Scan barcode
tobinlopes's review against another edition
3.0
While the premise was strong and the story interesting I thought it dragged on a little too much in the middle. Nicholas Close lost his wife and his childhood friend. He now sees ghosts...and he's more than a little disturbed by what he sees.
For anyone who likes stories of witches ... for anyone else... only a mild recommendation.
-tpl
For anyone who likes stories of witches ... for anyone else... only a mild recommendation.
-tpl
pillywiggin's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that takes a simple, common premise--a traumatic event gives a person the ability to see ghosts--and crafts it into a world of creepy goodness. I enjoyed this book very much.
elliejabuelly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
srcompton's review against another edition
3.0
This book was going SO WELL. Well, okay, the spiders nearly made me stop reading but that's just me being me. Something about it put me in mind of It by Stephen King, one of my favorite horror novels. Probably the prevalence of children as main characters, or the childhood flashbacks, or small town setting. But I was really enjoying it.
And then we hit the epilogue. Seriously, it took that long, in a book filled with giant killer spiders, for me to find something to turn my rating from a solid four stars (rare for me!) to three.
Just, that epilogue. Really? The little girl is the new Quill, or is possessed by her? Not only did it not make a bit of sense, it just felt like the cheap fake out endings of the low budget horror movies my friends and I used to watch during slumber parties (we weren't always your typical teen girls). I just wish I hadn't read the epilogue.
And then we hit the epilogue. Seriously, it took that long, in a book filled with giant killer spiders, for me to find something to turn my rating from a solid four stars (rare for me!) to three.
Just, that epilogue. Really? The little girl is the new Quill, or is possessed by her? Not only did it not make a bit of sense, it just felt like the cheap fake out endings of the low budget horror movies my friends and I used to watch during slumber parties (we weren't always your typical teen girls). I just wish I hadn't read the epilogue.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
The blurbs and recommendations that brought this book to my attention really had me psyched to read it. The cover art is suitably creepy and the fact that this is a debut author from Down Under intrigued me. The Aussies have been doing some pretty memorable things with cinematic horror of late -- let's see what's happening on the page, shall we?
This book starts out so very strong. Irwin can write, make no mistake. There is a fluidity and nimbleness to his prose – a real juiciness - that will make most literary critics swoon and forgive Irwin’s choice of supernatural subject matter. I loved the writing, but I need more than just the writing if I’m going to fall into a full about-face swoon myself. So yes, back to the beginning and all that burgeoning potential that had me slavering for more.
The opening chapters to this book are some of the strongest I’ve read in a long time. The set up is quick and ruthless, yet subtle and quiet at the same time if that makes any sense at all. There’s something very 60’s British horror about it: man experiences tragedy, returns home to escape painful reminders, back into the memories of a childhood tragedy that has haunted him all his life. Oh yeah, and he can see dead people. But not just ghosts in the traditional sense – Nicholas Close bears witness to ghosts locked into the loop of the exact machinations of their particular method of demise. Trust me, this is more horrible and fantastic than I can describe in my review and probably turned out to be my favorite element of the entire novel.
Furthermore, Irwin creates a dense atmosphere that’s ripe with creep – small town, small shops, weird locals, and an overgrown wood nestled in the middle of it all. There is a presence that stalks the wood, a force that keeps development out yet invites the young and vulnerable in. When Nicholas was 10 he loses his best friend in these woods to violence, and now these many years later he must uncover and confront whatever malevolent forces have haunted this town for over a century.
Great setup ... I just felt it lost something major in the execution. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few AMAZING scenes that did creep me out – if you suffer from arachnophobia in the least this book will likely send you to the nuthouse. But by the time we begin to unravel “the mystery”, I started to feel a little let down, and frankly a little bored.. Plus, I never really warmed up to any of the characters – they felt cold, and acted cold to one another even as they run to the other’s rescue. The climax was just too "Hollywood" which I felt betrayed the book’s earlier setup and the promise it makes to the reader.
There are scenes in this book rendered so effectively I could easily give them 5 stars; unfortunately by the book’s end, those scenes became outnumbered by a slide into mediocrity. I am left underwhelmed and saddened by my disappointment. I was so ready to rave.
This book starts out so very strong. Irwin can write, make no mistake. There is a fluidity and nimbleness to his prose – a real juiciness - that will make most literary critics swoon and forgive Irwin’s choice of supernatural subject matter. I loved the writing, but I need more than just the writing if I’m going to fall into a full about-face swoon myself. So yes, back to the beginning and all that burgeoning potential that had me slavering for more.
