Reviews

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand

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blrobin2's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book is a perfect example of the author doing all of the research but failing the bullshit test. Also, this is a short story stretched into a novella.

jl_shioshita's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

hollyhod's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

this was so good it’s just a shame it was so criminally short

midici's review against another edition

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3.0

Before the internet and smart-phones and the whole phenomenon of instant connectivity, it was actually possible to isolate yourself in the wilderness if you really wanted to. Of course, Wylding Hall isn't technically the wilderness - it's an idyllic, beautiful old house in the countryside.

If the rooms seem to lock and unlock themselves randomly, it's probably not anything. If the exact configuration of the house seems hard to pin down, it's because of all the additions, and modifications. It's the perfect place for the band Windhollow Faire to hole up for a couple of months and make a new album. The hidden library, full of old books and spells is wonderful inspiration. The room full of dead wrens doesn't really need explanation. The barrow in the woods that seems to draw the lead singer Julian Blake further and further into the dark is just a mound of earth... But there's something alive in Wylding Hall. Something listening.

The story takes place as a documentary, the remaining band members coming together to discuss their time at Wylding Hall. To discuss how time and space seemed to warp. How Julian's music seemed spell-binding. How the mystery girl appeared like magic. How she and Julian disappeared, never to be seen again. Of the things they burned afterwards to try and pretend that they didn't know more than they ever said about what happened at Wylding Hall.

kurumipanda's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

hazeyjane_2's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book feels like it was made for me. Julian Blake is heavily based on Nick Drake, one of my favourite singers. I loved the English countryside setting and the air of drugged indolence, as well as the magic of music. My only crit would be not to read this if you are looking for a true horror book - this is more folkloric fantasy with mildly unsettling vibes.