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voilajean's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Self harm, Animal death, Child death, Sexual harassment, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
connorjdaley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I listened to this on my way home to see my parents. Highland Mills, Central Valley, and Harriman we’re mentioned by name more than once, and all three are directly connected to my home town of 22 years, Monroe. West Point Military Academy, as well as 9W through Cornwall, Bear Mountain, and the novel’s featured hospital, St. Luke’s in Newburgh, are all places I’ve frequented as well. It was super cool and kind of eerie to read a novel like this about where I’m from.
The town of Black Spring has a problem, what kind of old town doesn’t? This town’s problem just happens to be a 17th century immortal witch named Katherine. Since they were able to sew her eyes and mouth shut she hasn’t been too much of a problem, just creepy. And luckily she never breaks from her current schedule…
So because I always listen to an audio and read a physical book at the same time, I had this really unique experience of reading these two very similar scenes in two drastically different novels within like an hour of each other. Both this novel and C.V. Hunt’s ‘Halloween Fiend’ feature a fall festival that isn’t really dedicated to their town’s (I’ll say) affliction, but at the same time kind of is. It was cool to see how each framed how their town responded to what they had been forced to accept as normal over time.
The climax of this novel does some really interesting things in its depiction of the degradation of humanity. Is it the witch causing it, or the town itself? Either way, they so easily are lead to depravity. Brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands…no one is safe and everyone is guilty.
Personally a 4/5*. Spooky, atmospheric, dark. It looks like there’s a sequel to this but it’s only available in Dutch? I’m confused.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Violence
entityj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Vomit, Islamophobia, and Alcohol
bobbyclark's review
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, and Racism
winters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Murder, Suicide, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
enderbug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Gore, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Islamophobia, Rape, and Homophobia
theremightbecupcakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
missbreathing's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
HEX expertly blends paranormal horror with psychological horror, focusing as much on the witch as on the claustrophobia of being stuck in one place and the insidiousness of mob mentality. The idea of a haunted town is scary enough, but little by little the reader is introduced to more human sources of horror. The author conjures an inescapable sense of dread, and guides us unflinchingly towards the haunting climax.
This is a translation from Dutch, and, as a result, it’s easy to feel unmoored and confused. The story is also a bit dated in its use of technology (it was published in 2013). And, apparently, the original story is set in a small Dutch town rather than in upstate New York and has a completely different ending (good luck finding it online, though!). This made sense, since the upstate New York setting feels a bit incongruous with the story. However, the ending of this version is pretty great; it feels earned and unavoidable.
Honestly, this might be a new horror favorite! I’d recommend it to fans of the genre.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Child death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Islamophobia
mlemzor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Torture, and Vomit
becah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Gun violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, Blood, and Animal death