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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would’ve loved a content warning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
I was very taken with the opening prologue and had high hopes for this one, but ultimately it was just fine! The suspense worked well at first and I particularly enjoyed the chapters from Lucy's perspective. One thing that felt very effective from the start was how the tension of waiting for the war to truly get underway played against and amplified the questions over the possible supernatural elements of the tale.
However, the tension petered out after a while. There's only so much "is that animal in a slightly different place" and "Lord Lockwood says some mean things" moments that can happen before the repetition feels a bit stagnant. I did like that this developed into a f/f romance but I feel like that the wish to write a romance and the wish to write a gothic tale of haunting and madness didn't really come together very well. I kind of wish we'd had fewer references to classic gothic fiction and more absolutely unhinged and haunting times!
However, the tension petered out after a while. There's only so much "is that animal in a slightly different place" and "Lord Lockwood says some mean things" moments that can happen before the repetition feels a bit stagnant. I did like that this developed into a f/f romance but I feel like that the wish to write a romance and the wish to write a gothic tale of haunting and madness didn't really come together very well. I kind of wish we'd had fewer references to classic gothic fiction and more absolutely unhinged and haunting times!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
This is the sort of Gothic Horror that could only have been written today. It borrows from the gothic lineage, but is ultimately very modern. That sounds a bit like a criticism, but it isn't really; the modern sensibilities are still well suited to the trappings of the genre. The romance at it's heart is also well-handled, though I found the two aspect of the book didn't sit very well together. The romantic aspects reduced the reach and scope of the horror, I found.