I've been wondering. In itbeyitwu, there's a moment in John's POV where he describes that Dave has super strength but always forgot to mention it in the books before. It would make sense because it would be part of Dave's monster identity, which he is insecure about, so he'd have a good reason to hide it. But we also know that John's POVs are 90% bullshit.
So does Dave actually have super strength, or is John bullshitting?
read jdate4 last week and i’m still thinking about it. it was so good and i was scared i wouldn’t love it even though the series is my favourite of all time. it was funny and dumb and a bit emotional at one point and i’m really considering rereading it because it’s put me in such a reading slump.
If This Book Exists, You're In The Wrong Universe review and yapping
Personal rating: 9.5/10
Ranking in the book series: Top 2
I think I liked this one more than the average person. It's difficult to explain exactly why, I just really enjoyed myself with this one. It's the longest book in the series, I think. I like mind fuck and this one was the greatest sex my brain has ever gotten. The time line of this book is da filthy but it still makes sense (?) At least I didn't notice any inconsistencies that usually come up with time travel/ time loop stories. Anyway, further rambling down below.
The tone:
This one might be the perfect mix of all genres. I feel like the comedy-horror-drama ratio was pretty evened out here, which I quite enjoyed. It's portioned, though. You get a whole lot of funny in the beginning, mostly action and funny in the middle, maybe I'm just a pussy but the last act made my heart go ouchie at times. The horror was the disturbing kind, and I love it. Overall, it was very entertaining from start to finish.
The pacing:
The pacing wasn't perfect, but nothing was bothering me too much. The ending had, once again the problem, that it never seemed to find an end. It went on and on and on, but I didn't mind it. I also rather have 7 more chapters than ending the story with John's head mush and the city of [Undisclosed] vaporized, so I'm not complaining. All the characters get enough screen time, the tension never comes too short or too long, and the more emotional bits are long enough to get you invested but not too long to make you cry on public transport.
It also all came down full circle, even the most unsuspecting things coming into play again, later. (the fucking DO NOT OPEN cabinet in John's home, are you kidding?! It wasn't important to the story and useless as all hell BUT it came back into play in the most anticlimactic way possible)
The supernatural elements:
Xarcrax: The Xarcrax cult is obviously inspired by the red-pill contents, especially how young boys can be pulled into this non-sense because they crave a feeling of validation, community, and superiority (often times because people have wronged them and they don't get the comfort they seek, elsewhere) It's a nice mix of real issues, and paranormal aspects so it still fits in there well. And yes, Dave was right. The name is stupid. It's even more stupid once it's revealed how the name was created in the first place.
Magpie and Mr. Swallows: These creatures are very much THE horror element of this book. While not as terrifying as monsters from other books, it's still caused for some amazingly scary moments. Also, the idea of the beings being invisible except for the inside of their stomach is creative and quickly turns disturbing. The eyeball moments were da filthy!
The Time Captain: The fact that all this has happened once is introduced to us early on. Before dying, the Time Captain confirmed that the events of the book are their second chance to save the world. The concept of this not being their second chance, but their 100.000.000+ chance, is only revealed around the half way mark. Maybe even later. Revealing the concept of a time loop this late was honestly a great choice. It caused both comfort and concern. I'm all for happy endings but I'm always annoyed with time loop stories that just show that one time they break the loop and the loop gets broken for no damn reason. Not only do we see a failed attempt here but also a reasoning as to why it works the next time (and finally we know why it's called John Dies At The End. I didn't cry. And if you think I did, good luck proving it, asshole!)
The BATMANTIS???: Although we don't see the BATMANTIS??? as a creature in this book, it's highly implied that Dave transformed at least 3 times. One time in a "dream", hunting and feeding. One time when him and Joy were being attacked and he had to release the beast to protect them. Great fucking scene. We only see the lead up and the pay off, so there is still a certain mystery to the BATMANTIS??? but Dave is very fucking powerful when transformed. The decapitated head and the organs he puked out afterwards prove it. The last time he transformed is to presumably eat the asshole misogynistic twat of a father, bones and all. I couldn't say "slay" louder.
The characters:
Once again, beautiful human stories in-between this monster-action-flick. Dave is still far from perfect, but he has grown since book 3 (the bar was in hell). He has also become quite the action hero. Still chubby and a little bit damp, but damn, he can prove himself in stressful situations. In general, the whole team has improved so much over the years that you'd almost think they are professionals.
John is still funny and stupid but damn, did he pull on my heart strings this book. What kind of beef did he have with the universe for it to make it a rule that this manic sewer-rat of a man HAS to die?!
Amy is perfect. She's my angel, the love of my life, my hero, if anything ever happens to her, I will destroy this realm. I also adore that she is fully part of the monster hunter gang, without having the ability to see the monsters. It just proves how badass she can be because she can still keep up with the boys while "blind".
I also love the addition of Joy. It was interesting to let her stay in the background for most of the book and then have her be one of the main reasons why they can save the world. I also love her view on humans and why she loves them so much. All while she's still a bitch to John and the rest, I adore her so much. I noticed that she doesn't use her abilities often, even if it would make everyone's life easier. Her reasoning and fear makes it all very valid and immediately puts some depth into this character.
Bas was also a good character. I doubt he will appear in future stories, but he was a great antagonist. He was a realistic mix of well-taught magic user and amateurish teen. His love for his sisters and the obvious grief that lead his action makes him a sympathetic villain, who, at the end of the day is just another grieving boy who doesn't get the help he seeks.
Other aspects and bits that I liked:
-"Knife to meet you!"
-The first two pages are Dave's Ebay offers of cursed and/or magic items that seem pretty useless, but you just know supernatural nerds would buy.
-The "Prologue" if you can call it that reintroducing you to the gang and their shenanigans with a seemingly stand-alone mission was a great way to open the book, so readers who have had a long break between books could get a smooth feeling for the craziness again. The monster ending up being part of the bigger picture was even greater.
-amy
-No fucking way did we get another black-out situation. I expected another terrifying outcome as we got in book one. It just ended up being Dave from another universe watching the shenanigans and being bored so he skipped forward, causing their entire universe to skip forward as well?!?!?
-That ending? She ate and left no crumbs!!! (talking about Dave commiting cannibalism)
-Pool portals!
-Only in a John Dies At The End book can you have a figure appearing in your room at night, who is about to tell you the prophecy of how to save the world... only to solidify into the wall and die before getting to the most important parts.
-His name is Tim Kaplan. Gets referred to as Time Captain throughout the entire fucking book because John wasn't listening.
-The entity Xarcrax got named after a fucking portable cooler. Who the fuck comes up with this shit?!??!
THAT BEING SAID I LOVE LOVE LOVE JOY i love her and david i love them bonding I loved her grabbing him by the shoulders and getting him to stop being such a little bitch about not being human. i think its so important for him to have someone like that on his life, as good as amy and john are theyll never be able to relate on that level. daves so uneasy by the concept of her existing it completely escapes him that shes like this because, like him, she hs no other way to be. she eats (probably) she sleeps (presumably) she shits (assumedly) she goes to work and pays rent and has friends and likes shopping. it doesnt matter that she doesn't NEED these things, humans dont NEED toilets or spices or the internet but we have them because we like them.
i feel like it meandered a Little, that shit with the time skips and learning it was dave all along felt really clunky, kind of like a patch job to fix some kind of hole in the story. it was definitely more terrifying thinking it was the magpie doing that to them
additionally the ending felt just a little Too easy considering how much it was emphasized that john Always Dies, and the last attempt being the ONLY one where thy considered asking joy to help was. eh
