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barefootmegz's review
4.0
The trick to enjoying Sanctuary, is expecting the right thing - and I guess I was lucky, because my expectations were spot-on. Sanctuary is the story of a bunch of misfits - both corporeal and slightly less-so - creating a safe space in a less-than-safe world.
The novel is character-driven, not plot-driven. There are many characters, and if you want to get deep into their heads without using your own imagination, you will be disappointed. Personally, I have discovered a little niche of books that explore a group of characters who exist in a similar setting, often a household situation-ship, and I enjoy it tremendously.
Sanctuary offers suggestion, not fully-formed answers. For example, we never learn exactly what Araminta experienced in her younger life, but we know enough to guess. I believe that when the reader is allowed to fill gaps in a character’s story, it allows the reader more opportunity to see parts of themselves in the character.
Frankly, a group of adults with ADHD and other diverse factors, making a home for themselves in a huge old house, would already attract me into reading it. I AM HERE FOR IT! The paranormal angle was fun, and I loved reading about the different ghosts, as well as their histories. That definitely held my attention, and I suspect Buchanan had great fun writing it.
There has been criticism about the plot being slow, or starting too late, but like I said, I did not see this as a plot-driven novel at all. I don’t know if that was intentional on the author’s side, but it is how I feel about the novel, and I’m sticking to it.
My biggest criticisms are:
The fight scene is confusing and messy, but not in a good way;
The final chapter is very preachy/didactic.
Oh, and Isobel’s interspersed narrative? I am so intrigued, and I want to read those insets again! I have no idea what it all means, but I’m happy to use my imagination.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is character-driven, not plot-driven. There are many characters, and if you want to get deep into their heads without using your own imagination, you will be disappointed. Personally, I have discovered a little niche of books that explore a group of characters who exist in a similar setting, often a household situation-ship, and I enjoy it tremendously.
Sanctuary offers suggestion, not fully-formed answers. For example, we never learn exactly what Araminta experienced in her younger life, but we know enough to guess. I believe that when the reader is allowed to fill gaps in a character’s story, it allows the reader more opportunity to see parts of themselves in the character.
Frankly, a group of adults with ADHD and other diverse factors, making a home for themselves in a huge old house, would already attract me into reading it. I AM HERE FOR IT! The paranormal angle was fun, and I loved reading about the different ghosts, as well as their histories. That definitely held my attention, and I suspect Buchanan had great fun writing it.
There has been criticism about the plot being slow, or starting too late, but like I said, I did not see this as a plot-driven novel at all. I don’t know if that was intentional on the author’s side, but it is how I feel about the novel, and I’m sticking to it.
My biggest criticisms are:
The fight scene is confusing and messy, but not in a good way;
The final chapter is very preachy/didactic.
Oh, and Isobel’s interspersed narrative? I am so intrigued, and I want to read those insets again! I have no idea what it all means, but I’m happy to use my imagination.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bmccabe088's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
hualianr's review
4.0
One thing about me is that I am an absolute sucker for the found family trope, and despite this being established from the beginning, it was still such a joy to read about the relationships the residents of Casswell Park shared.
Each character in this book was well fleshed out, and we got a vast amount of representation including; an entire cast of neurodivergent characters, transgender and nonbinary characters, disabled characters, lesbian characters, queer characters, Black characters, and a South Asian character. The shared experiences that these characters had made for a loving and understanding environment, with each character having a clear understanding of the boundaries and needs of the others. This isn't to say that the group was completely perfect - arguments were had as in any family, but they worked through those easily.
As for the plot, it was an interesting one. Casswell Park is not only home to our cast of humans, but to a cast of various ghosts too. These ghosts - unlike how they're usually portrayed - aren't tethered to where their death occurred but can move from location to location, choosing to tether themself to a building should they wish. When an old man arrives with a collection of glass bottles and the information that they contain ghosts within them, the residents of Casswell Park devise a plan to free them from their confinement - slowly so as not to overwhelm the current ghostly residents of their home. What ensues after this is a mixture of spooky happenings and some bad decision-making.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The strongest point of this book from me was definitely the characters - they're well written and feel incredibly real, and at times are very relatable. The plot was interesting and moved at a good pace, and I especially loved the chapters where we followed Isobel, as the insight they gave to the story was a nice touch, and they helped set the plot up pretty well. My only criticism would be that but other than that, everything was great!