The opening chapters to this book are some of the strongest I’ve read in a long time. The set up is quick and ruthless, yet subtle and quiet at the same time if that makes any sense at all. There’s something very 60’s British horror about it: man experiences tragedy, returns home to escape painful reminders, back into the memories of a childhood tragedy that has haunted him all his life. Oh yeah, and he can see dead people. But not just ghosts in the traditional sense – Nicholas Close bears witness to ghosts locked into the loop of the exact machinations of their particular method of demise. Trust me, this is more horrible and fantastic than I can describe in my review and probably turned out to be my favorite element of the entire novel.
Furthermore, Irwin creates a dense atmosphere that’s ripe with creep – small town, small shops, weird locals, and an overgrown wood nestled in the middle of it all. There is a presence that stalks the wood, a force that keeps development out yet invites the young and vulnerable in. When Nicholas was 10 he loses his best friend in these woods to violence, and now these many years later he must uncover and confront whatever malevolent forces have haunted this town for over a century.
Great setup ... I just felt it lost something major in the execution. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few AMAZING scenes that did creep me out – if you suffer from arachnophobia in the least this book will likely send you to the nuthouse. But by the time we begin to unravel “the mystery”, I started to feel a little let down, and frankly a little bored.
Spoiler
Paganism, blood sacrifice, haunted wood, meh… it’s been done beforeThere are scenes in this book rendered so effectively I could easily give them 5 stars; unfortunately by the book’s end, those scenes became outnumbered by a slide into mediocrity. I am left underwhelmed and saddened by my disappointment. I was so ready to rave.
aparker89's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked up this book not reading the teaser or any descriptions or reviews. It is a fast-paced, story filled with ghosts, old gods and magic. There are some "typical" horror story plots and views, however I enjoyed a totally original take on a very classic tale. Not only does this book take you on a great, spooky adventure- it also carries over. My dreams in the nights after reading this were full of magic and mystery! The main character is relatable, not good or bad- just trying to get by. The evil is absolutely wicked and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The supporting characters make you feel for them and the plot brings about so many questions that are, happily, left unanswered.
If you want every query answered- this book is not for you. But if you love to let your imagination flourish this is a great read!
If you want every query answered- this book is not for you. But if you love to let your imagination flourish this is a great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, and Racial slurs
perfectsham's review against another edition
Having grown up in the same city this was written in, the entire vibe of this book gave me PTSD from the truly crappy men I knew and dated there. I wouldn't be surprised if this author was someone I dodged at parties. The Australian male commitment to casual racism as just fun banter that minorities need to play along with (the Indian priest is constantly called racial slurs in a way the author clearly thinks paints an endearing and delightful relationship, but is really just horrifyingly ignorant), and raging misogyny/overwhelming fear of women's sexuality is on full display here. The fact that the main character is totally unable to keep his dick in his pants even when he KNOWS a woman is evil is just a baffling choice. Also the moment the pretty, innocent looking "girl" becomes a more sexual and in control woman, is the moment we're supposed to realise she's bad. Paging Dr Freud...
It's pretty hard to have sympathy for the main character when he's not only stupid, but also a colossal arsehole to everyone who could possibly help him. The whole vibe of the book is anti-woman and reeks of "men are stupid morons who are helplessly in thrall to their urges and can't be held responsible for anything". Are we still doing this in fiction? 5 out of 5 exhausted eyerolls.
It's pretty hard to have sympathy for the main character when he's not only stupid, but also a colossal arsehole to everyone who could possibly help him. The whole vibe of the book is anti-woman and reeks of "men are stupid morons who are helplessly in thrall to their urges and can't be held responsible for anything". Are we still doing this in fiction? 5 out of 5 exhausted eyerolls.
raeallic's review against another edition
4.0
I really really enjoyed this book.. It's scary and creepy...and the spiders. ugh. I give the 4⭐ rating for two reasons... 1) it reminded me way too much of some of King's work, and 2) it wasn't what I expected albiet still a very thorough, well-written, and creepy as feck story... So wish I hadn't read the epilogue...
amberdeexterous's review against another edition
4.0
An exceptional piece of literary horror infused with perfectly measured ingredients: gore, mythos, emotion, unsetting terror, human connection, and fully-realized characters. It's rare to find a novel, especially in the horror genre, that is both cinematic in scope and gorgeously written from start to finish, but Irwin accomplishes it marvelously with this book.