You Can't Bring Them Back is a face-paced literary fiction book with dark fantasy elements about the cycle of terror US imperialism creates.
Meet Excalibur, a teenage boy escaping an abusive home life who goes on a wild misadventure. He tries to find the meaning of family and a new place to call home all while fighting against a corrupt world that would like to grind him down. You Can’t Bring Them Back takes you on a downward spiral of emotion, and mercilessly pulls out your heart.
Take a break from the story of Excalibur with three devilishly sinister interludes.
This book is absolutely captivating. I’m neurodivergent and have a short attention span. This book is fast paced which helps keep me engaged to the point where I was able to finish the book. If you pay enough attention the book isn't as confusing as people are saying. The author leaves room for your own interpretation. This book is dark and will definitely throw you through a loop but I highly recommend to people who have difficulty with slow paced books.
DNF 25% 3* (porque no lo termine / 'cause I didn't finish it)
[ENG] The moment they start talking in Excalibur's head I was so far away of the story. I didn't expect that and for that I couldn't finish it. I leave the book at 25% because I wanted to give it an opportunity, but this is full of metaphors and fantasy and weird stuff that aren't my type. Not only that, but I thought it was going to be kind of dark and angst, maybe realistic, but the search for the meaning of family is very introspective, and I'm not a reader for this book. *Thanks to netgalley for the arc* *It's 3* 'cause I didn't finishi and It wasn't terrible but just -- *
[ESP] En el momento en el que ellos comienzan a hablar en la mente de Excalibur, me vi muy lejos de la historia. Realmente no esperaba eso y por ende no pude terminarlo. Llegué al 25% porque quería darle una oportunidad pero está repleto de metaforas y fantasy y cosas extrañas que no son de mi estilo. Y no solo eso, sino que creí que iba a ser más oscura y quizás realista, pero esa búsqueda por el significado de familia es muy introspectivo y definitivamente no soy la lectora para este libro.
I didn't feel a connection to the book or the character, who's name you will definitely learn since it is said almost every other paragraph. I loved the concept of it being about a boy running away from his abusive home, but not much made sense to me. It was very jumpy, and once something was happening, something else would happen that had nothing to do with it.
I was expecting something more dark and with more angst. This will be for other readers, I am sadly not one of them.
3 star, because I did not make it through and wouldn't want to drag down an average for my doing.
This was an interesting journey from start to finish! Matthew Yoppini has created an adventure that had me questioning when I should and where I would draw the line. It gave me some Tarzan vibes when this story first started out. Excalibur was a complicated main character and I found myself happy that he found his own tribe (other than those of the monkeys). The end of this book felt a bit like a slap in the face, but it made sense for the horror that Excalibur had to live through; This was good but tough to condone at all times.
I receive a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I tried really hard, I made it about 45%. The writing wasn't what I expected, it's horrifically violent, lot's of Trans/Gay Trauma, There were some interesting motifs and allusions in part one, but not enough to save for me. Part two was just more trauma, violence and anti-establishment sentiments.
I don't get it. I don't understand it. The book is so full of run-on sentences that it just doesn't make sense. I read through about 20% before I gave up. So, there you have it; I have no idea what this book is about.
I did not expect to not enjoy it as I thought but I didn't love it either. it did get my attention with the idea of the book but the storytelling tho? not really.
I do not hate it but I do not love it. I love the charactors and the whole he has entered a place thats like another world. But its not something will read over and over.