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The ending of this was a forgone conclusion and the real drama was how exactly it played out. I certainly wouldn’t describe this as a thriller or psychological suspense. It was far more a dark and dysfunctional family drama/coming of age story. I was not so much chilled as I was immensely saddened for the trauma that Helena went through, still carried into her adulthood, and clearly needed to work through before putting onto her daughters’ shoulders. The horrors of her childhood, compounded by the way her grandparents cashed in on it upon her return were so dark.
Also, how the hell could her husband have not known? Or not asked questions? Or been concerned about her evasiveness? None of that made sense to me throughout the book.
That said. It was incredibly well written prose. And I loved the idea of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale come to life, with snippets woven into the story.
Just dark. Dang.
Also, how the hell could her husband have not known? Or not asked questions? Or been concerned about her evasiveness? None of that made sense to me throughout the book.
That said. It was incredibly well written prose. And I loved the idea of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale come to life, with snippets woven into the story.
Just dark. Dang.
The tension kind of plateaus 4 or 5 chapters in and never gets better. Almost gets a 3rd star for the Michigan setting, though.
This story, set in the land in which I grew up, is full of suspense. Helena is a tough cookie who will do anything to protect her family.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Outstanding psychological thriller set in Michigan's famed Upper Peninsula. A man, half Ojibwe, kidnaps a 14-year-old girl and disappears in the marsh, holding her captive for years. They have a daughter, Helena, who knows nothing of the world beyond hunting, fishing, and simply surviving. She loves her father who is an expert tracker and marksman, and tells long tales of the Ojibwe, but he also can be unexpectedly brutal. He is a psychopath.
This story toggles between present day and childhood, mirroring the story by Hans Christian Andersen The Marsh King's Daughter which contrasts the dueling natures of good and evil in all of us. Helena is now a young wife and mother with two very young daughters; her mother is dead and her father has just escaped from prison. Trained by her father, Helena knows she is the only one who can find him. As the two periods of time unfold, unspeakable cruelty is revealed. Anyone interested in the stories of girls who have been held captive for years will find this utterly fascinating, and it is truly suspenseful with a low-grade but ever present sense of danger.
Great descriptions of the U.P, lots of insight into the world of survivalists, and a number of references to the 'real world' which helps the reader have a sense of the timing of this story and the isolation these people lived in.
This story toggles between present day and childhood, mirroring the story by Hans Christian Andersen The Marsh King's Daughter which contrasts the dueling natures of good and evil in all of us. Helena is now a young wife and mother with two very young daughters; her mother is dead and her father has just escaped from prison. Trained by her father, Helena knows she is the only one who can find him. As the two periods of time unfold, unspeakable cruelty is revealed. Anyone interested in the stories of girls who have been held captive for years will find this utterly fascinating, and it is truly suspenseful with a low-grade but ever present sense of danger.
Great descriptions of the U.P, lots of insight into the world of survivalists, and a number of references to the 'real world' which helps the reader have a sense of the timing of this story and the isolation these people lived in.
Great book!! I had to put it down to start another library book I’ve had on hold forever...this was an unbelievable read. I jumped multiple times reading it!
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated