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ashliesbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I've loved every Christina Henry book I've read and this one was no different. A creepy, original twist on the tales of Sleepy Hollow that kept me guessing throughout. This would be a perfect spooky season read.
lesiene's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kbodry's review against another edition
Ran out of time with library rental. Will pick back up. Liked the story so far.
whatyoutolkienabout's review against another edition
5.0
Review: The Horseman by Christina Henry
I want to thank Titan Books and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC of this title for a fair and honest review.
I want to start by saying I have read most of Christina Henry’s work and they are written by an author you have to understand when going into them. Set from a first-person perspective I feel some people may find the writing style ‘younger’ than the intended audience. This is generally because our protagonist for the majority of the book is a fourteen-year-old. This is something Henry does amazingly well and something I personally enjoy but it sometimes might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Once you remember and keep in mind that Ben, our protagonist, is at the tender age of fourteen in a small village in the 1820’s (roughly) it makes much more sense and works extremely well for the narrative. That said I can understand how if you ignore the fact or focus just on the storytelling without remembering who our narrator is it may come off as aimed at the younger end, but it most definitely isn’t.
As I have mentioned the story follows a fourteen-year-old, Ben Van Brunt, who loves to play ‘Sleepy Hollow boys,’ reenacting the events Brom Bones once lived through. Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman and the tales but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben’s grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when the horseman chased the upstart Ichabod Crane out of town. He is adamant it’s just a legend, the villagers’ way of sensationalizing the quick disappearance of Crane. Ben couldn’t see why their grandfather would lie but when Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the words it’s hard to not start questioning. Slowly Ben begins to question everything they’ve been told, even by the great Brom Bones. Could the Horseman be real and claiming the children of Sleepy Hollow or is there something even more sinister stalking the woods?
Lead through the events from Ben’s point of view we begin to learn that all legends have to start somewhere and not everything is what it appears to be.
I found the writing style engaging and well-paced and suited to the narrator changing adequately when the narrator ages. The story kept me hooked and guessing throughout. While the book is yet to be released, I will try to avoid any spoilers but the ending I personally found memorable and a wonderful way to tie up the story and legend.
I personally cannot find fault in the book. It is, in my opinion, an excellent spooky read.
The Horseman will be published on the 28th September 2021 by Titan Books.
I want to thank Titan Books and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC of this title for a fair and honest review.
I want to start by saying I have read most of Christina Henry’s work and they are written by an author you have to understand when going into them. Set from a first-person perspective I feel some people may find the writing style ‘younger’ than the intended audience. This is generally because our protagonist for the majority of the book is a fourteen-year-old. This is something Henry does amazingly well and something I personally enjoy but it sometimes might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Once you remember and keep in mind that Ben, our protagonist, is at the tender age of fourteen in a small village in the 1820’s (roughly) it makes much more sense and works extremely well for the narrative. That said I can understand how if you ignore the fact or focus just on the storytelling without remembering who our narrator is it may come off as aimed at the younger end, but it most definitely isn’t.
As I have mentioned the story follows a fourteen-year-old, Ben Van Brunt, who loves to play ‘Sleepy Hollow boys,’ reenacting the events Brom Bones once lived through. Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman and the tales but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben’s grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when the horseman chased the upstart Ichabod Crane out of town. He is adamant it’s just a legend, the villagers’ way of sensationalizing the quick disappearance of Crane. Ben couldn’t see why their grandfather would lie but when Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the words it’s hard to not start questioning. Slowly Ben begins to question everything they’ve been told, even by the great Brom Bones. Could the Horseman be real and claiming the children of Sleepy Hollow or is there something even more sinister stalking the woods?
Lead through the events from Ben’s point of view we begin to learn that all legends have to start somewhere and not everything is what it appears to be.
I found the writing style engaging and well-paced and suited to the narrator changing adequately when the narrator ages. The story kept me hooked and guessing throughout. While the book is yet to be released, I will try to avoid any spoilers but the ending I personally found memorable and a wonderful way to tie up the story and legend.
I personally cannot find fault in the book. It is, in my opinion, an excellent spooky read.
The Horseman will be published on the 28th September 2021 by Titan Books.
beammey's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this was a good book. I'd give it 4 out 5 stars. It ties into the origin story (The legend of Sleepy Hollow by Irving) quite well. It has Brom and Kat and even Ichabod is around. It revolves around Brom and Kat's grandchild. It's a whirlwind of a story and at first I wasn't sure what I thought, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the story. Plus, that cover is BOMB.
tilmanjakob_alias_tilly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.25
vengefuldime's review against another edition
3.0
“A scent drifted in that cold wind, something stronger than the scent of the decomposing sheep. It was something like the smell of the night drifting through my open window when I was half asleep, or the smell of freshly turned earth. It was something like the first whip of autumn air cutting through a perfect summer day. It was something like the cold lump in the back of my throat when I woke from a dream and didn’t know where I was. It was something like the dark closing around me, squeezing too hard and too tight.”
———————————————————————
14 year-old Ben has of course heard of the headless horseman legend, living in the town of Sleepy Hollow. He is told that it is only a legend- but Ben sees a child’s body, missing hands and head, and wonders. It is a very atmospheric book, with magic and superstition being built into the town itself. The deep woods are forbidden, but stories are told, and Ben has experiences unable to be explained. There is the sense that almost anything could in fact be possible in the woods, close by but hidden just enough. There is also a state of holding onto the present, with the old world and old way of life lingering in the town longer than surrounding areas. Ben and the town must overcome loss in a number of ways. Ben struggles to be accepted as a boy, and as he grows up he is forced to see both his grandparents in a new light. Personally, I thought that his being transgender was a bit clumsily handled (more in an awkward way), but I was still happy to see it. The town is also changing, and its connection to folklore is shifting towards something different. The descriptions are clear and evocative, with a focus on natural aspects. The characters emotions and conflicts are more plain, and often much more focused on telling the reader what is happening that describing it. Especially in moments of fear, Ben’s narration could be repetitive in a way that felt frustrating. For me, that was the weakest part. However, the moments (not descriptions) of connection and protection felt the strongest.
———————————————————————
14 year-old Ben has of course heard of the headless horseman legend, living in the town of Sleepy Hollow. He is told that it is only a legend- but Ben sees a child’s body, missing hands and head, and wonders. It is a very atmospheric book, with magic and superstition being built into the town itself. The deep woods are forbidden, but stories are told, and Ben has experiences unable to be explained. There is the sense that almost anything could in fact be possible in the woods, close by but hidden just enough. There is also a state of holding onto the present, with the old world and old way of life lingering in the town longer than surrounding areas. Ben and the town must overcome loss in a number of ways. Ben struggles to be accepted as a boy, and as he grows up he is forced to see both his grandparents in a new light. Personally, I thought that his being transgender was a bit clumsily handled (more in an awkward way), but I was still happy to see it. The town is also changing, and its connection to folklore is shifting towards something different. The descriptions are clear and evocative, with a focus on natural aspects. The characters emotions and conflicts are more plain, and often much more focused on telling the reader what is happening that describing it. Especially in moments of fear, Ben’s narration could be repetitive in a way that felt frustrating. For me, that was the weakest part. However, the moments (not descriptions) of connection and protection felt the strongest.
eforw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0