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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. This is probably the first book that has actually scared me. I read a lot of creepy and unsettling stories, but I usually don't find them scary. This book had me turning on lights and making sure the curtains were closed at night. The idea of Crawler-like cryptids is absolutely terrifying to me. I also want to say how much I love Ahlborn's endings. So fucking bleak.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.75/5 don’t know if this author is for me. this is my second book by this author and I didn’t really like either tbh. this was incredibly boring for a huge chunk in my opinion. the actual horror and thriller parts were written really well but there was so much unnecessary filler in my opinion, and that says a lot when this book was already short. just not for me rly
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Good quick spooky winter story.
1.5/5
I had such high hopes for this month’s book club read (who doesn’t love a wintery horror?!), but this fell so short. The characterization was brutal, with super bizarre relationship dynamics that created no stakes, to the point that when characters were killed off (I’m not considering this a spoiler because surely you expect death in a horror novel!) I had literally no emotional response because the characters were so underdeveloped and unrelatable. The first 60% of the book felt like a confusing cheesy romance novel, with extremely unlikeable characters. The extra .5 star is simply for the rare couple scenes that actually made me feel genuinely frightened, but those moments were fleeting, and the unsatisfying ending sealed the deal.
I had such high hopes for this month’s book club read (who doesn’t love a wintery horror?!), but this fell so short. The characterization was brutal, with super bizarre relationship dynamics that created no stakes, to the point that when characters were killed off (I’m not considering this a spoiler because surely you expect death in a horror novel!) I had literally no emotional response because the characters were so underdeveloped and unrelatable. The first 60% of the book felt like a confusing cheesy romance novel, with extremely unlikeable characters. The extra .5 star is simply for the rare couple scenes that actually made me feel genuinely frightened, but those moments were fleeting, and the unsatisfying ending sealed the deal.
dark
tense
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
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:
No
Fun, quick read. Campy classic monster/cabin in the woods horror. Would probably be a great movie - the characters' inner dialogue kind of drags at times and feels like it just needs to get back to the action and dialogue. All in all, good read for fans of the genre or anyone seeking a quick slasher that doesn't make you think too much
dark
tense
medium-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
Intense and scary. A few shocking moments, but I didn't like the ending. Not a bad ending, just not the kind I prefer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood
Honestly not bad, but I wasn't overly happy with the way the female characters were portrayed as if they were completely helpless. The men kept 'coming to the rescue,' and I'm not a fan of those kinds of narratives.
The story was good though and there was genuine horror in it. Well written otherwise.
The story was good though and there was genuine horror in it. Well written otherwise.