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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i feel like there's a lot to unpack with this book, i liked reading the buildup up until the house got engulfed by the earth and the story from then on is fairly incoherent and the twist that everything was really in her mind was lazy and confusingly explained, it was also really weird that they had sex when gowan was really some old guy his 17 year olds body
3.75/5
That was unexpected. I mean I've had my theories, and they all sort of came to be true, but also didn't. Hard to explain. But I liked this book quite a bit, especially the part when things started to get revealed, but only confused me more. That was fun.
Ultimately, the very end was a little bit underwhelming, but! The parts right before it were top notch. Really glad I decided to pick this book up. Such a fucked up and crazy read and that's the kind I like.
That was unexpected. I mean I've had my theories, and they all sort of came to be true, but also didn't. Hard to explain. But I liked this book quite a bit, especially the part when things started to get revealed, but only confused me more. That was fun.
Ultimately, the very end was a little bit underwhelming, but! The parts right before it were top notch.
Spoiler
The ending and maybe a little bit of the concept reminded me of my favorite movie - Silent Hill, and even though it's flawed as fuck, but I love it with all my heart.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(3.4 stars)
I'm so conflicted about this book. There are some parts I really enjoyed and others I didn't care for at all.
I really liked the premise. The format with diary entries, poems, and other seemingly random bits seemed interesting.
I got through the book fairly quickly. Towards the middle things started to drag and become repetitive. I ended up guessing the twist. I think the narrative became kind of jumbled and the twist was disappointing.
The romance seemed so forced and random. If it was going to be included, I think it needed to be more developed. I feel like it was a lot of telling the reader and not showing them who these characters were.
I really didn't like the info dump at the end where everything is explained to the reader and main character. This story had so much potential but the ending just annoyed me.
Despite my criticism, I still had a pretty good time reading this. I'd recommend it to those just getting into horror or who want something slightly creepy.
I'm looking forward to reading this author's first adult novel, The Madness.
I'm so conflicted about this book. There are some parts I really enjoyed and others I didn't care for at all.
I really liked the premise. The format with diary entries, poems, and other seemingly random bits seemed interesting.
I got through the book fairly quickly. Towards the middle things started to drag and become repetitive. I ended up guessing the twist. I think the narrative became kind of jumbled and the twist was disappointing.
The romance seemed so forced and random. If it was going to be included, I think it needed to be more developed. I feel like it was a lot of telling the reader and not showing them who these characters were.
I really didn't like the info dump at the end where everything is explained to the reader and main character. This story had so much potential but the ending just annoyed me.
Despite my criticism, I still had a pretty good time reading this. I'd recommend it to those just getting into horror or who want something slightly creepy.
I'm looking forward to reading this author's first adult novel, The Madness.
3.5 lovely atmosphere but extremely predictable, I called everything and it became a bit of a slog in the middle before all was finally revealed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Holy cow. This book scared the shit outta me. I read most books as audiobooks and the audiobook had sounds and stuff, normally that stuff annoys me but the effects embellished it rather than detracted from the experience. This is the first book to completely scare me, maybe it was the unique way the audio was, with the whispering in the background, the creepy music at parts. But I think it was just the story. Towards the end things kind of got confusing so I'll probably have to reread it sometime (which I'm totally cool with.) I have read horror before, and the same kind of horror (hauntings, ghosts, demons) and none have thoroughly spooked me as much as this one did. All those other books had the same kind of ending; the ghost gets exorcised or defeated in some kind of unmeaningful (is that even a word?) way. But damn! That reveal towards the end! It speaks volumes to the author, to come up with an almost entirely new concept. And the metaphors and alluding to real life struggles-- AH! So good! Because it is true! Our demons are often inside us and we have to face them to move on and forgive ourselves. I love it! All while truly scaring the shit out of me. I've read several King books and tried to read several more of his. But none were as satisfying in hindsight or as frightening in the moment as this one was. And all this was achieved without being as foul in language or sexual content as King's books are. Well done! Thank you thank you thank you!
I was going to give this book two stars, because, while I felt it was needlessly confusing, the writing is solid and the audiobook production was good. But then I read the ending (maybe the last 15 or so minutes of the audiobook) and got really pissed off.
Kurtagich writes a deus ex machina and explains away the entire story with a totally contrived, oh, by the way, you're dead and all of this was in your mind; and I'm dead, too, and so is Nori, and now we can be at peace. Are. You. Kidding. Me.
In addition to this frustrating cheat, Kurtagich inexplicably includes a third World War in this story. Why? It has zero impact on the plot and is this sort of vague danger out in the world. But the stakes of it are never high enough to make a difference -- Gowan fought in the war for years, but survived. So...who cares?
And, the hand-written diary passages supposedly written by Nori take place inside of Silla's head! How is that possible? What is going on?
Too many ideas and none of them clear or well executed. Kurtagich writes nice imagery and can create some creepy atmosphere, but she certainly can't tell a good story.
(Polly Lee, the narrator, can tell a good story, and she's the bright spot in this circuitous mess. But listen to other books she's read. Don't waste your time on this one.)
Kurtagich writes a deus ex machina and explains away the entire story with a totally contrived, oh, by the way, you're dead and all of this was in your mind; and I'm dead, too, and so is Nori, and now we can be at peace. Are. You. Kidding. Me.
In addition to this frustrating cheat, Kurtagich inexplicably includes a third World War in this story. Why? It has zero impact on the plot and is this sort of vague danger out in the world. But the stakes of it are never high enough to make a difference -- Gowan fought in the war for years, but survived. So...who cares?
And, the hand-written diary passages supposedly written by Nori take place inside of Silla's head! How is that possible? What is going on?
Too many ideas and none of them clear or well executed. Kurtagich writes nice imagery and can create some creepy atmosphere, but she certainly can't tell a good story.
(Polly Lee, the narrator, can tell a good story, and she's the bright spot in this circuitous mess. But listen to other books she's read. Don't waste your time on this one.)
An outstanding horror with an unexpected twist.
Firstly I must praise this book for it's interesting and playful use of typography. This visual stimulus adds TENSION - the visual manipulation of the text draws you into the weird and wonderful story being unfolded in front of you. While not as accomplished as authors such as Mark Z Danielewski, it is none-the-less a breath of fresh air to see them make the text's presentation part of the world they are building.
Onto the story itself.
This book sent shivers up my spine. DO NOT READ AT NIGHT.
Silla and Nori escape from an abusive father and indifferent mother in London to their Aunt's magical manor house in a mysterious wood. At first everything is warm, comforting and carefree but then the situation starts to decay. Aunt Cath starts acting a little mad and one day she goes up into the attic, never to return. Then there's a man with no eyes but a gaping mouth living in the forest. He desperately want's to come inside. Perhaps he already has? When the food starts to run out a young man called Gowan appears with an armful of apples. Sweet, crisp and oh so tempting. But who is? Who is he REALLY?
As I don't want to spoil this for anyone all I will say is I did not see the twist at the end. I had not predicted it at all. And I loved it.
Can't wait to read this author's other books.
Firstly I must praise this book for it's interesting and playful use of typography. This visual stimulus adds TENSION - the visual manipulation of the text draws you into the weird and wonderful story being unfolded in front of you. While not as accomplished as authors such as Mark Z Danielewski, it is none-the-less a breath of fresh air to see them make the text's presentation part of the world they are building.
Onto the story itself.
This book sent shivers up my spine. DO NOT READ AT NIGHT.
Silla and Nori escape from an abusive father and indifferent mother in London to their Aunt's magical manor house in a mysterious wood. At first everything is warm, comforting and carefree but then the situation starts to decay. Aunt Cath starts acting a little mad and one day she goes up into the attic, never to return. Then there's a man with no eyes but a gaping mouth living in the forest. He desperately want's to come inside. Perhaps he already has? When the food starts to run out a young man called Gowan appears with an armful of apples. Sweet, crisp and oh so tempting. But who is? Who is he REALLY?
As I don't want to spoil this for anyone all I will say is I did not see the twist at the end. I had not predicted it at all. And I loved it.
Can't wait to read this author's other books.
I couldn't put this book down. It was so frightening at some points and so so so heart wrenching at other. I definitely recommend this book.