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starbeam_sundust's review against another edition
5.0
Devastating and beautiful. The physical depictions of grief and its weight on the young protagonist are so intense your own body can't help but feel them in symphony.
musicalizzy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
extrabees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hckilgour's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Enjoyable? Yes. Great atmospheric read? Yes. Good plot? Had potential but fell flat. Satisfying ending? No.
So this was an easy read. And it read like a creepy thriller.
But the plot was nonexistent and extremely slow. And the ending just left me… meh and confused.
So ok, Rosemary killed the mother. But that doesn’t explain the slugs. Like… someone make the slugs make sense.
So this was an easy read. And it read like a creepy thriller.
But the plot was nonexistent and extremely slow. And the ending just left me… meh and confused.
So ok, Rosemary killed the mother. But that doesn’t explain the slugs. Like… someone make the slugs make sense.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely raced through this book. Having read and enjoyed [b:Boy In The Tower|18657652|Boy In The Tower|Polly Ho-Yen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397840682s/18657652.jpg|26473583] I first thought this might be a sequel but it stands alone completely. In a setting which reminded me of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village in which the elders both protect and control the culture and beliefs of this very small loch-bound population, Effie, her best friend Finn, and their families are party to a tragedy in which the local legend of the monster in the lake resurface and Effie must seek out the truth behind an age-old mystery.
Again, Ho-Yen has an excellent grasp of the young character. There is a wonderful relationship here between Effie and Finn and they're so well crafted that their actions, fears and thoughts are made all the more believable. The mystery of the monsters in the lake supported by the reluctance of the residents of this little village to talk about anything makes for a good outsiders story from the protagonist's point of view - children will also like this for the very same reasons of not being 'invited' into the world of adults.
I'm not too sure about the ending though. As with The Boy in the Tower, Ho-Yen leaves us with many questions unresolved and although I usually don't mind this at all, this time I felt the balance wasn't quite right and there were a few elements left unanswered which I wanted answers to.
Again, Ho-Yen has an excellent grasp of the young character. There is a wonderful relationship here between Effie and Finn and they're so well crafted that their actions, fears and thoughts are made all the more believable. The mystery of the monsters in the lake supported by the reluctance of the residents of this little village to talk about anything makes for a good outsiders story from the protagonist's point of view - children will also like this for the very same reasons of not being 'invited' into the world of adults.
I'm not too sure about the ending though. As with The Boy in the Tower, Ho-Yen leaves us with many questions unresolved and although I usually don't mind this at all, this time I felt the balance wasn't quite right and there were a few elements left unanswered which I wanted answers to.
fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Grief
Moderate: Grief
evelynkingdon's review against another edition
2.0
The blurb of this book convinced me that I was going to really enjoy it, and I thought this book was exactly fit for me seen as though I love fiction books like this. However I didn't like this book because I felt it was too disheartening. Maybe I was too young when I read this and I didn't like that some parts of this book were sad, so I might read this again at some point.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
I absolutely raced through this book. Having read and enjoyed [b:Boy In The Tower|18657652|Boy In The Tower|Polly Ho-Yen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397840682s/18657652.jpg|26473583] I first thought this might be a sequel but it stands alone completely. In a setting which reminded me of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village in which the elders both protect and control the culture and beliefs of this very small loch-bound population, Effie, her best friend Finn, and their families are party to a tragedy in which the local legend of the monster in the lake resurface and Effie must seek out the truth behind an age-old mystery.
Again, Ho-Yen has an excellent grasp of the young character. There is a wonderful relationship here between Effie and Finn and they're so well crafted that their actions, fears and thoughts are made all the more believable. The mystery of the monsters in the lake supported by the reluctance of the residents of this little village to talk about anything makes for a good outsiders story from the protagonist's point of view - children will also like this for the very same reasons of not being 'invited' into the world of adults.
I'm not too sure about the ending though. As with The Boy in the Tower, Ho-Yen leaves us with many questions unresolved and although I usually don't mind this at all, this time I felt the balance wasn't quite right and there were a few elements left unanswered which I wanted answers to.
Again, Ho-Yen has an excellent grasp of the young character. There is a wonderful relationship here between Effie and Finn and they're so well crafted that their actions, fears and thoughts are made all the more believable. The mystery of the monsters in the lake supported by the reluctance of the residents of this little village to talk about anything makes for a good outsiders story from the protagonist's point of view - children will also like this for the very same reasons of not being 'invited' into the world of adults.
I'm not too sure about the ending though. As with The Boy in the Tower, Ho-Yen leaves us with many questions unresolved and although I usually don't mind this at all, this time I felt the balance wasn't quite right and there were a few elements left unanswered which I wanted answers to.
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