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percys_panda_pillow_pet's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Dead Water by C.A. Fletcher is, by all accounts, a well-written book. The tension and pacing were perfectly balanced, leaving the reader excited to see what happens next and dreading the moment everything goes sideways. I really enjoyed the in-depth character studies and thought it was interesting how there seemed to be a theme of toxic masculinity in multiple forms. Many of the characters weren't inherently likable, but I actually didn't hate any of them like I typically would with unlikable characters. They just felt like they were really fleshed out and flawed in a way you expect other humans to be.
I thought the mystery was interesting, and the little bits and hints I got throughout the book were really fun to slowly put together, and figure out the real story. I will admit that I didn't fully understand what was happening to the people and the island, and I felt like I could've used some clarity in the flashbacks that were trying to show why this was happening. I thought the horror elements were unique in some ways, but could've been better fleshed out and explained. I think Fletcher was attempting to show some of the horrors in the unknown, but in my opinion, sometimes things are more horrifying the more information you have. There is horror in knowing exactly what is going to happen to you if you don't run away fast enough, if you let it catch you.
Other than all that, I wasn't too impressed with this story. Overall, a sort of average read, and I would like to see if the author releases any books in the future to see him improve his craft.
I thought the mystery was interesting, and the little bits and hints I got throughout the book were really fun to slowly put together, and figure out the real story. I will admit that I didn't fully understand what was happening to the people and the island, and I felt like I could've used some clarity in the flashbacks that were trying to show why this was happening. I thought the horror elements were unique in some ways, but could've been better fleshed out and explained. I think Fletcher was attempting to show some of the horrors in the unknown, but in my opinion, sometimes things are more horrifying the more information you have. There is horror in knowing exactly what is going to happen to you if you don't run away fast enough, if you let it catch you.
Other than all that, I wasn't too impressed with this story. Overall, a sort of average read, and I would like to see if the author releases any books in the future to see him improve his craft.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Addiction
Moderate: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Ableism, Dementia, and Car accident
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Suicide attempt, Stalking, and Infidelity
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