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map_to_neverland's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Book Details:
-Genre: Horror
-Publication Date: October 4, 2022
-Setting: Johnstown, PA
-features creepy woods, a dark shadow, an eerie rhyme about the woods, and missing children
This horror novel contains many real world discussions, as many of the horrifying things that are happening are based in racism. It is an own voices author and I recommend looking to own voices reviews of the book as well.
It was a very creepy atmosphere. The author managed to blend more paranormal horror and real life horror. It was genuinely a very scary read.
Told through many time periods, we get an interesting multiple POV storyline and get to see the experiences of many characters. This was one of my favorite parts of the novel, especially as it is unclear who the narrator is in sections (at first).
Overall, if you are looking for something that is more horror (rather than thriller) and contains real world horrors, then this book would be a good fit for you.
Book Details:
-Genre: Horror
-Publication Date: October 4, 2022
-Setting: Johnstown, PA
-features creepy woods, a dark shadow, an eerie rhyme about the woods, and missing children
This horror novel contains many real world discussions, as many of the horrifying things that are happening are based in racism. It is an own voices author and I recommend looking to own voices reviews of the book as well.
It was a very creepy atmosphere. The author managed to blend more paranormal horror and real life horror. It was genuinely a very scary read.
Told through many time periods, we get an interesting multiple POV storyline and get to see the experiences of many characters. This was one of my favorite parts of the novel, especially as it is unclear who the narrator is in sections (at first).
Overall, if you are looking for something that is more horror (rather than thriller) and contains real world horrors, then this book would be a good fit for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Animal death, Racism, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, Blood, Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Stalking
Minor: Eating disorder, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Jackal by Erin E. Adams is a book I have been eagerly awaiting. The cover is attention grabbing, the book description is tense, and I love a debut author – especially in thrillers.
In it we meet Liz, a Black woman who is returning to her small and predominantly white town in PA for the wedding of her best friend, Mel. While she is at the wedding Mel’s daughter disappears and the search party begins. The tension comes from the current timeline mystery and race against the clock, combined with Liz’s flashbacks and research into the many Black girls who have gone missing in her hometown over the years.
I’m excited that this is the author’s first novel and would jump to read anything else she writes. This was a solid thriller that combined horror style scenes (startling, even repulsive at times) with a stark reality: despite making up 7% of the population in the US, Black women and girls were 17% of the missing persons cases opened in 2021. The author entertains the reader while pressing down on this core message. It reminds me of Jordan Peele movies or Tiffany D. Jackson’s horror novels.
There was one part where the plot lost its footing and I was confused, about 60% in, but it pulled through and was back on track for a solid ending. And there are moments where I felt like yelling into the book that the Liz was losing her common sense, but that’s how I am with horror movies too.
If you are someone who enjoys thrillers and can tolerate gory descriptions, add this to your TBR! It’s available on Oct. 4 and you can pre-order now. I really wish I had someone to talk to while I was reading this so DM me when you read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced copy in exchange for my review, I was so excited to read this.
Content warnings: Violence, Racism, Gore, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Child death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Alcohol abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Violence, Gore, Racism, Child death, and Body horror
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death
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