Reviews

In The Tall Trees by Angel N. Van Atta

c_marie_writes's review

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4.0

I received this audio version directly from the author, and all my thoughts in this review are my own.

This book was heartbreaking on so many levels. We have a mother, chained to the floor, and her baby son and young daughter. "Daddy" only visits; he doesn't live there and often brings the "bad man" with him. The bad man who actually is "daddy".

The novella is told through the eyes of Mella, the young girl. We get some childlike words with the audio, but they seem to fit perfectly.

This author is new to me, but I'll definitely be reading more from her. A 4.25 rounded down to 4 stars.

csmoke85's review

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dark sad 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

3.5


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kay_reads_books6's review

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adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This short horror book brings so much punch in such few pages!

It took a bit at the beginning to get used to the writing style. The author writes the book in the 1st person perspective of 5 year old Mella. So of course, the writing is the inner dialog of 5 year old obsessed with Spiderman.

But man, the second half of the book has you clutching your pearls, hoping the best for adorable Mella. 

Definitely a recommendation from me for other avid horror readers!

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jamsreadsbooks's review

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jdlang's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

emilykb03's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

wellreadintrovert's review

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5.0

Mella lives in a tiny house in the middle of a dense forest with her mommy and her baby brother, Pete. Sometimes her daddy comes and with him often the bad man comes, as well. Mella knows that she, her mommy and little brother are a secret family living where nobody knows they are, but she can't remember why that is or why her mommy is chained to the floor. In The Tall Trees is a story told through the eyes of our little hero as she must brave what's out there, lurking in the shadows, to save all that she knows and loves in the world.

What a haunting and heartbreaking little book I have found here. Books told from the perspective of a child will always hit differently one way or another. To hear some of the real world horrors the little one sees in her own words is so unsettling and thought provoking. 

In The Tall Trees in raw and thought provoking, perfect for fans of short horrors and real world horror stories. Binged in one session is the only way to read this one. This way may not be for everyone, but if you think it might be - definitely give this one a try. 

lacieshields's review

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

datewithathriller's review

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0


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evlchk's review

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5.0

 
In The Tall Trees is the first book in Angel Van Atta's Little Voices series. This is my second book by Angel, and I must admit I am a fan. I love her writing style and her approach to horror. I am thankful that I am a part of a wonderful horror community on Facebook and have had the opportunity to speak to the author—she is simply one of the nicest people I’ve ever chatted with.

The book follows Mella and her small family, who live in a tiny house in the middle of nowhere surrounded by dense forest. Her only company is her mom and her baby brother, Pete. Sometimes, her daddy visits, but it isn’t always a happy visit. Sometimes, he brings the bad man with him—the bad man who yells in exclamation marks and hurts Mommy. Mella loves her Daddy, superheroes, and peanut butter cups! The story is told through her eyes, which wrenches my heart.

Having a story told through a little girl's eyes will gut-punch you. The way the abuse or intense emotion is described in colors is fantastic. While you witness what Alix (Mommy) has to go through to protect her children, having it described by a child - whew…my heart. The story is intense, heartbreaking, and a page-turner. I cannot wait to read book two. 

Thank you to Angel Van Atta for gifting me an eARC of In The Tall Trees. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.