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heather_harrison's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
2.5
I should have DNF'd this book but instead I figured I would push through and wait for the plot to improve and for the characters to grow me on. Safe to say neither of these things happened, and I found myself finishing this book irritable and without much memory of what I read. Not to mention whatever version of a cliff hanger that was supposed to leave you on with the mystery stalker.
The short chapters were ridiculous and unnecessary. Yeah I think I'm done with this series.
The short chapters were ridiculous and unnecessary. Yeah I think I'm done with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
olivesnook33's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
2.25
I don't know what, exactly, I was expecting but it wasn't a repeat of the first book but somehow not as good. The premise of this book is just as promising as The Sanatorium. There is an old place, an evil place, a place that doesn't want humans there. But that place has little relevance to the paper-thin plot. I want to feel something with these books. Everything is there for what usually makes me fall in love with characters and places and themes but.....it's feeling like someone dumped mystery-thriller-detective puzzle pieces out on the table, didn't bother to flip them over, and forced them together.
To say the overall plot was loose is an understatement. Elin grew as a character....between books. It was jarring to me that she was suddenly thrust back into her work and was feeling rather confident. Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the change but was expecting a more middling piece of character development. Using her experiences from The Sanatorium to help her solve this case.
And, oh, what a case this could have been. It was truly made up of everything I love in a crime thriller but, to me, poorly executed.
I really, really, really want to love this series. And I will stubbornly give the next book a listen when it comes out because there is truly so much potential here. I want to know more but I don't know if this is truly the series for me.
To say the overall plot was loose is an understatement. Elin grew as a character....between books. It was jarring to me that she was suddenly thrust back into her work and was feeling rather confident. Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the change but was expecting a more middling piece of character development. Using her experiences from The Sanatorium to help her solve this case.
And, oh, what a case this could have been. It was truly made up of everything I love in a crime thriller but, to me, poorly executed.
I really, really, really want to love this series. And I will stubbornly give the next book a listen when it comes out because there is truly so much potential here. I want to know more but I don't know if this is truly the series for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
ossington's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and Stalking
Minor: Confinement
renee_rain's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
This book is a sequel to The Sanotorium. Though I have read it, I didn't realize it was a continuation until after I finished this book. I guess Elim was not memorable for me.
This is a solid mystery/thriller. That being said, there is a lot of information to keep track of. There are three periods of time that occur on the island: a school with traumatic history, an Outward Bound center with a series of murders, and the present at a retreat center. The Leger family has past events that become relevant to the plot. There is a continuation of threats to Elim.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chaos of the book. I had no trouble keeping up with the characters, their relations, and backstories. The explanations of why people did what they did felt believable to me. Except Jo. I know she was having an affair with Hana's boyfriend, but how can someone callously leave him at an accident like that? What if he could have been saved? Could it have been explained that they had become friends? Though this does provide Maya some clarity.
I plan to read the next book in the series though I really do need closure on some things. What is going on with the Hayler case? What actually happened to Elim's brother, Sam? Who is threatening Elim? What will happen with Elim's relationship with Will? I wouldn't be sad if it ended. She appears to have a stronger connection with his sister.
This is a solid mystery/thriller. That being said, there is a lot of information to keep track of. There are three periods of time that occur on the island: a school with traumatic history, an Outward Bound center with a series of murders, and the present at a retreat center. The Leger family has past events that become relevant to the plot. There is a continuation of threats to Elim.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chaos of the book. I had no trouble keeping up with the characters, their relations, and backstories. The explanations of why people did what they did felt believable to me.
I plan to read the next book in the series though I really do need closure on some things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Death
j_squaredd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I hate every character she writes, but her plots are enough for me to keep going. The ending was still not the strongest but much better than The Sanitorium
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Stalking, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Mental illness
alisonannk's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Confinement
bekah1210's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Gun violence, and Confinement
Minor: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Stalking
mapage's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
vkitoria's review
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
1.5
this was… bad. i had rated the sanatorium 3 stars because it at least had some compelling content but this second novel was a sharp turn for the worse.
i didn’t like the main characters when they were introduced in the debut but i REALLY hate them now. they’re poorly fleshed-out, none of their decisions make any sense, and the relationship between the main character and her boyfriend is just weird.
the writing here was also just terrible. lots of telling rather than showing, which is kind of like creative writing 101, right? a lot of parts felt like i was reading an unedited first draft.
as for the mystery, it was okay. not super well-explained and the final 50ish pages were all over the place. definitely not worth reading.
i didn’t like the main characters when they were introduced in the debut but i REALLY hate them now. they’re poorly fleshed-out, none of their decisions make any sense, and the relationship between the main character and her boyfriend is just weird.
the writing here was also just terrible. lots of telling rather than showing, which is kind of like creative writing 101, right? a lot of parts felt like i was reading an unedited first draft.
as for the mystery, it was okay. not super well-explained and the final 50ish pages were all over the place. definitely not worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
chapterobsessed's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder