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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
This one did not go at all the way I thought it would, all the way through to the end. Binged it in a day
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
Yes
Didn't care much for the characters or plot. Couldn't immerse myself in atmosphere.
I was not invested in the story and saw that many reviewers said the ending was a letdown.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was intrigued by the proposition and set up of the mystery at first, but it never really came together for me. All the rules they made were IMMEDIATELY broke. Once or twice, fine, but literally every time. What was the point.
The middle caught my attention again, but then it quickly became jumbled and confusing. I think this story could have worked out, but something was just off and it didn't quite work out.
The middle caught my attention again, but then it quickly became jumbled and confusing. I think this story could have worked out, but something was just off and it didn't quite work out.
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
Half a star for how fantastic the narrator was. As someone that doesn't listen to audiobooks often, this narrator really sold the story and was perfectly immersed.
The one star is for the story. I figured the dark academia, the time period, the Crimson Peak vibes and such would automatically mean that I'd give it at least 4 stars but the pacing was so imbalanced and the characters were so unlikeable that nothing made me root for the characters at all.
The one star is for the story. I figured the dark academia, the time period, the Crimson Peak vibes and such would automatically mean that I'd give it at least 4 stars but the pacing was so imbalanced and the characters were so unlikeable that nothing made me root for the characters at all.
3.5 stars rounded down
Starling is a master of atmosphere. Whether that's claustrophobic (and maybe haunted) caves on a wasteland planet, a cult/farm, a spooky garden, or, now, a haunted manor.
There were, however, two big things that kept me from really buying into this story: one was pacing (the middle section before Jane's inevitable descent into madness dragged - and even the madness stretched wide) and the other were the jumps in logic / assumptions we had to make to buy in to the contents of the story.
Jane wanted a marriage of convenience but falls irreparably in love with this guy after talking to him 3 times? Also, what does everyone else think about this eclectic doctor who retreats to the crumbling manse every night? Jane seems to be the only one who questions it.
There were some brilliant parallels at the end, and some decisions that I thought were a little bit much. And I found myself very interested in the sheer number of people who dabbled with witchcraft - and why some of them suffered extreme consequences and others just had a fun time.
Also mad props to the audiobook narrator who played Jane brilliantly throughout.
{Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Starling is a master of atmosphere. Whether that's claustrophobic (and maybe haunted) caves on a wasteland planet, a cult/farm, a spooky garden, or, now, a haunted manor.
There were, however, two big things that kept me from really buying into this story: one was pacing (the middle section before Jane's inevitable descent into madness dragged - and even the madness stretched wide) and the other were the jumps in logic / assumptions we had to make to buy in to the contents of the story.
Jane wanted a marriage of convenience but falls irreparably in love with this guy after talking to him 3 times? Also, what does everyone else think about this eclectic doctor who retreats to the crumbling manse every night? Jane seems to be the only one who questions it.
There were some brilliant parallels at the end, and some decisions that I thought were a little bit much. And I found myself very interested in the sheer number of people who dabbled with witchcraft - and why some of them suffered extreme consequences and others just had a fun time.
Also mad props to the audiobook narrator who played Jane brilliantly throughout.
{Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes