose hamfisted about life and living. However, fuck this guy; perfect example of nice/good guys doing very bad things. He’s also not so good at Reading people or seeing their side of things. Very needy in a sense and is someone who wants and takes. Made of spitfire and immortality. He’s the kind of guy I’d probably date. Except I won’t tolerate the pushy shit and I would’ve dropped his ass once the sexual shit started.
:Ending:
Wow that was once intense hell ride. Gonna give a girl a heart attack. Multiple twists and turns, every one is just one major gut punch. But this isn’t the ending I wanted. I wanted the guilt to be desired for things to really be that deeply fucked up. I wanted the killer to be who I thought it was. But I guess the author wanted to go the more “faith in humanity” route. I wanted “Yes Black Chuck”. Also, short term memory lose is a god damn cop-out. This ending is also completely unrealistic. The cops would have figured this out ASAP. But the last couple chapters are straight perfect. Last sentance is without flaw. I love how there world blunt little hints to this all through but they weren’t readable as hints. You are litterally told how, what, why, where and when flat out repeatedly; that is a seriously ballsy thing for an author to do. I didn’t even realise it until the big death reveal. Colour me impressed. Though I’d like to know what happened to the bear meat.
:Cover:
Utterly fanatsic, the composition is both symbolic and eye catching. It treats the elk as a mirror of Real while also have Real Against the heavens and the elk against hell. The strong black coating everything both shows the dark atmosphere of the book as well as the dark cloud mentally hanging over Real. The boy is coated in darkness both real and imagined. The cover also has a strong sense of mystery, it’s impossible to figure out what the hell it means unless you’ve read the book. The book itself is a mystery in part so it works. The title being smack in the middle is very harsh and blunt, like the boook. The font used is like blood but sharp, which further adds to the harsh and cruel atmosphere.
Overall, if your at all interested in the human psyche or really out of left field mindgame/mindfuck books, this is for you. If you don’t like deep heavy books this isn’t for you.
“He was actually pretty good with parents when he wasn’t worried about eating their daughters”
🦌
Guilt is a crazy demon? More like grief.
That was one crazy ride but once everything’s been spoiled it comepletely losses it’s weight/punch. So there’s no rereadabilty and you definitely don’t want the book spoiled.
This is smart without trying to be smart and it makes you think by telling a story that may or may not be real.
:World Building/Writing:
It’s tense and hard from the get go. At no point are you given any relief and neither are these damn kids. But there is plenty drunken mishaps that quickly spiral out of hand. Anything that seems pleasant and happy will quickly become the opposite or even the most dark of scenes. Descriptors are freaking great, some are eloquent some are just plain disturbing. Every enviroment jumps off the page. One note of warning with the language; if you’re unaware of modern slang you are going to be confused. But these are teenagers so I’d hope any prospective readers expect as much.
This is easily the most off the rocker graduation party I’ve read. At first it’s very normal even bland but by the end is all sorts of crazy. I really hate the French language so don’t like that is kind of prominate in the story. But I get it, canada is bilingual. Though literally all of Canada, except Quebec, hates Quebec and it’s entitled people.
The whole raw meat in a bag is so out of no where that it’s almost as shockingly disgusting to the Read as it is to Real. This isnt even a spoiler because there isn’t anyway to see this coming.
Hooray for the pro-choice stuff! It makes it clear that carrying a baby is the woman’s choice and hers alone. Abortion is completely acceptable and is encouraged if the girl doesn’t want it. The father or anyone trying to force her to stay pregnant is a trash person and needs to fuck right off. On the note of consent, if your partner doesn’t not say “yes” they did not consent. That is rape flat out. Thank you to the book for being blunt about that. Also, that someone who you love or who is kind can be the perpetrator. You do not owe your lover sex, ever.
One other great thing I need to mention is with Nan, she basically has dementia and instead of reminding her that her grandson is dead. Evie just says the he’s out having fun. That’s exactly what you should do, there is no damn reason to keep reminding them that their loved one is dead. All you’d be doing is hurting them.
Now there are some serious unrealistic things here or this place has the worst cops ever. Why didn’t these cops tell the damn kids? When peole dead while I was in school their friends not only found out first they found out how it happened immediately. These cops just simply don’t tell them shit. This entire book would have been avoided, well sort of, if the cops did their damn job. Further on the cops, Real should have been one of the very first they talked to. He was Shaun’s friend, was recently at his house, was beat up and wearing stuff covered in Shaun’s blood........like the cops would instantly have a mile high pile of evidence against this kid. Then Evie should literally be suspect number one from the damn get go. She’s pregnant with his kid for crying out loud. Then Alex with the goddamn biker gang family? Of course he would be a massive suspect. At least with Alex it can be shrugged off with a “cops were bribed”. Sunny is litterally the only one of the group that shouldn’t be a top suspect to these cops.
Romance:
The build up between Evie and Real is woulderfully paced and is completely organic feeling. All the doubts, all the leaps of faith, and all the genuine care. These two are damn soul mates and not just because they’re both the silent closed off type. However, this is definiert a romance that shouldn’t have realistically happened; Immediately going out dating you recently killed best friends lover is a flat out psychopathic thing to do. Even more so if you believe you’re the one who killed him. Even her wanting to date him and making the first move was psychopathic of her to do. Though the drunken kiss is a good and realistic way to get the grief love going. That’s exactly the shit drunk grieving teens would do.
Then there’s Alex and Sunny, Christ this is messed up especially for a Highschool relationship. Alex is a weak puppy being strong along by a bitchy dominatrix. She flatout seems to hate him and only dates him as something to do. Then of course there’s the whole cheating problem which is not cool. The whole biker gang family sure throws a wrench into all of this mess even more.
Finally, there’s Evie and Shaun. If you need tips on how not to treat any other human being then here you go. Shaun is controlling, manipulative and flat out abusive. Evie Both seems to like this and dislike it. It’s great that Shaun is open and honesty and all but that don’t mean shit when your honesty constantly harms others. But ultimately there’s to much taking and not enough giving. I’m glad Evie is free from this prick.
:Characters:
The kids are not alright. Holy shit.
All these kids are broken and come from broken homes.
Real: Completely broken mess but with damn good reasons. Dudes got some serious night terrors or demons. He’s a giver and hides any of his own needs. But he’s also a serious hardass and will bust anyone’s ribs or face right open. I’d probably date him. For a kid freaked out at the possibly of getting caught for what he believes he did, he sure doesn’t make any attempt to hide it. Litterally wears the blood covered shoes constantly.
Evie: Sweet little thief and a great example of a quiet withdrawn girl. Life’s hard but she’ll deal but maybe not in any way that’s healthy. Distant and closed off from her family. We have a lot in common. We seem to have the same taste in men.
Alex: Skinny pothead extrodare, seriously this guy basically breathes weed. Frequently called a puppy. But what the sweet shit did you do man? Why did you fuck everything up and so aggressive too? Holy hell, gangs are something else. This is an example of someone taking a piss on their own life.
Sunny: Total controlling bitch. Goth girl who leads lover boy around like a litteral puppy. But she does have a heart and she knows when enough is enough. She will stand by your side even if that means lighting the world on fire.
Shaun: Good dude whose hamfisted about life and living. However, fuck this guy; perfect example of nice/good guys doing very bad things. He’s also not so good at Reading people or seeing their side of things. Very needy in a sense and is someone who wants and takes. Made of spitfire and immortality. He’s the kind of guy I’d probably date. Except I won’t tolerate the pushy shit and I would’ve dropped his ass once the sexual shit started.
:Ending:
Wow that was once intense hell ride. Gonna give a girl a heart attack. Multiple twists and turns, every one is just one major gut punch. But this isn’t the ending I wanted. I wanted the guilt to be desired for things to really be that deeply fucked up. I wanted the killer to be who I thought it was. But I guess the author wanted to go the more “faith in humanity” route. I wanted “Yes Black Chuck”. Also, short term memory lose is a god damn cop-out. This ending is also completely unrealistic. The cops would have figured this out ASAP. But the last couple chapters are straight perfect. Last sentance is without flaw. I love how there world blunt little hints to this all through but they weren’t readable as hints. You are litterally told how, what, why, where and when flat out repeatedly; that is a seriously ballsy thing for an author to do. I didn’t even realise it until the big death reveal. Colour me impressed. Though I’d like to know what happened to the bear meat.
:Cover:
Utterly fanatsic, the composition is both symbolic and eye catching. It treats the elk as a mirror of Real while also have Real Against the heavens and the elk against hell. The strong black coating everything both shows the dark atmosphere of the book as well as the dark cloud mentally hanging over Real. The boy is coated in darkness both real and imagined. The cover also has a strong sense of mystery, it’s impossible to figure out what the hell it means unless you’ve read the book. The book itself is a mystery in part so it works. The title being smack in the middle is very harsh and blunt, like the boook. The font used is like blood but sharp, which further adds to the harsh and cruel atmosphere.
Overall, if your at all interested in the human psyche or really out of left field mindgame/mindfuck books, this is for you. If you don’t like deep heavy books this isn’t for you.
“He was actually pretty good with parents when he wasn’t worried about eating their daughters”
June 26, 2018
Black Chuck by Regan McDonell is the story of five friends, told from the perspective of two of the friends. The story starts off with one of the friends being dead and progressed from there. The two points of view are from the girlfriend and best friend of the deceased. The book takes place in Canada.
Rèal Dufresne is our first main character. Shaun, the deceased, has been his best friend since they were nine. But Rè has a pretty big secret waiting to explode from him. Before Shaun was found dead, they had a huge fight that left both of them bloody. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be too big of a problem, only... Shaun's body was found somewhere not many people, aside from their group, go and Rè can't remember anything from that night after the fight. He just knows that his clothes from that night are bloody. More bloody than they should be.
Evie was Shaun's girlfriend for nine months before his death. Their relationship started pretty randomly with Shaun just stopping by her house one day. He felt like they had kind of the same life with no real parents and that had bonded them. Now, with Shaun gone, Evie is stuck in a pretty serious situation and she doesn't know what to do about it. But Rèal makes it very clear to Evie that he will be there for her no matter what she decides. He feels responsible for her since Shaun was pretty much his brother.
The other two friends are Sunny and Alex. Sunny is a Goth Asian girl who gets her way no matter what and Alex is her boyfriend who just happens to be from a family of really powerful bikers. Together they make up a small, tight-knit group of friends. But maybe a few of them were a little too tight.
As I was reading, I realized the hook has this ominous feel to it. I felt like I was being followed by a really dark cloud the entire time. Like something bad was going to happen or some shocking realization was about to be had. I liked that aspect of the book a lot.
In the end, I was kind of surprised by the ending. I was really expecting it to end as a gruesome murder by someone close to Shaun. I really didn't see THAT ending coming. This book really surprised me with how good it was and how much I liked all of the characters and the story they had to tell.
In the end, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.