[ARC provided by NetGalley.]
Each character in this book was well fleshed out, and we got a vast amount of representation including; an entire cast of neurodivergent characters, transgender and nonbinary characters, disabled characters, lesbian characters, queer characters, Black characters, and a South Asian character. The shared experiences that these characters had made for a loving and understanding environment, with each character having a clear understanding of the boundaries and needs of the others. This isn't to say that the group was completely perfect - arguments were had as in any family, but they worked through those easily.
As for the plot, it was an interesting one. Casswell Park is not only home to our cast of humans, but to a cast of various ghosts too. These ghosts - unlike how they're usually portrayed - aren't tethered to where their death occurred but can move from location to location, choosing to tether themself to a building should they wish. When an old man arrives with a collection of glass bottles and the information that they contain ghosts within them, the residents of Casswell Park devise a plan to free them from their confinement - slowly so as not to overwhelm the current ghostly residents of their home. What ensues after this is a mixture of spooky happenings and some bad decision-making.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The strongest point of this book from me was definitely the characters - they're well written and feel incredibly real, and at times are very relatable. The plot was interesting and moved at a good pace, and I especially loved the chapters where we followed Isobel, as the insight they gave to the story was a nice touch, and they helped set the plot up pretty well. My only criticism would be that
Spoiler
the fight at the end of the novel felt a little long and at times I struggled to visualise it[ARC provided by NetGalley.]
blandrea_reads's review
DNF
There was so much that attracted me to this book, but it never quite hooked.
There was a a hugely diverse cast, complicated and quirky individuals and thr promise of s good mystery but it didn't hit for me now.
I am a mood reader and this may not have been the right time. I do intend to retry when I am in the mood for a super natural mystery.
There was so much that attracted me to this book, but it never quite hooked.
There was a a hugely diverse cast, complicated and quirky individuals and thr promise of s good mystery but it didn't hit for me now.
I am a mood reader and this may not have been the right time. I do intend to retry when I am in the mood for a super natural mystery.
ryttu3k's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
noshyira's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
the_crooked_neighbor's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This story has a great premise and a solid base. I think this book could be a 4.5 or 5 star read if it went through a couple more rounds of edits. The pacing of the book is really strange with almost nothing happening for half the book and then a solid two chapters of a climax that felt like it went on forever followed by a way too long ending. I think I honestly would have enjoyed the book more if nothing had happened at all because while the late half of the book fell flat- I did really enjoy the set up and the characters. I think if one or two (or three) of the very large cast of this book were cut and the genesis for the conflict was re-written to seem less totally avoidable this would have been infinitely better. In the end, it is a 3.5 not a 3 for me because the representation and the care put into the book made it worth reading for me, even if I was sad that it did not meet its potential.
mimosaeyes's review
3.0
I'm always down to read about queer people, neurodivergent people, and ghosts. So this book is right up my alley! I appreciate the safe space the author has dreamt up in the big house of Casswell Park. The characters support and accommodate one another, trying to live in (though a little apart from) a world that tends to be unwelcoming of them. We love to see it.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
overallshowman's review
3.0
I received an advanced digital review copy for free from Robot Dinosaur Press through BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Let it be known that it pains me to rate this book less than four stars. It has everything I want in a book and more: my favorite trope (found family), a diverse set of characters, a neurodivergent MC and side characters, nonbinary characters, queer characters, supernatural abilities, and ghosts. And yet. And yet it fell flat for me. Please know that this review is fully subjective and your experience could be different!
Sanctuary follows Morgan, an adult living with their girlfriend Araminta, and some of their friends. Living in an old massive house full of ghosts, they all made it their goal for their house to become a sanctuary not only for the ghosts but also for each other. After a collection of ghosts were brought to their house in need of a sanctuary, they are faced with challenges rooted in centuries back.
I love the dynamics between these characters. They are not conventional, and I guess neurotypicals could find themselves annoyed at their relationship dynamics because they would not understand it, but I loved it. It does seem kind of idealistic, and I found myself wanting this sort of connection, which brings us back to how this book does its job of providing a safe space for queer and neurodiverse readers as well. However, I found the individual characterization stiff and two-dimensional. A few chapters in and I started struggling to continue. This book features a huge set of characters and they are all named, both living and ghosts alike. My problem is that the way they are introduced—or not because some of them suddenly just got casual mentions—could lead to confusion for the reader. The transitions between settings seemed very abrupt and rough at times too, which is another factor to that.
The main conflict didn't start until later on, and the event that triggered it—however heavy—seemed lackluster to me. Because it's character-driven and dare I say very introspective, the climax appeared to be quiet and slow. I have mixed opinions about it because I did love how the characters interacted and worked with each other but I dreaded how low the stakes felt. Reading the action scenes felt like watching a strangely written flashback in the middle of an anime fight scene, where the idea goes somewhere else entirely, taking us out of the moment instead of letting the sequence flow and allowing us to feel for the characters more. This may appeal to other readers, but I fear it's not for me.
Ultimately, I do appreciate the heart of this book. If one looks at this symbolically, it's easy to see that the way this book is written—away from the cis-heteronormative, ableist, racist, classist society—is, by itself, a representation of its title: a Sanctuary. Had I connected to any of the characters and felt for them more than I do, this would have been my new comfort read. Who knows, this could be yours if you give it a try!
This is being released today and I'd say check it out to see what you think. I'd still recommend this if you're a huge fan of a found family trope that features queer individuals, want to read an authentic neurodiverse representation, and want to read a fresh, character-driven take on ghost stories.
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Let it be known that it pains me to rate this book less than four stars. It has everything I want in a book and more: my favorite trope (found family), a diverse set of characters, a neurodivergent MC and side characters, nonbinary characters, queer characters, supernatural abilities, and ghosts. And yet. And yet it fell flat for me. Please know that this review is fully subjective and your experience could be different!
The house is full of people and it is full of ghosts. It is a world where we live separately and together.
Sanctuary follows Morgan, an adult living with their girlfriend Araminta, and some of their friends. Living in an old massive house full of ghosts, they all made it their goal for their house to become a sanctuary not only for the ghosts but also for each other. After a collection of ghosts were brought to their house in need of a sanctuary, they are faced with challenges rooted in centuries back.
I love the dynamics between these characters. They are not conventional, and I guess neurotypicals could find themselves annoyed at their relationship dynamics because they would not understand it, but I loved it. It does seem kind of idealistic, and I found myself wanting this sort of connection, which brings us back to how this book does its job of providing a safe space for queer and neurodiverse readers as well. However, I found the individual characterization stiff and two-dimensional. A few chapters in and I started struggling to continue. This book features a huge set of characters and they are all named, both living and ghosts alike. My problem is that the way they are introduced—or not because some of them suddenly just got casual mentions—could lead to confusion for the reader. The transitions between settings seemed very abrupt and rough at times too, which is another factor to that.
The main conflict didn't start until later on, and the event that triggered it—however heavy—seemed lackluster to me. Because it's character-driven and dare I say very introspective, the climax appeared to be quiet and slow. I have mixed opinions about it because I did love how the characters interacted and worked with each other but I dreaded how low the stakes felt. Reading the action scenes felt like watching a strangely written flashback in the middle of an anime fight scene, where the idea goes somewhere else entirely, taking us out of the moment instead of letting the sequence flow and allowing us to feel for the characters more. This may appeal to other readers, but I fear it's not for me.
Ultimately, I do appreciate the heart of this book. If one looks at this symbolically, it's easy to see that the way this book is written—away from the cis-heteronormative, ableist, racist, classist society—is, by itself, a representation of its title: a Sanctuary. Had I connected to any of the characters and felt for them more than I do, this would have been my new comfort read. Who knows, this could be yours if you give it a try!
This is being released today and I'd say check it out to see what you think. I'd still recommend this if you're a huge fan of a found family trope that features queer individuals, want to read an authentic neurodiverse representation, and want to read a fresh, character-driven take on ghost stories.
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