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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When an author tells you to read his (in his own words) best work to date, you should listen. I definitely did, when meeting J.P. Pomare. I had originally stayed away from this book, because I wasn’t (and still am not) a big fan of cult settings in books. Josh Pomare, however, managed to convince me to give this a go, and I’m so glad he did.
We were presented with two PoVs; Amy had only known what life was like in the Clearing. Her life goal was to make sure life in the community remained happy, calm and in order. When a new young girl joined the group, it was her duty to ensure she was trained properly. Freya seemed to be an everyday mum who was protective of her son. When she heard that a young girl had gone missing from the community, her past threatened to come back and haunt her.
I thought I knew what was happening in this book, but time and time again, the details managed to surprise me in a good way. I loved the writing style, the characters, the atmospheric setting. I got sucked in to the story; I felt Freya’s imposter syndrome, her loneliness, her feelings that she didn’t ‘fit in’.
It was no surprise to anyone that this book was picked up for a TV adaptation. I’m excited to check out how it translates to the screen.
mysterious
tense
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Dementia, Murder, Gaslighting
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was a plot with a few unexpected twists which kept me engaged. It could have done without the last chapter, which was just a ridiculous unnecessary add on.
4.5 “I'm still shaking with disbelief" stars!
Teenager Amy lives an insular existence in the Clearing, raised by the Elders through strict routine, brainwashing, deprivation, punishment, and fear to believe that everyone outside of it is a threat.
Having lost her first son, Freya is overly-cautious when it comes to protecting her second. Her isolated property is a safe house – fence, alarm, dog, shutters, panic button, even a fire bunker – Freya is prepared for anything. Or is she?
Freya and Amy's worlds are about to collide, with devastating consequences.
In the Clearing is one of those mind-bending reads where little makes sense for most of the novel. And it's maddening and confusing, I'm not going to lie. It’s not an edge-of-your-seat thriller – I would even go as far to say that some parts were slow – but keep reading, don't let your mind wander, and pay close attention to EVERYTHING, because the payoff is a million times worth it. This crazy twisty-turny novel left me gasping and reeling. I now understand why the pacing took its time, and that it had to be executed in such a sly way for it to work. When I turned the last page, I had to go back and re-read some sections because I was unable to comprehend how I could possibly have been so misled? The clues were all there waiting to be unravelled, but apparently not by me. Ingeniously and skillfully done J.P. Pomare.
Chapters switched between Amy and Freya, and also included excerpts from Amy's journal. There is some pretty disturbing content regarding cults and child abuse, but it's written in a way that doesn't overwhelm, and cutaway scenes prevented things from becoming too graphic or explicit.
For those who share my preference for creepy twisted psychological thrillers, In the Clearing is a dead certainty.
Teenager Amy lives an insular existence in the Clearing, raised by the Elders through strict routine, brainwashing, deprivation, punishment, and fear to believe that everyone outside of it is a threat.
Having lost her first son, Freya is overly-cautious when it comes to protecting her second. Her isolated property is a safe house – fence, alarm, dog, shutters, panic button, even a fire bunker – Freya is prepared for anything. Or is she?
Freya and Amy's worlds are about to collide, with devastating consequences.
In the Clearing is one of those mind-bending reads where little makes sense for most of the novel. And it's maddening and confusing, I'm not going to lie. It’s not an edge-of-your-seat thriller – I would even go as far to say that some parts were slow – but keep reading, don't let your mind wander, and pay close attention to EVERYTHING, because the payoff is a million times worth it. This crazy twisty-turny novel left me gasping and reeling. I now understand why the pacing took its time, and that it had to be executed in such a sly way for it to work. When I turned the last page, I had to go back and re-read some sections because I was unable to comprehend how I could possibly have been so misled? The clues were all there waiting to be unravelled, but apparently not by me. Ingeniously and skillfully done J.P. Pomare.
Chapters switched between Amy and Freya, and also included excerpts from Amy's journal. There is some pretty disturbing content regarding cults and child abuse, but it's written in a way that doesn't overwhelm, and cutaway scenes prevented things from becoming too graphic or explicit.
For those who share my preference for creepy twisted psychological thrillers, In the Clearing is a dead certainty.
mysterious
medium-paced