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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
I tried to figure out why this book was on my TBR while reading and I couldn’t figure it out. Honestly just wasn’t overall interesting for me. Certain parts yes, the ending, yes. Everything else, eh.
i dont really know how i feel abt the story but i like the author
This reads like an A03 fan fiction of Clive Barker, trying to throw in Stephen King character development lines without actually developing the characters.
Easy read, tick box for horror stuff, and gore, not particularly interesting, scary, or gripping.
Have read better on A03.
First time reading this author. Won't be going back.
The tropes are strong and meh executed with this one.
Easy read, tick box for horror stuff, and gore, not particularly interesting, scary, or gripping.
Have read better on A03.
First time reading this author. Won't be going back.
The tropes are strong and meh executed with this one.
challenging
dark
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
Disappointed
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was weird, unsettling, and full of messed-up people doing messed-up things. Which is usually my thing, but this one didn’t quite work for me. That said, I think if you like surreal horror with shifting realities and cosmic dread, this could easily be a 4+.
Energy: Fickle. Gross. Deviant.
🐺 Growls: The cosmic horror elements. I struggled to figure out what was real, what was metaphor etc.
🐕 Howls: I kept getting sidetracked trying to understand why the main character was doing all this. Her motivations felt vague and underdeveloped at times.
🐩 Tail Wags: Creepy premise. Dark, intriguing, unhinged characters. Strong atmosphere. Slow reveal of the MC’s past.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Fictional valley along Hollow River, USA
Perspectives (2): (1) A 39 yo writing to a convicted serial killer because they are intensely curious and feels connected to him. They will do almost anything to keep his attention. (2) Their 40-something sibling who has special needs after a childhood accident, going for a walk in the woods to meet the person their sibling keeps talking about.
Timeline: Linear + flashbacks. 2010s. ⛈️ 🍂 Rainy autumn storm.
Narrative: Deep in a character’s mind, thrown in, being told a story (third person omniscient)
Fuel: Eeriness, horrific incidents, unhinged decisions, escalating stakes. Why is Lori so enamoured with a killer? What is this mission she’s on for him? How will her and her sister fare? What was their dynamic growing up?
Cred: Over-the-top fantastical
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Shoebox. Sailer Moon bag. Autumn air. River mist. Wet, dead leaves. Buzzing insects. Slide guitar.
- Detailed, folksy, gritty writing style
- Unhinged, unlikeable, villainous, and evil characters
- Surreal, symbolic cosmic bargains
- Dark, deranged coming of age
- Pick-me extremes
- Sibling rivalry
- Stay out of the Hollow
- Quest to find the River Man
- Creepiness, cruelty, and depravity
- Abuse, jealousy, repression, and trauma
Content Heads-Up: Body horror. Blood. Brain damage. Death, decomposition. Eating disorder (trauma induced anorexia). Gore. Incest, rape (of male; graphic, on page). Loss of baby. Racism (graphic recall; violence, slurs). Rape. Sexual content. Suicide. Violence against women (Asian appearance). Vomit.
Rep: American. Japanese American (peripheral). Cis. Hetero. Pale, white, black, chalky skin tones.
📚 Format: Kindle
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Grief