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horror_reads's review
5.0
This is a fantastic novella that takes historical events and mixes it with a spellbinding story about loss and grief.
Set in Galveston Texas in 1900, a hurricane unlike any other is about to unleash its wrath. But in this book we have a fish-man (who is just as you would think), two orphans, a man who is lonely, and a tough as nails woman.
The orphans are a brother and sister. The girl has a psychic kind of gift and the boy is a crack shot with a pistol. There's also a couple of very bad men who would just as soon see them all dead in order to get their hands on the fish-man, Charlie.
During a devastating hurricane (a real life event) they are all going to find themselves together in a deadly struggle for survival.
There's more to this story than just those basics. But the less you know going in the better. This is an emotionally charged book, filled with loss and longing. Guilt and fear. And also redemption and hope.
I highly recommend this one especially if you want historical fiction, a heart wrenching but action packed narrative, and characters you'll love.
Set in Galveston Texas in 1900, a hurricane unlike any other is about to unleash its wrath. But in this book we have a fish-man (who is just as you would think), two orphans, a man who is lonely, and a tough as nails woman.
The orphans are a brother and sister. The girl has a psychic kind of gift and the boy is a crack shot with a pistol. There's also a couple of very bad men who would just as soon see them all dead in order to get their hands on the fish-man, Charlie.
During a devastating hurricane (a real life event) they are all going to find themselves together in a deadly struggle for survival.
There's more to this story than just those basics. But the less you know going in the better. This is an emotionally charged book, filled with loss and longing. Guilt and fear. And also redemption and hope.
I highly recommend this one especially if you want historical fiction, a heart wrenching but action packed narrative, and characters you'll love.
carturo222's review
4.0
I wrote about this book for the Hugo-winning, Ignyte-winning blog Nerds of a Feather:
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/06/quick-round-my-recent-readings.html
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/06/quick-round-my-recent-readings.html
margueriteturley's review against another edition
5.0
Such a fabulous little book! Wonderful characters that I just loved, who had such sadness but hope at the same time. Such a great premise of getting Charlie Fish back to his family, and the horror and goodness that ensues in that journey. This book is a definite must for your summer reading list!!
ciitriin's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
more of a disaster story than a western
mcadoozy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
rion_gale's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
timgrubbs's review
1.0
Terrible. DO NOT READ!!
The Legend of Charlie Fish by Josh Rountree presents itself as a modern dime novel about a family that comes across a fish man.
Charlie Fish is virtually a supporting character in a story with very few interesting lead characters.
Set in Texas in 1932 ahead of a terrible storm, it gives little reason to be interested in the characters or their struggles.
Nothing interesting happens.
Stay away.
NO NOT READ!! I made the mistake of going back to read it at the urging of a friend and I suffered for my trouble…
This is not a fishman western that you might want. Hopefully one day someone writes a story that does meet that demand…
The Legend of Charlie Fish by Josh Rountree presents itself as a modern dime novel about a family that comes across a fish man.
Charlie Fish is virtually a supporting character in a story with very few interesting lead characters.
Set in Texas in 1932 ahead of a terrible storm, it gives little reason to be interested in the characters or their struggles.
Nothing interesting happens.
Stay away.
NO NOT READ!! I made the mistake of going back to read it at the urging of a friend and I suffered for my trouble…
This is not a fishman western that you might want. Hopefully one day someone writes a story that does meet that demand…
margueriteturley's review
5.0
Such a fabulous little book! Wonderful characters that I just loved, who had such sadness but hope at the same time. Such a great premise of getting Charlie Fish back to his family, and the horror and goodness that ensues in that journey. This book is a definite must for your summer reading list!!
musclelf's review
3.0
Three and a half stars. This feels like something I would have written in college. I was really into writing westerns, magical realism, and soft science fiction. And while it's certainly written better than I could have ever done, it's also part of the (perhaps unfair) reason I'm only giving this three and a half stars. It feels like part of a story. Incomplete. Just like all of my college tries were, in the end.
Why is Charlie Fish even in this story at all? He hardly registers and it's supposed to be his legend? He barely has an impact in the story and feels more like an object to protect and fight over than a character. I did enjoy the rest of the characters however, but again I felt their stories were truncated. I'm a huge fan of novellas and short stories. It can be hard to write a complete story with so little room to do so, but I've read many, many, many stories that have accomplished it. Unfortunately I cannot count this one among them.
I feel bad crapping all over this book, it's really not as bad as I'm making it sound. Again, three and a half stars. I enjoyed the little boy with the big gun, I loved the Texas setting, the hurricane was terrifying to read about, and there were two pretty good villains.
Why is Charlie Fish even in this story at all? He hardly registers and it's supposed to be his legend? He barely has an impact in the story and feels more like an object to protect and fight over than a character. I did enjoy the rest of the characters however, but again I felt their stories were truncated. I'm a huge fan of novellas and short stories. It can be hard to write a complete story with so little room to do so, but I've read many, many, many stories that have accomplished it. Unfortunately I cannot count this one among them.
I feel bad crapping all over this book, it's really not as bad as I'm making it sound. Again, three and a half stars. I enjoyed the little boy with the big gun, I loved the Texas setting, the hurricane was terrifying to read about, and there were two pretty good villains.
heggs's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0