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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half of the book is a bit of a slower read as it sets up important details. The payoff is well worth it though!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've read of horror stories (mainly the internet kind, but that's neither here nor there) and I have to say, I've never read something that had not just one but THREE scenes so tense and scary that I literally had to finish reading them before I went to bed or else I would have stared at the ceiling all night imagining what would happen. Starts at a brisk pace and doesn't let up, yet still has a compelling mystery and terrifying atmosphere.
dark
mysterious
sad
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*Update 2/10/23 - Complete*
I wish I could say I was pleased with my resumption of this DNF...but that was far from the case. This is proof that beautiful writing and atmosphere alone are not enough to make a book a strong read. Without the reliance on a strong plot and great characters this book just falls short.
The characters were flat, and though I was thoroughly unsettled through the strong atmospheric horror elements, I found myself lacking proper investment in the protagonists so the stakes just didn't seem as high.
If Darcy had chosen to write this like many of her other books, with a strong mystery at the heart of the story, I think the outcome would have been a lot better. I originally put this book down at 52% (Page 199) and at that point we hadn't even begun to really dive into anything that seemed significant for the mystery. There didn't feel like there was even a goal of discovering the history behind the curse and the terrible things that had happened on the hill. The history that is discussed just seems to build on the dark past surrounding the hill and offering a sense of motive behind the hauntings, however they do not feel as though there is more to be discovered. If we had been given pieces to this story throughout the book before the 70% mark, I would have had a much greater experience.
In the end the characters are weak, the storyline was beyond slow and poorly pieced together, and though the writing was superb, there just wasn't enough to like about this book. For die-hard fans of atmospheric, gothic horror I think this will scratch an itch and you may love it. The imagery is incredible and some of the horror elements still give me chills, but don't expect a plot to hold that all together.
*Update 2/9/23*
Though I originally DNF'd this on page 199, I decided to give it another try. I like Darcy Coates and everyone says this book is a decent read in the end. I will give it another try and will revise my rating and review if I feel it is justified.
*Original Post 10/7/22*
DNF'd on page 199. Look I gave this more than a fair chance but it was just too slow and uneventful. There was not enough oomph to this book to keep me holding on. Darcy, I love you but this was a beautifully written disaster.
I wish I could say I was pleased with my resumption of this DNF...but that was far from the case. This is proof that beautiful writing and atmosphere alone are not enough to make a book a strong read. Without the reliance on a strong plot and great characters this book just falls short.
The characters were flat, and though I was thoroughly unsettled through the strong atmospheric horror elements, I found myself lacking proper investment in the protagonists so the stakes just didn't seem as high.
If Darcy had chosen to write this like many of her other books, with a strong mystery at the heart of the story, I think the outcome would have been a lot better. I originally put this book down at 52% (Page 199) and at that point we hadn't even begun to really dive into anything that seemed significant for the mystery. There didn't feel like there was even a goal of discovering the history behind the curse and the terrible things that had happened on the hill. The history that is discussed just seems to build on the dark past surrounding the hill and offering a sense of motive behind the hauntings, however they do not feel as though there is more to be discovered. If we had been given pieces to this story throughout the book before the 70% mark, I would have had a much greater experience.
In the end the characters are weak, the storyline was beyond slow and poorly pieced together, and though the writing was superb, there just wasn't enough to like about this book. For die-hard fans of atmospheric, gothic horror I think this will scratch an itch and you may love it. The imagery is incredible and some of the horror elements still give me chills, but don't expect a plot to hold that all together.
*Update 2/9/23*
Though I originally DNF'd this on page 199, I decided to give it another try. I like Darcy Coates and everyone says this book is a decent read in the end. I will give it another try and will revise my rating and review if I feel it is justified.
*Original Post 10/7/22*
DNF'd on page 199. Look I gave this more than a fair chance but it was just too slow and uneventful. There was not enough oomph to this book to keep me holding on. Darcy, I love you but this was a beautifully written disaster.
Wow. Just.... wow. SUCH a good book. Absolutely terrifying and intricate and wonderful read. This book was done so well that I wasn't sure what type of horror to expect even halfway through the book (monsters? ghosts? ritual or folk horror?). I can say with 10,000% certainty that I had no clue the whole way through.
It was written so well that I also couldn't read it at night because it actually scared me. The descriptions of the horrors were fantastic and the visuals created made reading at night eerie and usually a bad choice for me. But that's exactly what you want when reading horror, right?
Excellent story with so many levels and details in it that nothing was predictable. Horror, mystery, suspense, thrills... all of it packed into one story. This is easily one of the best books I have read and I look forward to many more stories from Darcy Coates (as well as a reread of this one)!
It was written so well that I also couldn't read it at night because it actually scared me. The descriptions of the horrors were fantastic and the visuals created made reading at night eerie and usually a bad choice for me. But that's exactly what you want when reading horror, right?
Excellent story with so many levels and details in it that nothing was predictable. Horror, mystery, suspense, thrills... all of it packed into one story. This is easily one of the best books I have read and I look forward to many more stories from Darcy Coates (as well as a reread of this one)!
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A