Rèal Dufresne is our first main character. Shaun, the deceased, has been his best friend since they were nine. But Rè has a pretty big secret waiting to explode from him. Before Shaun was found dead, they had a huge fight that left both of them bloody. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be too big of a problem, only... Shaun's body was found somewhere not many people, aside from their group, go and Rè can't remember anything from that night after the fight. He just knows that his clothes from that night are bloody. More bloody than they should be.
Evie was Shaun's girlfriend for nine months before his death. Their relationship started pretty randomly with Shaun just stopping by her house one day. He felt like they had kind of the same life with no real parents and that had bonded them. Now, with Shaun gone, Evie is stuck in a pretty serious situation and she doesn't know what to do about it. But Rèal makes it very clear to Evie that he will be there for her no matter what she decides. He feels responsible for her since Shaun was pretty much his brother.
The other two friends are Sunny and Alex. Sunny is a Goth Asian girl who gets her way no matter what and Alex is her boyfriend who just happens to be from a family of really powerful bikers. Together they make up a small, tight-knit group of friends. But maybe a few of them were a little too tight.
As I was reading, I realized the hook has this ominous feel to it. I felt like I was being followed by a really dark cloud the entire time. Like something bad was going to happen or some shocking realization was about to be had. I liked that aspect of the book a lot.
In the end, I was kind of surprised by the ending. I was really expecting it to end as a gruesome murder by someone close to Shaun. I really didn't see THAT ending coming. This book really surprised me with how good it was and how much I liked all of the characters and the story they had to tell.
In the end, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.
August 21, 2018
Musings:
Black Chuck made me feel like I was back watching Until Dawn, but only in a whispering barely there sort of way. Black Chuck is a story all its own and there are times where gross darkness smashes against a bit of hopeful light.
What I Enjoyed:
The dark description. When Real dreams the gross description of him killing and eating his friend. I may not like to watch that stuff happen in movies (I could never bring myself to watch raw or saw (why the names are so similar.. I don’t know) but in a book I don’t mind it at all. I think that the way it was described was in a almost tasteful way it was unsettling, but not overtly Corey. (Why does talking about this make me uncomfortable?)
The idea. The wendigo are creatures that truly fascinate me. Using them in the way this author did was smart. It kept me interested in the story. All I wanted was to see Real transform with that demon taking over him. Seeing a little into what their minds might be like was really creative and cool.
Sunny. I liked this character because she may have been completely flowed and horrible as a person, but it comes from a place that is real and I appreciate that. A lot of her thinking made sense to me even if I didn’t agree with the decisions she made.
Grey morality. The morals in this book were skewed all over the place. In a lot of ways that only added to the atmosphere of the novel. It isn’t really about rooting for the characters more as watching them live and make decisions that they tell themselves is right even when it isn’t. It added to making me feel uncomfortable and I read horror exactly for that dreadful feeling it gives.
What I Wish Was Different:
Evie’s behavior while pregnant. I know that she was thinking of giving up the baby and that it wouldn’t matter what she did, but it made me cringe on the inside with some of the actions she took. I feel like it might have all been part of the horror, but I feel like it took away more then it added.
MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!
The ending. This end was far too positive for my liking. I feel like a lot of what makes a good horror ending was absent. Real didn’t even eat his friend… it would have made a better story if at least someone had. It’s like all the build up and all the amazing horrific description was for naught, because in the end it didn’t matter. It was like giving me a tasty treat and saying sike as it dissolves into salt in my mouth. I just want my horror to give me horror. Let it end in the terrible darkness that began it. Don’t undue the story you have created by giving it an ending like this.
All in All:
Black Chuck is a fun thrill ride. It turns stomachs and creates an atmosphere. It is a diverse horror that I wish lacked the punch I knew it could have given.
Black Chuck made me feel like I was back watching Until Dawn, but only in a whispering barely there sort of way. Black Chuck is a story all its own and there are times where gross darkness smashes against a bit of hopeful light.
What I Enjoyed:
The dark description. When Real dreams the gross description of him killing and eating his friend. I may not like to watch that stuff happen in movies (I could never bring myself to watch raw or saw (why the names are so similar.. I don’t know) but in a book I don’t mind it at all. I think that the way it was described was in a almost tasteful way it was unsettling, but not overtly Corey. (Why does talking about this make me uncomfortable?)
The idea. The wendigo are creatures that truly fascinate me. Using them in the way this author did was smart. It kept me interested in the story. All I wanted was to see Real transform with that demon taking over him. Seeing a little into what their minds might be like was really creative and cool.
Sunny. I liked this character because she may have been completely flowed and horrible as a person, but it comes from a place that is real and I appreciate that. A lot of her thinking made sense to me even if I didn’t agree with the decisions she made.
Grey morality. The morals in this book were skewed all over the place. In a lot of ways that only added to the atmosphere of the novel. It isn’t really about rooting for the characters more as watching them live and make decisions that they tell themselves is right even when it isn’t. It added to making me feel uncomfortable and I read horror exactly for that dreadful feeling it gives.
What I Wish Was Different:
Evie’s behavior while pregnant. I know that she was thinking of giving up the baby and that it wouldn’t matter what she did, but it made me cringe on the inside with some of the actions she took. I feel like it might have all been part of the horror, but I feel like it took away more then it added.
MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!
The ending. This end was far too positive for my liking. I feel like a lot of what makes a good horror ending was absent. Real didn’t even eat his friend… it would have made a better story if at least someone had. It’s like all the build up and all the amazing horrific description was for naught, because in the end it didn’t matter. It was like giving me a tasty treat and saying sike as it dissolves into salt in my mouth. I just want my horror to give me horror. Let it end in the terrible darkness that began it. Don’t undue the story you have created by giving it an ending like this.
All in All:
Black Chuck is a fun thrill ride. It turns stomachs and creates an atmosphere. It is a diverse horror that I wish lacked the punch I knew it could have given.
March 19, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
"The thing you feared most always heard your call."
Black Chuck was good. Was it great? No. Could it use improvement? Yes. This story started out really good and complex. The best friend of Re was just murdered and not just murdered but almost mutilated. Now everyone is trying to figure out what happened to him. Real, Evie, Sunny, and Alex are all trying to deal with the aftermath. It sounded good and promising but as the story progressed I forgot about the murder altogether. It became much more focused on relationships and the surprising twists in that aspect than the mystery that was promised. Which wouldn't be bad if the story was marketed as a romance and not a mystery or murder story.
The writing was good and complex. I really enjoy how the authored layered things and how she played out the plot twists at good moments. The twists were another great thing that had me really surprised and intrigued and turning the page. This was definitely a page turner and fast-paced. I finished it in one day. Also, the author did a wonderful job with the diversity and how she handled the indigenous people. The mythology and culture was my favorite aspect of the book.
The characters were so multi-layered. This was a dual point-of-view told in Real's and Evie's perspective. It was interesting seeing inside their mind because they were so different but very similar. All four of the friends and Shaun really had their own inner demons and secrets that come out in due time. The romance was just as interesting. It was not this cute little angsty let's help each other romance. It was intoxicating, full of secrets, a constant push and pull, and dangerous (not in an abusive way.) But this didn't come easy either.
Overall I liked it and would probably re-read but it did have something that could be better. The plot, characters, and romance all could've used better development to round out the whole story into something more exciting. I wanted the romance to take a back seat to the murder but it was the other way around. And lastly, the writing was good as I said but at times it was so complex it confused me and I had to reread parts to make sure I wasn't missing something.
"The thing you feared most always heard your call."
Black Chuck was good. Was it great? No. Could it use improvement? Yes. This story started out really good and complex. The best friend of Re was just murdered and not just murdered but almost mutilated. Now everyone is trying to figure out what happened to him. Real, Evie, Sunny, and Alex are all trying to deal with the aftermath. It sounded good and promising but as the story progressed I forgot about the murder altogether. It became much more focused on relationships and the surprising twists in that aspect than the mystery that was promised. Which wouldn't be bad if the story was marketed as a romance and not a mystery or murder story.
The writing was good and complex. I really enjoy how the authored layered things and how she played out the plot twists at good moments. The twists were another great thing that had me really surprised and intrigued and turning the page. This was definitely a page turner and fast-paced. I finished it in one day. Also, the author did a wonderful job with the diversity and how she handled the indigenous people. The mythology and culture was my favorite aspect of the book.
The characters were so multi-layered. This was a dual point-of-view told in Real's and Evie's perspective. It was interesting seeing inside their mind because they were so different but very similar. All four of the friends and Shaun really had their own inner demons and secrets that come out in due time. The romance was just as interesting. It was not this cute little angsty let's help each other romance. It was intoxicating, full of secrets, a constant push and pull, and dangerous (not in an abusive way.) But this didn't come easy either.
Overall I liked it and would probably re-read but it did have something that could be better. The plot, characters, and romance all could've used better development to round out the whole story into something more exciting. I wanted the romance to take a back seat to the murder but it was the other way around. And lastly, the writing was good as I said but at times it was so complex it confused me and I had to reread parts to make sure I wasn't missing something.
April 24, 2018
*Spoiler alert: read at your own discretion*
Black Chuck by Regan McDonell is the kind of book I've always wanted to read. Dark murder mystery through the perspective of an indigenous main character, surrounded by beautiful, poetic writing. McDonell is masterful with her words, they're beautifully entwined with chaotic characters.
Black Chuck, however, isn't always what's expected to become. For example, the mystery part: no kidding, I really didn't expect Shaun's death to really become what it became. In some ways, it felt anti-climactic, but in other ways, I completely understood why McDonell would make a choice like this. She's simultaneously bringing a world of history connected to the spiritual with Real, and for that, it almost makes sense why a character as horrible as Shaun (as it's revealed that he's extremely abusive and problematic) would die the way he did. His death is much of himself: a pathetic and sad end point to his character and choices in life.
However, it wasn't necessarily the death itself that felt anti-clamactic. It was perhaps the romance. I knew from early on that Re and Evie would end up together. I am not a huge fan of romance in literature in general (I guess I'm dark like that) but I'd rather see a bad ending than a great one when it comes to romance, mainly due to the fact that often times I find romance tedious to stories and can sometimes drag down. While I enjoyed Re and Evie as characters and appreciated their dual narrations, I wish that there could've been something more to them, that they didn't have to be connected simply due to the romantic relationship between them. Personally, I wish the relationship stayed more platonic, but that's my own personal preference. I just felt that with a story that starts in darkness, I almost wanted it to end in darkness. But that could just be my twisted mind :)
Overall, I felt that the book was enjoyable, well-written (that prose is amazing!) with deep meaningful themes and well-rounded unpredictable characters. It's the type of book that with multiple reads will create continuous new ideas to emerge, and really what else measures a great book than that?
4.6 out of 5
Black Chuck by Regan McDonell is the kind of book I've always wanted to read. Dark murder mystery through the perspective of an indigenous main character, surrounded by beautiful, poetic writing. McDonell is masterful with her words, they're beautifully entwined with chaotic characters.
Black Chuck, however, isn't always what's expected to become. For example, the mystery part: no kidding, I really didn't expect Shaun's death to really become what it became. In some ways, it felt anti-climactic, but in other ways, I completely understood why McDonell would make a choice like this. She's simultaneously bringing a world of history connected to the spiritual with Real, and for that, it almost makes sense why a character as horrible as Shaun (as it's revealed that he's extremely abusive and problematic) would die the way he did. His death is much of himself: a pathetic and sad end point to his character and choices in life.
However, it wasn't necessarily the death itself that felt anti-clamactic. It was perhaps the romance. I knew from early on that Re and Evie would end up together. I am not a huge fan of romance in literature in general (I guess I'm dark like that) but I'd rather see a bad ending than a great one when it comes to romance, mainly due to the fact that often times I find romance tedious to stories and can sometimes drag down. While I enjoyed Re and Evie as characters and appreciated their dual narrations, I wish that there could've been something more to them, that they didn't have to be connected simply due to the romantic relationship between them. Personally, I wish the relationship stayed more platonic, but that's my own personal preference. I just felt that with a story that starts in darkness, I almost wanted it to end in darkness. But that could just be my twisted mind :)
Overall, I felt that the book was enjoyable, well-written (that prose is amazing!) with deep meaningful themes and well-rounded unpredictable characters. It's the type of book that with multiple reads will create continuous new ideas to emerge, and really what else measures a great book than that?
4.6 out of 5
July 6, 2018
Mature-Content Rating: Language, Death, Adult Situations, Underage Drinking, Drug Use, Triggers
This wasn’t the story I imagined it to be. I was expecting a murder/mystery with a compelling plot and a lot of secrets between friends. There are a lot of secrets, but most of the book is drama centered around a small group of friends.
Re`al is known for being tough and unapproachable, but we don’t really get to see much of that side of him. The story focuses so much on his relationship troubles that the writer forgot to show the ‘psycho’ side of Re`.
Evie was only plugged in to the group of friends by her boyfriend, Shaun. When Shaun is found dead she has to discover where she belongs in a group that she doesn’t really know as well as she thought.
Sunny and Alex are the couple of the group- always have been together and always will be kind of couple. Alex is a pot head that doesn’t seem to have much of a future and Sunny wears the pants in the relationship. She’s also more of a psycho than Re` is ever portrayed to be.
The plot itself is hard to grasp. Re` family is really superstitious and he believes a wendigo (slightly strange version of) may have killed Shaun and goes about his way trying to get rid of the evil. For me, there wasn’t enough interaction outside the little group of friends. A boy is dead, presumed murdered, and not once are his closest friends confronted by cops. Or by parents. Or teachers. Or other students. It seems the author put them in a bubble to expand on their romantic dramas.
Overall, it was an okay story. I liked the supernatural elements, the constant mystery of what really happened to Shaun, and some of the interactions of the characters; but it just fell short of being completely developed.
“Don’t get much better than this.” Alex had said, holding Sunny’s hand. And maybe he was right. Because getting back down had been a lot harder than getting up. Getting down had been climbing over the edge and seeing just how far there really was to fall. Trusting that the bolts would hold. That you’d make it back to earth in one piece.”
This wasn’t the story I imagined it to be. I was expecting a murder/mystery with a compelling plot and a lot of secrets between friends. There are a lot of secrets, but most of the book is drama centered around a small group of friends.
Re`al is known for being tough and unapproachable, but we don’t really get to see much of that side of him. The story focuses so much on his relationship troubles that the writer forgot to show the ‘psycho’ side of Re`.
Evie was only plugged in to the group of friends by her boyfriend, Shaun. When Shaun is found dead she has to discover where she belongs in a group that she doesn’t really know as well as she thought.
Sunny and Alex are the couple of the group- always have been together and always will be kind of couple. Alex is a pot head that doesn’t seem to have much of a future and Sunny wears the pants in the relationship. She’s also more of a psycho than Re` is ever portrayed to be.
The plot itself is hard to grasp. Re` family is really superstitious and he believes a wendigo (slightly strange version of) may have killed Shaun and goes about his way trying to get rid of the evil. For me, there wasn’t enough interaction outside the little group of friends. A boy is dead, presumed murdered, and not once are his closest friends confronted by cops. Or by parents. Or teachers. Or other students. It seems the author put them in a bubble to expand on their romantic dramas.
Overall, it was an okay story. I liked the supernatural elements, the constant mystery of what really happened to Shaun, and some of the interactions of the characters; but it just fell short of being completely developed.
December 22, 2017
In the aftermath of their friend’s death, “Black Chuck” takes us on a journey of grief, guilt and fear as the surviving friends struggle to make sense of what happened and deal with the fallout when secrets threaten to tear them apart.
It’s interesting to see the two main characters who we’re told weren’t that close before Shaun’s death, suddenly find themselves thrown into almost parallel situations where they have to deal with the consequences and pain of that loss all the while keeping the secret of the thing that lies hidden inside them threatening to change their lives forever.
This book is more of an exploration into what happens next when someone you know dies and how at the end of the day you can’t really know everything about someone. What you see in public, a stoner, the loner, or a king, can all be masks that hide the true monster or hero beneath and it’s not until you’re forced to recognize that truth can you uncover which is the true face.
In a side note completely unrelated to my rating because I understand why it couldn’t happen in the novel and still work because it would have taken up too much of the story leaving little time for the plot to play out and make an impact like it does as it stands, but I would have loved to see this story told with more of the cultural aspects of the Indigenous people mentioned especially when I got to the authors note and there was a reference to how much work she put into getting those parts as accurate and respectful as possible. The Black Chuck story itself and the internal struggle paired with the healing aspect to handle that could be an interesting subject for a horror type novel.
**thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
It’s interesting to see the two main characters who we’re told weren’t that close before Shaun’s death, suddenly find themselves thrown into almost parallel situations where they have to deal with the consequences and pain of that loss all the while keeping the secret of the thing that lies hidden inside them threatening to change their lives forever.
This book is more of an exploration into what happens next when someone you know dies and how at the end of the day you can’t really know everything about someone. What you see in public, a stoner, the loner, or a king, can all be masks that hide the true monster or hero beneath and it’s not until you’re forced to recognize that truth can you uncover which is the true face.
In a side note completely unrelated to my rating because I understand why it couldn’t happen in the novel and still work because it would have taken up too much of the story leaving little time for the plot to play out and make an impact like it does as it stands, but I would have loved to see this story told with more of the cultural aspects of the Indigenous people mentioned especially when I got to the authors note and there was a reference to how much work she put into getting those parts as accurate and respectful as possible. The Black Chuck story itself and the internal struggle paired with the healing aspect to handle that could be an interesting subject for a horror type novel.
**thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
February 27, 2018
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review
Réal Dufresne can't remember everything that happened that night just the fight and then later seeing Shaun's mutilated body. Réal is known for being psycho, sick and dangerous and he's beginning to think they are right. He is left to clean up the mess Shaun left behind and deal with his guilt over the events of that night.
Evie Hawley, Shawn's girlfriend, is sixteen and pregnant and now Shaun is dead. Suddenly Réal is in her life, the only other person who knows about the baby, and things begin to get even more complicated than they were. Evie must decide whether to keep her secrets about Shaun or open up to the one person who might truly understand her.
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this novel but I really enjoyed it. It's hard to describe the plot of this one without giving anything away. The beginning of the novel is a bit confusing until the different layers of the story are pulled away and the complexity of the characters is revealed. None of the characters are exactly who they appear to be and as the plot progresses you get pulled into the web of lies and deceit surrounding Shaun's death and those individuals closest to him. This is one of those books I couldn't put down until I figured everything out. It definitely gets more complex as the story progresses and you will slowly see the characters transition. This novel explores the shift from high school into adulthood as the characters deal with the responsibilities placed on them as well as the grief and guilt associated with the death of their friend. I really enjoyed this one and stayed up just so I could finish it in one sitting.
Réal Dufresne can't remember everything that happened that night just the fight and then later seeing Shaun's mutilated body. Réal is known for being psycho, sick and dangerous and he's beginning to think they are right. He is left to clean up the mess Shaun left behind and deal with his guilt over the events of that night.
Evie Hawley, Shawn's girlfriend, is sixteen and pregnant and now Shaun is dead. Suddenly Réal is in her life, the only other person who knows about the baby, and things begin to get even more complicated than they were. Evie must decide whether to keep her secrets about Shaun or open up to the one person who might truly understand her.
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this novel but I really enjoyed it. It's hard to describe the plot of this one without giving anything away. The beginning of the novel is a bit confusing until the different layers of the story are pulled away and the complexity of the characters is revealed. None of the characters are exactly who they appear to be and as the plot progresses you get pulled into the web of lies and deceit surrounding Shaun's death and those individuals closest to him. This is one of those books I couldn't put down until I figured everything out. It definitely gets more complex as the story progresses and you will slowly see the characters transition. This novel explores the shift from high school into adulthood as the characters deal with the responsibilities placed on them as well as the grief and guilt associated with the death of their friend. I really enjoyed this one and stayed up just so I could finish it in one sitting.
November 17, 2018
This novel packs a lot in, yet never reads or feels gratuitous. At heart it is a murder mystery… but a mystery firmly parked inside a story firmly rooted in indigenous mysticism and belief, while also tackling issues as varied as teen pregnancy and eating disorders. It shouldn’t work, but it does, and that is solely do to the skill of the author.
Beautifully written, the prose will draw you in and hold you. The author moves between the various voices seamlessly, with ease, all the while clearly defining and developing each individual character. But this is a messy book - as in life is messy. Don’t read this looking for simple answers. You won’t find them. Instead, be ready for complexity and nuance.
Things to like about the book...
the central characters, Evie and Real, individually, and/or together, they are both well drawn, complex, authentic individuals in their own right, and in their togetherness.
the scene building… the short little bits alternating back and forth between the various characters works really well. The author has a real knack for building dramatic tension and getting to the point succinctly, then moving on.
the wry humour
the suspense
the (slow) reveal… the author peels back the reality of Evie’s relationship with Shaun. Things are not always what they appear to be, not always as they seem.
the sensitive treatment of consent
secrets, and jealousy
the windigo… the dream sequences Real has take you to another world
This is a solid story about friendship, secrets, how well we do - or don’t - ever really know someone, and of course, grief.
Beautifully written, the prose will draw you in and hold you. The author moves between the various voices seamlessly, with ease, all the while clearly defining and developing each individual character. But this is a messy book - as in life is messy. Don’t read this looking for simple answers. You won’t find them. Instead, be ready for complexity and nuance.
Things to like about the book...
the central characters, Evie and Real, individually, and/or together, they are both well drawn, complex, authentic individuals in their own right, and in their togetherness.
the scene building… the short little bits alternating back and forth between the various characters works really well. The author has a real knack for building dramatic tension and getting to the point succinctly, then moving on.
the wry humour
the suspense
the (slow) reveal… the author peels back the reality of Evie’s relationship with Shaun. Things are not always what they appear to be, not always as they seem.
the sensitive treatment of consent
secrets, and jealousy
the windigo… the dream sequences Real has take you to another world
This is a solid story about friendship, secrets, how well we do - or don’t - ever really know someone, and of course, grief.
January 6, 2018
Out of all the ARCs I had requested as of late, I desired Black Chuck the most. It's easy to see the appeal in the dark, mysterious cover and the premise was brimming with a sort of broodiness that I was always attracted to. Unfortunately, while I appreciated the uniqueness of the concept, the amount of diversity involved, and the addicting nature of the story overall, those aspects couldn't save the rest of the book from being simply average.
The overall plot seemed to progress at a steady pace but certain subplots were left unexplored, and their sudden relevance at points felt forced and abrupt. This goes hand in hand with the characters, who seem to have depth but not enough to fully impact the several subplots they are involved in. Real, Evie, Sunny, Alex, and Shaun are the main characters and I would say they are an intriguing, diverse, and layered group. Each of them have their own backstories but I simply couldn't muster any interest to care about them. They are have interesting backgrounds but the motives behind their actions are hardly explored and most of their character traits are told rather than shown. However, Real and Evie both were likable enough to drive the story well and I did enjoy reading about Shaun and Evie's tumultuous relationship, even if the way it was expressed was a tad out of order.
There is an aspect of Native American ancestry incorporated, as Real is part Native American, where Real details how he's descended from a famous cannibal named Black Chuck. Frankly, this element was grossly underused and seemed to cramp up the style and vibe of the story, because, well, it was so out of place. It played a large part toward the end, but it didn't serve much purpose other to add to the diversity aspect, in my aspect. However, it was interesting to read about such a concept again, the only other time I had experienced something similar to this was in The Lives Of Desperate Girls, which was also set in Canada and explored Native American reservations.
Black Chuck is an unconventional, moody, and diverse mystery but it promises much more than it can deliver. Give it a try if you're in the mood for something totally new, but it won't be as satisfying as you want it to be.
The overall plot seemed to progress at a steady pace but certain subplots were left unexplored, and their sudden relevance at points felt forced and abrupt. This goes hand in hand with the characters, who seem to have depth but not enough to fully impact the several subplots they are involved in. Real, Evie, Sunny, Alex, and Shaun are the main characters and I would say they are an intriguing, diverse, and layered group. Each of them have their own backstories but I simply couldn't muster any interest to care about them. They are have interesting backgrounds but the motives behind their actions are hardly explored and most of their character traits are told rather than shown. However, Real and Evie both were likable enough to drive the story well and I did enjoy reading about Shaun and Evie's tumultuous relationship, even if the way it was expressed was a tad out of order.
There is an aspect of Native American ancestry incorporated, as Real is part Native American, where Real details how he's descended from a famous cannibal named Black Chuck. Frankly, this element was grossly underused and seemed to cramp up the style and vibe of the story, because, well, it was so out of place. It played a large part toward the end, but it didn't serve much purpose other to add to the diversity aspect, in my aspect. However, it was interesting to read about such a concept again, the only other time I had experienced something similar to this was in The Lives Of Desperate Girls, which was also set in Canada and explored Native American reservations.
Black Chuck is an unconventional, moody, and diverse mystery but it promises much more than it can deliver. Give it a try if you're in the mood for something totally new, but it won't be as satisfying as you want it to be.
November 29, 2018
In my opinion, this book was very interesting. At first, it took at while for the story to fully develop as some parts in the story were not very interesting and if didn’t attract me. However, as the plot continues the story dives deeper into the characters and their struggles, which gets more interesting.. The story is in Réal Dufresne’s and Evie Hayley’s perspective. The friends( Réal, Alex, Sunny, and Evie) dealing with Shaun’s death, who is also Evie’s boyfriend. They are unclear about his cause of death and each person gets affected by the death, some more than others. The story continues emphasizing Réal and Evie’s struggles, as Réal thinks he killed Shaun and Evie is carrying Shaun’s baby. The characters learn about themselves and each other, which leads to problems between them. The conclusion was surprising to me and I wouldn’t have guessed it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but it took a while for me to get fully interested in it.
September 14, 2020
Once again I’ve picked up another YA novel without realizing it so I expected much more.
The subject matter was quite violent, graphic and foul in many passages throughout the book that I don’t agree is appropriate in a YA novel. I guess these days anything goes.
The beginning was promising. From the end of the beginning to the book finale there was a whole lot of nothing. Seriously, nothing happened.
During the entire middle of the book, some clues were unravelled about the original death. No police ever showed up and this just made the story wholly focussed on teenaged angst & drama. Finally there was some mention of police involvement at the end.
The author has the ability to write prose but she also has the ability to easily confuse as to which character is talking....and, are we in a dream or remembering something from the past or living in the present day?
It was a quick read so it didn’t waste a lot of time...
The subject matter was quite violent, graphic and foul in many passages throughout the book that I don’t agree is appropriate in a YA novel. I guess these days anything goes.
The beginning was promising. From the end of the beginning to the book finale there was a whole lot of nothing. Seriously, nothing happened.
During the entire middle of the book, some clues were unravelled about the original death. No police ever showed up and this just made the story wholly focussed on teenaged angst & drama. Finally there was some mention of police involvement at the end.
The author has the ability to write prose but she also has the ability to easily confuse as to which character is talking....and, are we in a dream or remembering something from the past or living in the present day?
It was a quick read so it didn’t waste a lot of time...
January 13, 2026
You can tell that Regan is a poet at heart. The words she uses to describe actions, senses and feeling are so unexpected and gorgeous, even when what she is describing may be horrific, that I found myself stopping to reread passages so that I could fully absorb the impact of her profound gifts as a writer. Black Chuck, available from Orca Books, is Regan’s debut and is YA in focus. Unlike other YA I’ve read, this book doesn’t discount the age of the reader in presenting a complex and haunting account of a group of friends struggling to reconcile the death of a friend with possible supernatural causes, their own circles of abuse, teen pregnancy, deceit, and the monstrous nature of humanity…a thriller, an emotional and unreliable narrator, a doomed romance….highly recommended for youth and adults alike, and I commend Regan for the thoughtful and culturally sensitive way she included Indigenous culture and beliefs.
December 9, 2018
Enjoyable read that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Réal’s best friend dies suddenly leaving behind his pregnant girlfriend. The book is told from Réal and Evelyn’s point of view going through their grief and blame after Shaun’s death. Nobody can remember the night Shaun died and no one knows what happened, police start investigating suspecting it was murder. Their group of 5 friends is torn apart by Shaun’s death and everything changes. It was a good book however the author intermixed short-forms into thoughts of the characters like “wtf” along with others. I did enjoy the cultures mix of characters and pot, through myths/stories of the Windigo from First Nations culture. I would recommend this book it was murder mystery and thriller intermixed with a sub-plot of romance. A dark story with a well meaning plot and deep characters.
January 9, 2019
I thought this book was good at the beginning, where we are introduced to the themes of cannibalism and violence in a teenage love story. It was very interesting to see this theme play out alongside the themes of love and friendship that "Black Chuck" features, and how the characters deal with a certain tragedy. I was invested in the friendship between Evie, Sunny, Ré and Shaun. Friendship is a very important aspect of this story.
However, the book loses me when it focuses on the romance and soon the story turns into a high school cliché. The characters make decisions way too quickly and the ending leaves a lot of character's stories hanging in the air.
Overall, I didn't love this book, mainly because of the push for a love story that created a lot of unnecessary drama. But it was still a satisfactory read thanks to its characters and themes.
However, the book loses me when it focuses on the romance and soon the story turns into a high school cliché. The characters make decisions way too quickly and the ending leaves a lot of character's stories hanging in the air.
Overall, I didn't love this book, mainly because of the push for a love story that created a lot of unnecessary drama. But it was still a satisfactory read thanks to its characters and themes.
June 26, 2022
A fabulous debut novel, full of teen angst, Aboriginal spiritualism, biker gangs, and a mystery to boot! When Real Dufresne's best friend Shaun is found dead, his body brutally mangled, dreams of a legendary past family horror lead Real to believe he caused his friend's death. Adding to his guilt is his attraction to Shaun's pregnant girlfriend, Evie. Evie has secrets beyond her pregnancy, one of them being that Shaun wasn't all his group his friends thought him to be. As Shaun's circle of friends struggle to deal with his death, they must also deal with their high school graduation and the start of the next stage of their lives. Despite being a middle-aged woman, I totally felt for these characters as they struggled through poverty, displacement, and teenage growing pains. I hope Ms. McDonell gives us more dynamic characters to root for in the future.
March 21, 2018
black chuck by Regan McDonnell.
Psycho. Sick. Dangerous. Réal Dufresne's reputation precedes him. When the mangled body of his best friend, Shaun, turns up in a field just east of town, tough-as-hell Réal blames himself. But except for the nightmares, all Ré remembers is beating the living crap out of Shaun the night of his death.
Shaun's girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Evie Hawley, keeps her feelings locked up tight. But now she's pregnant, and the father of her baby is dead. And when Réal looks to her to atone for his sins, everything goes sideways. Fast.
The tighter Evie and Réal get, the faster things seem to fall apart. And falling in love might just be the card that knocks the whole house down.
this was a slow starter. but picked up a bit. I liked the story. so only 4*.
Psycho. Sick. Dangerous. Réal Dufresne's reputation precedes him. When the mangled body of his best friend, Shaun, turns up in a field just east of town, tough-as-hell Réal blames himself. But except for the nightmares, all Ré remembers is beating the living crap out of Shaun the night of his death.
Shaun's girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Evie Hawley, keeps her feelings locked up tight. But now she's pregnant, and the father of her baby is dead. And when Réal looks to her to atone for his sins, everything goes sideways. Fast.
The tighter Evie and Réal get, the faster things seem to fall apart. And falling in love might just be the card that knocks the whole house down.
this was a slow starter. but picked up a bit. I liked the story. so only 4*.
February 7, 2019
3.5 Stars. The plot is super interesting and I really enjoy reading dark topics/storylines such as this book but I felt like McDonell had this super cool idea but did not put it to good use...enough. I know that sounds very harsh but that is what it felt like for me. The book really makes you think and half of the time I didn't see the plot twists coming, so that was a plus for me. I think overall what I disliked about the book were the characters. They felt dull and I didn't really care for them as much as I wanted. What I noticed while reading this is that this is much more of a plot-driven novel rather than a character driven one. Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read and it definitely leaves you constantly thinking about it after your done!
April 3, 2018
I had high hopes for this book. I was hoping it would be a very twisted thriller. Evie didn't impress me as a character. Her situation and relationship to Shaun was the only thing that made her interesting. Every time Sunny opened her mouth I wanted to smack her. Alex's twist at the end... I LOVED it. Real... Now he was a character his whole internal struggle was awesome. It was a topic I've never really come across before in my reading adventures. This book was gory and graphic. The plot was intriguing but I felt like it kind of fell short. The ending after the graduation party was good but the solved mystery of Shaun's death was a bit anticlimactic. I was expecting something more.
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