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krystalframe's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child death, Classism, Infertility, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
booksjessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is a ghost story, and whilst I don't generally believe in ghosts, I found the story to be quite believable and the plot never felt unnatural. I marked it down from 4 stars to 3.5 because there were quite a lot of repeated phrases, which made the story as a whole less atmospheric and certain vocabulary didn't always flow. Alongside being a ghost story, there are also mysterious deaths which are central to the plot, and I had guessed who had committed those about two-thirds of the way in, to which they were revealed at the very end.
Despite this though, it was enjoyable and not super scary, which is absolutely what I was after. I would recommend for a spooky read!
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Grief, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy
roya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness and Murder
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
markedwithanm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
jaywithwhiskey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Minor: Infertility, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Blood, and Alcohol
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
wednesdayipek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Minor: Child death and Death
bookforthought'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Child death
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"And then, through the silence, the widow's whistle began to whine and a shape emerged, one that seemed cut out of something blacker than the night itself."
In 1860, alone following the deaths of her family, including beloved sister Clara, Elspeth Swansome takes a post as a nanny on a remote Scottish island, Skelthsea. It's autumn and Skelthsea is small but beautiful. When Elspeth arrives at the largest house in the island, Iskar, it is cold, tired and series. Her mistress, Miss Gillies, badly disfigured by a childhood accident, is quiet and distant. Her charge, nine year old Mary, is grieving the sudden death of twin brother William, and has ceased to talk. Elspeth is shocked but determined to do her job well and help Mary blossom. As autumn turns to winter it becomes apparent that all is not well at Iskar. Elspeth hears strange noises at night, footsteps, a lullaby and a chilling whistle. She discovers a number of tragedies have befallen the house and its occupants. Will she be next?
Centred on Elspeth, Iskar and the landscape and climate of Skelthsea, this is an atmospheric read. How hard life was for women during this period. I became fond of Elspeth, and Mary, as she struggled and as conditions deteriorated along with the supporting characters. Beautifully written, the fear builds as the novel progresses, revealing more of the characters' pasts and ultimately, the cause of the haunting. Perfect for Halloween, this is enthralling, chilling and spooky historic fiction, an impressive debut that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, and Murder