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zoefruitcake's review
3.0
Pushing aside the anachronisms (sticky toffee pudding in the 1920s?) and the number of tented things (books, hands) I enjoyed this
sunnyevie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
I'm not a dnfer normally, especially after 51% cause then I've already put in more time than it would take me to finish, but this is a book I should have dnfed at 75 or 80%. The plot was so convoluted and the ending so drawn out and bad. The first half had 4 star potential, the ending robbed it of that.
The monk and nun stuff was so convoluted. Honestly I hated that reveal, that's what I was waiting all this book for? Totally ruined it.
Seriously, the first half of this book had me gripped. It built the tension pretty well and I liked the action taken but at the halfway point it just started to add more than it was dealing with, the main reveal to be handled still to come (and so late in the game that the resolution was one of the most anticlimactic things I have ever read), and the tension wasn't being built or released. The tension platued in such a strange way, cause I'm sure she intended for it to still be building (thats why there was jo release), but everything got so confusing that I could no longer be intrigued more, only bored.
There were some bad storytelling choices here, like actually having her memories permanently taken which also dragged the Ralph thing out TOO FAR. Not only did her memories being gone forever feel unsatisying but now I have to go through MORE Ralph back and forth? Ugh, could've put me out of my misery and wrapped up the story faster if the dissolution of the book gave her each memory back, instead of going away.
Lastly, some quick thoughts during the end:
"I thought that would be the end but I have 2hrs left."
"Either stupid or stubborn can be fine, but not both."
"Oh no 🫥 now its blood 🫥 sorry, the macabre doesn't work anymore, I'm just waiting for it to be over."
"I thought THAT would be the end but I have an hour left."
"Really, she felt like she was 'bound to a ghost' when he had tricked her and abused her? No, girl, makes no sense, just move on, wth."
"Is the bit about finding Agnes really necessary?"
"Really, now Ralph has amnesia too? Dear goodness"
"'I failed to protect you' so I'm going to leave you so you'll never be protected by me again. That character motivation has NEVER made sense to me"
"Thank God, it's finally over"
Seriously, the first half of this book had me gripped. It built the tension pretty well and I liked the action taken but at the halfway point it just started to add more than it was dealing with, the main reveal to be handled still to come (and so late in the game that the resolution was one of the most anticlimactic things I have ever read), and the tension wasn't being built or released. The tension platued in such a strange way, cause I'm sure she intended for it to still be building (thats why there was jo release), but everything got so confusing that I could no longer be intrigued more, only bored.
There were some bad storytelling choices here, like actually having her memories permanently taken which also dragged the Ralph thing out TOO FAR. Not only did her memories being gone forever feel unsatisying but now I have to go through MORE Ralph back and forth? Ugh, could've put me out of my misery and wrapped up the story faster if the dissolution of the book gave her each memory back, instead of going away.
Lastly, some quick thoughts during the end:
"I thought that would be the end but I have 2hrs left."
"Either stupid or stubborn can be fine, but not both."
"Oh no 🫥 now its blood 🫥 sorry, the macabre doesn't work anymore, I'm just waiting for it to be over."
"I thought THAT would be the end but I have an hour left."
"Really, she felt like she was 'bound to a ghost' when he had tricked her and abused her? No, girl, makes no sense, just move on, wth."
"Is the bit about finding Agnes really necessary?"
"Really, now Ralph has amnesia too? Dear goodness"
"'I failed to protect you' so I'm going to leave you so you'll never be protected by me again. That character motivation has NEVER made sense to me"
"Thank God, it's finally over"
gcyawg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bookmarkedbybritt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
stacyrenee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Adult
Historical fiction
Set around WWI in England
Ivy inherits Blackwood Abbey but there’s a secret (and a secret library) that will turn Ivy’s world in its head.
Historical fiction
Set around WWI in England
Ivy inherits Blackwood Abbey but there’s a secret (and a secret library) that will turn Ivy’s world in its head.
keyarafroze's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
garnethalo's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Too fast for my liking. But the unreliable narrative was intereting.
duchesswho's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rhi_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
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
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Fire/Fire injury