Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I haven't read a lot of mysteries, or horror, so I can't say much about how it compares to others. Instead I will just say that I really enjoyed reading this book, and it kept me completely engaged until the end. I love flower symbolism and herblore, so that aspect was greatly enjoyed! The main character felt very real to me, though I will say the side characters fell slightly flat to me (Keefe in particular seemed to vanish by the end, but Maddie and Todd also both seemed not to have much depth). I think that Shannon Morgan did an exceptional job on her first novel! Overall, I liked this story quite a bit, and recommend it to enjoyers of The Awakening, or anyone who is looking for an atmospheric mystery.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse
I completely loved Her Little Flowers. Genuinely creepy moments, a crumbling mansion, ghosts aplenty, and characters you can connect with mixed with atmospheric writing and a great twisting plot.
Incredible
If you need a book to hurt you, you've found it. This book creates discoveries like wounds; by the last page, your heart feels heavier than when you started in way that somehow feels whole.
If you need a book to hurt you, you've found it. This book creates discoveries like wounds; by the last page, your heart feels heavier than when you started in way that somehow feels whole.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read the majority of this in Oct/Nov of last year, but put it on the back burner while I was finishing some library books. So that might skew my opinion, but overall I really loved this.
You can definitely tell Shirley Jackson was a big inspiration, and Morgan delivers on a gorgeous Gothic atmosphere. There's an old manor, large garden, graveyard and of course an abandoned asylum in the woods. This book balanced a tense atmosphere with bleak and bleaker revelations very well.
Ghost stories are grief stories and wow this book is an emotional hit on that front. It really breaks your heart in the final act, but does leave you with some catharsis and hope. If you like Gothic stories, I highly recommend this.
You can definitely tell Shirley Jackson was a big inspiration, and Morgan delivers on a gorgeous Gothic atmosphere. There's an old manor, large garden, graveyard and of course an abandoned asylum in the woods. This book balanced a tense atmosphere with bleak and bleaker revelations very well.
Ghost stories are grief stories and wow this book is an emotional hit on that front. It really breaks your heart in the final act, but does leave you with some catharsis and hope. If you like Gothic stories, I highly recommend this.
***These are my random thoughts after finishing the book. Some of the thoughts are an overall review of the book, or any questions/feelings that nagged at me throughout. There will almost definitely be spoilers. Read at your own risk.*** ‐----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.5 stars down
Slowbuild
The Gothic (no horror) is mild and the mystery is mild (pretty easy to guess)
The modern setting felt a little jarring against the gothic-ness of the house and Francine
Easy cozy fall read
3.5 stars down
Slowbuild
The Gothic (no horror) is mild and the mystery is mild (pretty easy to guess)
The modern setting felt a little jarring against the gothic-ness of the house and Francine
Easy cozy fall read
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
A superb ghost story intertwined with a tragic family history told througha dual timeline where both the past and present have very well-developed stories and characters. Add a hint of romance and some cool plant knowledge and it adds up to a really great story.
3.5. Whew. This one was intensely emotional. It has significant traumatic impacts: abuse and child loss. It was really well written and the plot was intriguing and compelling. Sometimes the writing was repetitive and the negatives of the plot are really sad. The story was very engaging, however. An excellent narrator makes this a good audiobook!
The good parts of this book were so good that they vastly overshadowed the mediocre. I adored this one. It’s like horror meets thriller but make it…wholesome?
There were almost no extraneous details. Honestly, I would argue that the only real subplot was the relationship between Todd and Francine. The clues were often painfully obvious. Certain details fell away and weren’t returned to (but none that really contributed to the main plot, more to character). The way information was found out/remembered seemed almost too unbelievable, as were other elements. I mean…a haunted manor and an abandoned asylum on the same property? Come on now. The characters didn’t feel like their given ages; Todd, Francine, and Maddie felt too young, the children felt too old. I wish Keefe and Miss Cavendish had been a little more present and developed. They were also all very much one dimensional, even if there was a bit of growth. The writing was pretty average. More tell than show.
But holy shit. I could see it all playing out in my head. I was enchanted from the first page and hooked to the last. I loved Bree, I loved Francine, I loved Maddie. I loved the setting. I loved the use of flowers and how that layer of the story tied in with the title. I loved that I wasn’t scared. I loved that the ending was ultimately happy.
If you want a cozy thriller style book, this is definitely worth a read. Honestly, I think it’s great for this time of year; it’s easy to read and a good one to curl up in front of the fireplace with.
I’ll definitely be checking out Shannon Morgan’s next book; I’m looking forward to seeing her grow as an author!
There were almost no extraneous details. Honestly, I would argue that the only real subplot was the relationship between Todd and Francine. The clues were often painfully obvious. Certain details fell away and weren’t returned to (but none that really contributed to the main plot, more to character). The way information was found out/remembered seemed almost too unbelievable, as were other elements. I mean…a haunted manor and an abandoned asylum on the same property? Come on now. The characters didn’t feel like their given ages; Todd, Francine, and Maddie felt too young, the children felt too old. I wish Keefe and Miss Cavendish had been a little more present and developed. They were also all very much one dimensional, even if there was a bit of growth. The writing was pretty average. More tell than show.
But holy shit. I could see it all playing out in my head. I was enchanted from the first page and hooked to the last. I loved Bree, I loved Francine, I loved Maddie. I loved the setting. I loved the use of flowers and how that layer of the story tied in with the title. I loved that I wasn’t scared. I loved that the ending was ultimately happy.
If you want a cozy thriller style book, this is definitely worth a read. Honestly, I think it’s great for this time of year; it’s easy to read and a good one to curl up in front of the fireplace with.
I’ll definitely be checking out Shannon Morgan’s next book; I’m looking forward to seeing her grow as an author!