Review: The Boy in the Iron Box series by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

About the Book
Dawn breaks, but the nightmare only intensifies in the shocking finale of The Boy in the Iron Box. In a final confrontation, the true nature of the Boy is coming to light.

In a stone chamber, the familiar young figure lingers with an unsettling calm. He has a question for Liev: Do you want to stop me? Now, for two merchants of death, each with his own purpose, one last contest lies ahead.

From Academy Award–winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Encounter, chapter six of The Boy in the Iron Box, a blood-chilling serialized novel about an ancient secret that was never meant to be unleashed, featuring exclusive interior artwork. Each chapter can be read or listened to in one breathless sitting.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Note: This is a review for the whole series. You can find my thoughts on the first episode here.

This was an exciting series jam-packed with fast-paced action and high stakes. The sense of impending danger was palpable. This is labeled "horror,” and while there were plenty of tense, suspenseful, and even gruesome moments that had me on the edge of my seat, I was never scared. That might just be me, though. 

I will say that I had a hard time keeping the characters straight. They weren’t distinct enough for me to easily tell them apart.

I'm a little conflicted about the ending. It wasn't bad, and I really don't know any other way it could've ended, but it left me feeling slightly unsatisfied. That’s not to say that I didn’t like this series. I did. It held my attention and was an entertaining way to spend the afternoon. I think it would make a great TV series. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more from these authors.

Just a warning: this was a bit gory, so if you’re sensitive to that, keep that in mind.

FOUR STARS