Reviews

This was a difficult one to rate. It was definitely thought provoking, definitely engaging, definitely a page turner that I literally struggled to put down at times but did I enjoy it? Not entirely.

I would strongly advise potential readers to avoid spoilers. DO NOT be tempted to Google words that you don’t recognise. The author has made up some words. I was the idiot who looked one up and got smacked squarely in the forehead with a massive spoiler. Fear not, no spoilers here.

The main character is a female called Isserley. She cruises around the Scottish Highlands looking for hitchhikers to pick up on the proviso that they are male and well muscled.

The real interest for the reader lies in how she does this as well as why she’s doing it. The author had me totally on the hook and the layers of the mystery are gradually and skilfully revealed leaving the reader shocked and disturbed but strangely keen for more.

The switch in the narrative from Isserley’s point of view to that of the hitchhiker’s is really well done and a clever writing technique that worked very well as we get a glimpse into their thoughts.

After the midway point of the novel I thought it went downhill a bit. It felt like the author had had an incredible idea for a novel (which I agree with) but didn’t quite know how to end it.

The end was a bit flat for me but still worth a read. Unlike anything I have ever read and difficult to fit into a genre. Part literature, fiction, science fiction, mystery, horror, satire, allegory etc.

Recommended but you’ll need to be brave and not look away.

alizy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

hotpinkinthenight's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Really enjoyed the writing style, and the overall premise and worldbuilding were fantastic. I just wish the pacing had been better— long stretches of nothing happening made a great concept boring at times, which dragged the rating down for me.

kschmehl's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

artvvandelay's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More...