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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
slow-paced
I'm not sure if it was the narration or the plot, but I had a rough time staying invested in this story.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was fine. Not as scary as her other books.
As much as I thought that some of the chase scenes were super dragged out... I loved this book. Wish there was more about the family and the winery instead of her being chased for 4 chapters straight... but ugh the whole vibe was immaculate, and the ending was exactly what I wanted.
ALSO: because I keep seeing people upset about it. It took her two days to find a bathroom...WITH A SHOWER IN IT. NOT that she hadn't found a bathroom at all. Did all of you miss the second half of the sentence????
ALSO: because I keep seeing people upset about it. It took her two days to find a bathroom...WITH A SHOWER IN IT. NOT that she hadn't found a bathroom at all. Did all of you miss the second half of the sentence????
This book was not for me, which was odd, because I really liked the other Darcy Coates book I read! Craven Manor was a cutesy little warm hug horror novel (or cozy horror, if you prefer), and not my usual fair. If anything, Gallows Hill should have been my favorite of the two - it’s scarier, heavier, and generally just “more” in all the traditional horror categories. And yet, I had to drag myself through it. I wasn’t particularly scared or invested at any point. The plot twist was only a surprise because the necessary information for the reader to determine the twist was withheld until about 35 pages before the twist. It’s an easy one to predict, so it’s almost a let down when you get to the big reveal, since the reader will have realized it 20 minutes before.
I’ll probably give Coates another shot just to see where she lands, since the two books that I’ve read of hers have been opposite experiences for me!
I’ll probably give Coates another shot just to see where she lands, since the two books that I’ve read of hers have been opposite experiences for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.
---
Full disclosure - this is my first Darcy Coates book. I don't know how I haven't read her before, but this was a heck of a pick to start with. Coates demonstrates a mastery of language and worldbuilding. However, the first half of the book was incredibly drawn-out to me. There was a lot - a LOT - of description of everything. There were bits that intriguied me enough to keep me going, but it felt like a slog to get through the build-up of the description of the house and atmosphere. I also found the main character to be immature and nonsensical. Some of which I can write-off as trauma and grief, but lengthy descriptions of anxiety and fear followed by...wandering around the house she's afraid of? It doesn't make sense. Overall, a good haunted house story, as long as you think of the house as the main character.
---
Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.
---
Full disclosure - this is my first Darcy Coates book. I don't know how I haven't read her before, but this was a heck of a pick to start with. Coates demonstrates a mastery of language and worldbuilding. However, the first half of the book was incredibly drawn-out to me. There was a lot - a LOT - of description of everything. There were bits that intriguied me enough to keep me going, but it felt like a slog to get through the build-up of the description of the house and atmosphere. I also found the main character to be immature and nonsensical. Some of which I can write-off as trauma and grief, but lengthy descriptions of anxiety and fear followed by...wandering around the house she's afraid of? It doesn't make sense. Overall, a good haunted house story, as long as you think of the house as the main character.
---
Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
No
The story failed to capture my interest and wasn't engaging enough to hold my attention.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
I’m 90% sure this is ParaNorman without the comic relief side characters, and a dash of Scooby Doo on Zombie Island.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced