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gen_wolfhailstorm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆'𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
The first 3 chapters filled me with such dread. I felt so uneasy. It kept that hostility throughout and though I felt uncomfortable from the creepy atmosphere, I ended up blitzing through the rest, in the 2nd week of book club. I couldn't get through it quick enough.
As soon as Sophie got to her families house in Skye, the house and inhabitants just felt so wrong... I felt scared reading about the littlest sister and that bloody parrot!
There was some definite descriptions of mental health that aren't very PC today and I think, had it been written a few years later, it would have taken the topic with more tenderness. I don't like how mental illness was used as a plot device... it was like "blame it on the crazies", which isn't fair.
Some of the characters urked me, but despite having a pretty much full unlikeable cast, it didn't diminish my enjoyment.
Overall, I was thoroughly scared and enjoyed the direction the story went. The tense atmosphere and creepy haunted house/possessed doll classic, was modernised very well and entertained me all the way through.
The first 3 chapters filled me with such dread. I felt so uneasy. It kept that hostility throughout and though I felt uncomfortable from the creepy atmosphere, I ended up blitzing through the rest, in the 2nd week of book club. I couldn't get through it quick enough.
As soon as Sophie got to her families house in Skye, the house and inhabitants just felt so wrong... I felt scared reading about the littlest sister and that bloody parrot!
There was some definite descriptions of mental health that aren't very PC today and I think, had it been written a few years later, it would have taken the topic with more tenderness. I don't like how mental illness was used as a plot device... it was like "blame it on the crazies", which isn't fair.
Some of the characters urked me, but despite having a pretty much full unlikeable cast, it didn't diminish my enjoyment.
Overall, I was thoroughly scared and enjoyed the direction the story went. The tense atmosphere and creepy haunted house/possessed doll classic, was modernised very well and entertained me all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
cjblates's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
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