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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
dark
tense
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Good: Simple cosy horror, haunted house trope
The Bad:
1. Twist Ending - The best selling wine is made in barrels with rotting bodies. I get suspension of disbelief but this was a major part of the story, it being the blessing. The writer could have easily fixed this by having the bodies buried in the cellar or all of them in a big wine barrel that is left unchecked to mature, for instance. Additionally, this also makes it hard to believe that eleven generations were okay with letting bodies rot in their wine barrels as well as serving the contaminated wine to people (charging hefty prices for it mind you). This also implies that Margot’s parents would rather keep their wealth and thriving business than their daughter since they didn’t even attempt to remove the bodies and bury them respectfully.
2. Poor Character Development - Margot is kind, caring, loves animals, has anxiety and claustrophobia but is still brave. All good things but she feels like such a cardboard cutout. There is no depth or complexity to her. She is merely a vessel to propel the story forward. The other characters aren’t developed either.
3. Gallows Hill Imagery - The house serves as the setting for the story and is a crucial part of it. The writer spends paragraphs on descriptions and yet the image developed for the house isn’t adequate. In a similar haunted house book, the Haunting of the Hill House, the house and its rooms are described succinctly creating images that will linger in the reader’s mind long after reading the book. Same goes for the Shining, the book alone does a wonderful job of creating vivid imagery for the Overlook Hotel, its rooms and the garden.
The Bad:
1. Twist Ending - The best selling wine is made in barrels with rotting bodies. I get suspension of disbelief but this was a major part of the story, it being the blessing. The writer could have easily fixed this by having the bodies buried in the cellar or all of them in a big wine barrel that is left unchecked to mature, for instance. Additionally, this also makes it hard to believe that eleven generations were okay with letting bodies rot in their wine barrels as well as serving the contaminated wine to people (charging hefty prices for it mind you). This also implies that Margot’s parents would rather keep their wealth and thriving business than their daughter since they didn’t even attempt to remove the bodies and bury them respectfully.
2. Poor Character Development - Margot is kind, caring, loves animals, has anxiety and claustrophobia but is still brave. All good things but she feels like such a cardboard cutout. There is no depth or complexity to her. She is merely a vessel to propel the story forward. The other characters aren’t developed either.
3. Gallows Hill Imagery - The house serves as the setting for the story and is a crucial part of it. The writer spends paragraphs on descriptions and yet the image developed for the house isn’t adequate. In a similar haunted house book, the Haunting of the Hill House, the house and its rooms are described succinctly creating images that will linger in the reader’s mind long after reading the book. Same goes for the Shining, the book alone does a wonderful job of creating vivid imagery for the Overlook Hotel, its rooms and the garden.
I've seen quite a few people rave about Darcy Cotes for the scare factor in her books, so decided my first book would be Gallows Hill, perfect for the spooky season.
I found it to be creepy, atmospheric, and dark. The setting was perfect for those spooky vibes.
However, I did find that it could be overly descriptive for me, and at times, I wanted to skip sections. I also disliked that the plot was at times driven by convenience. If you're in an unfamiliar place that gives you the creeps, you aren't going to forget your phone. You'll be charging that at all times for necessary calls and for the torch. You are not going to be conveniently letting it run out of battery or leaving it in another room. And because of this, Margot was scared witless when she needn't have been.
Other than that, it was a fun spooky read.
I found it to be creepy, atmospheric, and dark. The setting was perfect for those spooky vibes.
However, I did find that it could be overly descriptive for me, and at times, I wanted to skip sections. I also disliked that the plot was at times driven by convenience. If you're in an unfamiliar place that gives you the creeps, you aren't going to forget your phone. You'll be charging that at all times for necessary calls and for the torch. You are not going to be conveniently letting it run out of battery or leaving it in another room. And because of this, Margot was scared witless when she needn't have been.
Other than that, it was a fun spooky read.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
Margot is a wonderful protagonist. Imagine having all of this dumped into your lap after the death of your parents and just taking it like she does? I admired her so much. There were times it was a little slow paced, as I find with a good number of Coates’ books, but once the pacing picks up and the characters move the plot along, that’s when it becomes exceptionally engaging. An all around entertaining read.