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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Dealt with familial abuse and the many ways it manifests in some really interesting ways. Pretty much every character lands in a grey zone of morality, which I’m always a big fan of. Our first protagonist even becomes a villain for a section of the book and I felt that it was done very well.
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
I picked this book up when KJ Charles recommended it on her summer reading l list, and my main take away is: This book is for the bros.
While the mysterious world building and suspenseful plot kept me interested enough, it simply wasn't for me. The characters weren't dynamic, a purposeful choice by Hawkins that is valid but not my preference. That paired with missteps like clunky language ("horror squirted in her stomach" is not a pleasant or evocative phrase, and Hawkins used it twice), poorly executed humor and stiff dialogue made this book incredibly mid.
That being said, I can think of readers (the bros) who would be completely immersed in the eerie mythos, unique characters, and blood pounding action. Hawkins made me think and certainly inspired strong opinions, as this review demonstrates. I've read books that have done much less. But at the end of the day, I didn't feel much throughout this book. Even as Hawkins described horrors, I only experienced mild disgust and confusion.
It was a solid 3 stars throughout. + half a star for Steve, specifically the scene where he tells Carolyn: "I would respectfully plead that you adopt a stance of compassion towards the small things of this world." That scene inspired emotion. I think it was the best executed from a character, dialogue and writing perspective. That scene demonstrates Hawkins' potential.
This was his debut novel, and he hasn't published anything since, but if he does, I would check it out, just to see how he's grown.
While the mysterious world building and suspenseful plot kept me interested enough, it simply wasn't for me. The characters weren't dynamic, a purposeful choice by Hawkins that is valid but not my preference. That paired with missteps like clunky language ("horror squirted in her stomach" is not a pleasant or evocative phrase, and Hawkins used it twice), poorly executed humor and stiff dialogue made this book incredibly mid.
That being said, I can think of readers (the bros) who would be completely immersed in the eerie mythos, unique characters, and blood pounding action. Hawkins made me think and certainly inspired strong opinions, as this review demonstrates. I've read books that have done much less. But at the end of the day, I didn't feel much throughout this book. Even as Hawkins described horrors, I only experienced mild disgust and confusion.
It was a solid 3 stars throughout. + half a star for Steve, specifically the scene where he tells Carolyn: "I would respectfully plead that you adopt a stance of compassion towards the small things of this world." That scene inspired emotion. I think it was the best executed from a character, dialogue and writing perspective. That scene demonstrates Hawkins' potential.
This was his debut novel, and he hasn't published anything since, but if he does, I would check it out, just to see how he's grown.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Death of parent
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was...surprisingly awkward XD
The narrator maybe wasn't the most skilled for this, and the quality noticeably fluctuated. Maybe too contemporary, not enough "fantasy-esque" for me. At no fault of the book itself, it's a me thing. I can see how so many people can like this. And I recognize how well done and purposefully this was executed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated