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midnightcomets's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This ending will haunt me for many days
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child abuse, Gore, Racism, Ableism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
ggcd1981's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rating: 4.50 estrelas
TRIGER WARNING: Death, Miscarriage, Death of Parent, Fire Injuries, Suicide, Murder, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Mental Illness, Racism, Ableism, Animal Death, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Drug use
No meu retorno a leitura acabei descobrindo que gosto bastante de Terror e Mistério Gótico. Desde sempre tive essa impressão pois sempre apreciei filmes que eram parte do gênero, e gostei bastante de “Os inocentes” quando o li em minha adolescência. Mas foi a partir do meu retorno a leitura no ano de Nosso Senhor de 2020 que realmente se tornou claro pra mim que Terror/Mistério Gótico é um dos meus subgêneros de ficção preferidos. The Silent Companions é uma entrada recente desse subgênero. Apesar de recente a autora, Laura Purcell, criou uma atmosfera Gótica da época Vitoriana bastante intrigante, com todos os dias cinzas, casas assombradas, ambientação de época que um Terror gótico tem direito. Eu gostei bastante da atmosfera e dos personagens. Elsie, Sarah. Jolyon foram personagens que gostei de seguir e até mesmo a irritante Mabel, acredito ter sido essa a intenção da autora. Elsie foi uma protagonista forte. Ela encarou situações que eu nunca suportaria (andar a noite sozinha na casa sabendo que “os companheiros” estavam em todo lugar é um grande “NÃO” para mim) e mostrou coragem sempre que necessário, todo o tempo demonstrando que lutava contra o medo que sentia.
Devo admitir que minhas habilidades de compreensão de texto não deviam estar 100%, pois ao checar no Goodreads perguntas sobre a obra vi que um leitor perguntou se Jolyon era filho de Elsie que havia sido abusada por seu pai. A autora respondeu que sim ao leitor. Fiquei bege. O abuso sexual por parte do pai passou pela minha cabeça, mas em nenhum momento desconfiei que o apego de Elsie por Jolyon era porque este era seu filho e não irmão. Isso torna os acontecimentos do final ainda mais significantes.
Algo que não gostei na história foi que na seção em que foi contado como a família Bainbridge do falecido marido de Elsie, Rupert, adquiriu os Silent companions no ano de 1635, após o trágico sacrifício do cavalo do rei e desonra da família Bainbridge, Anne Bainbridge tentou devolver os companheiros a loja em que havia comprado, só que, surpresa, surpresa, todo o prédio e a loja haviam desaparecido. Isso foi desnecessariamente cliché. A autora poderia ter, por exemplo, feito o prédio estar lá, porém vazio de forma a implantar a dúvida se o vendedor era humano ou não. Da forma como foi feita parece cliché e ao mesmo tempo desconectado de todos os outros elementos da história. Porque uma loja fantasma apareceria ali, naquele momento, ao mesmo tempo que Hetta, filha de Anne, já era um elemento sobrenatural na casa dos Bainbridge? A autora poderia ter construído uma relação entre a loja e Hetta para não parecer tão desconectado, aleatório e coincidente.
Outra ressalva que tenho sobre o livro, mas esta porque sou sensível a crueldade contra animais, foram as mortes do cavalo e da vaca, as quais foram cruéis. Mas tenho que admitir que houve proposito para as mortes e estas não foram descritas de forma gráfica.
Gostei bastante do desenvolvimento da amizade entre Elsie e Sarah. O relacionamento delas começou com antipatia por parte de Elsie e evoluiu para que as duas só conseguissem confiar uma na outra. Isso tornou o final, em que Hetta possuiu Sarah permanentemente, mais triste e amargo, pois eu realmente queria que elas continuassem juntas. E por fim o livro deixou um final aberto em que não sabemos se Elsie foi condenada a forca ou continuou presa no Hospício. Acredito, que apesar de aberto, o final foi adequado.
Gostei do livro. Pelas questões mencionadas, particularmente o desaparecimento da loja, não posso dar 5 estrelas, mas acredito em um sólido 4.5 estrelas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Rape
arareads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
ameliac_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Xenophobia, Sexism, Racism, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Grief, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Medical content, Infertility, Gore, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Body horror, and Blood
hauntedtesty's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, and Violence
sheryl_macca's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Silent Companions is my first Laura Purcell. I'd heard a lot of good things about the book and about Purcell beforehand and, unusually, they both lived up to the hype.
The story is a dark, gothic, disturbing tale of magic versus madness. Disturbing is definitely the word here as opposed to scary, frightening or spooky. The Silent Companions are a marvelous, artistic curiosity brought to the stately home of the Bainbridge's in 1635 in preparation for their Royal visitors. The strangeness of the companions is their main appeal and they are loved by the family and the servants alike but especially by the mute daughter, Hetta. After a series of tragic deaths the companions are relegated to storage in the now deserted lavish home.
We jump between 1635 and 1865 throughout the book. In 1865 the latest Mrs Bainbridge has arrived at the family home to reinstate the household and establish a staff of loyal servants. Here the companions take on a sinister sentience that Mrs Bainbridge is convinced of but those around her believe that she is in fact insane. Mrs Bainbridge has to learns who to trust as she discovers the true nature of the family and staff around her and those who have gone before her.
Finally, in the third time period of the book we are in an asylum with a Mrs Bainbridge but we don't know initially which one or when we are. All becomes clear as the book continues.
I thoroughly enjoyed the many levels of this book: the sinister mystery, the historical elements of different time periods and the commentary on women's health, emotions and position in society. I also really enjoyed the unusual material for a supernatural/magical element in wood. I don't think I've ever read a book regarding an evil made of wood that isn't an actual tree.
For me though, I wanted more character development especially of Hetta and Jolyon. I also have a pet hate of character names that I have Google to know how to pronounce! I also felt that the last chapter was a bit rushed. I understood and liked the increase in pace to build the tension to a climax but there was a lack of content, of weight and power in the coming together of the characters.
The story is a dark, gothic, disturbing tale of magic versus madness. Disturbing is definitely the word here as opposed to scary, frightening or spooky. The Silent Companions are a marvelous, artistic curiosity brought to the stately home of the Bainbridge's in 1635 in preparation for their Royal visitors. The strangeness of the companions is their main appeal and they are loved by the family and the servants alike but especially by the mute daughter, Hetta. After a series of tragic deaths the companions are relegated to storage in the now deserted lavish home.
We jump between 1635 and 1865 throughout the book. In 1865 the latest Mrs Bainbridge has arrived at the family home to reinstate the household and establish a staff of loyal servants. Here the companions take on a sinister sentience that Mrs Bainbridge is convinced of but those around her believe that she is in fact insane. Mrs Bainbridge has to learns who to trust as she discovers the true nature of the family and staff around her and those who have gone before her.
Finally, in the third time period of the book we are in an asylum with a Mrs Bainbridge but we don't know initially which one or when we are. All becomes clear as the book continues.
I thoroughly enjoyed the many levels of this book: the sinister mystery, the historical elements of different time periods and the commentary on women's health, emotions and position in society. I also really enjoyed the unusual material for a supernatural/magical element in wood. I don't think I've ever read a book regarding an evil made of wood that isn't an actual tree.
For me though, I wanted more character development especially of Hetta and Jolyon. I also have a pet hate of character names that I have Google to know how to pronounce! I also felt that the last chapter was a bit rushed. I understood and liked the increase in pace to build the tension to a climax but there was a lack of content, of weight and power in the coming together of the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Infertility, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts
glitterkitty459's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Mental illness
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