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beefgameplays's review
the premise sounded so exciting to me but it is FAR too slow paced for me to enjoy. the story seems to be ignoring all of the most intriguing things, preferring to dive deep into every single thought and experience Morgan has.
claudiearseneault's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
barefootmegz's review against another edition
4.0
The trick to enjoying Sanctuary, is expecting the right thing - and I guess I was lucky, because my expectations were spot-on. Sanctuary is the story of a bunch of misfits - both corporeal and slightly less-so - creating a safe space in a less-than-safe world.
The novel is character-driven, not plot-driven. There are many characters, and if you want to get deep into their heads without using your own imagination, you will be disappointed. Personally, I have discovered a little niche of books that explore a group of characters who exist in a similar setting, often a household situation-ship, and I enjoy it tremendously.
Sanctuary offers suggestion, not fully-formed answers. For example, we never learn exactly what Araminta experienced in her younger life, but we know enough to guess. I believe that when the reader is allowed to fill gaps in a character’s story, it allows the reader more opportunity to see parts of themselves in the character.
Frankly, a group of adults with ADHD and other diverse factors, making a home for themselves in a huge old house, would already attract me into reading it. I AM HERE FOR IT! The paranormal angle was fun, and I loved reading about the different ghosts, as well as their histories. That definitely held my attention, and I suspect Buchanan had great fun writing it.
There has been criticism about the plot being slow, or starting too late, but like I said, I did not see this as a plot-driven novel at all. I don’t know if that was intentional on the author’s side, but it is how I feel about the novel, and I’m sticking to it.
My biggest criticisms are:
The fight scene is confusing and messy, but not in a good way;
The final chapter is very preachy/didactic.
Oh, and Isobel’s interspersed narrative? I am so intrigued, and I want to read those insets again! I have no idea what it all means, but I’m happy to use my imagination.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is character-driven, not plot-driven. There are many characters, and if you want to get deep into their heads without using your own imagination, you will be disappointed. Personally, I have discovered a little niche of books that explore a group of characters who exist in a similar setting, often a household situation-ship, and I enjoy it tremendously.
Sanctuary offers suggestion, not fully-formed answers. For example, we never learn exactly what Araminta experienced in her younger life, but we know enough to guess. I believe that when the reader is allowed to fill gaps in a character’s story, it allows the reader more opportunity to see parts of themselves in the character.
Frankly, a group of adults with ADHD and other diverse factors, making a home for themselves in a huge old house, would already attract me into reading it. I AM HERE FOR IT! The paranormal angle was fun, and I loved reading about the different ghosts, as well as their histories. That definitely held my attention, and I suspect Buchanan had great fun writing it.
There has been criticism about the plot being slow, or starting too late, but like I said, I did not see this as a plot-driven novel at all. I don’t know if that was intentional on the author’s side, but it is how I feel about the novel, and I’m sticking to it.
My biggest criticisms are:
The fight scene is confusing and messy, but not in a good way;
The final chapter is very preachy/didactic.
Oh, and Isobel’s interspersed narrative? I am so intrigued, and I want to read those insets again! I have no idea what it all means, but I’m happy to use my imagination.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bmccabe088's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
hualianr's review against another edition
4.0
One thing about me is that I am an absolute sucker for the found family trope, and despite this being established from the beginning, it was still such a joy to read about the relationships the residents of Casswell Park shared.
Each character in this book was well fleshed out, and we got a vast amount of representation including; an entire cast of neurodivergent characters, transgender and nonbinary characters, disabled characters, lesbian characters, queer characters, Black characters, and a South Asian character. The shared experiences that these characters had made for a loving and understanding environment, with each character having a clear understanding of the boundaries and needs of the others. This isn't to say that the group was completely perfect - arguments were had as in any family, but they worked through those easily.
As for the plot, it was an interesting one. Casswell Park is not only home to our cast of humans, but to a cast of various ghosts too. These ghosts - unlike how they're usually portrayed - aren't tethered to where their death occurred but can move from location to location, choosing to tether themself to a building should they wish. When an old man arrives with a collection of glass bottles and the information that they contain ghosts within them, the residents of Casswell Park devise a plan to free them from their confinement - slowly so as not to overwhelm the current ghostly residents of their home. What ensues after this is a mixture of spooky happenings and some bad decision-making.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The strongest point of this book from me was definitely the characters - they're well written and feel incredibly real, and at times are very relatable. The plot was interesting and moved at a good pace, and I especially loved the chapters where we followed Isobel, as the insight they gave to the story was a nice touch, and they helped set the plot up pretty well. My only criticism would be that but other than that, everything was great!
[ARC provided by NetGalley.]
Each character in this book was well fleshed out, and we got a vast amount of representation including; an entire cast of neurodivergent characters, transgender and nonbinary characters, disabled characters, lesbian characters, queer characters, Black characters, and a South Asian character. The shared experiences that these characters had made for a loving and understanding environment, with each character having a clear understanding of the boundaries and needs of the others. This isn't to say that the group was completely perfect - arguments were had as in any family, but they worked through those easily.
As for the plot, it was an interesting one. Casswell Park is not only home to our cast of humans, but to a cast of various ghosts too. These ghosts - unlike how they're usually portrayed - aren't tethered to where their death occurred but can move from location to location, choosing to tether themself to a building should they wish. When an old man arrives with a collection of glass bottles and the information that they contain ghosts within them, the residents of Casswell Park devise a plan to free them from their confinement - slowly so as not to overwhelm the current ghostly residents of their home. What ensues after this is a mixture of spooky happenings and some bad decision-making.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The strongest point of this book from me was definitely the characters - they're well written and feel incredibly real, and at times are very relatable. The plot was interesting and moved at a good pace, and I especially loved the chapters where we followed Isobel, as the insight they gave to the story was a nice touch, and they helped set the plot up pretty well. My only criticism would be that
Spoiler
the fight at the end of the novel felt a little long and at times I struggled to visualise it[ARC provided by NetGalley.]
blandrea_reads's review against another edition
DNF
There was so much that attracted me to this book, but it never quite hooked.
There was a a hugely diverse cast, complicated and quirky individuals and thr promise of s good mystery but it didn't hit for me now.
I am a mood reader and this may not have been the right time. I do intend to retry when I am in the mood for a super natural mystery.
There was so much that attracted me to this book, but it never quite hooked.
There was a a hugely diverse cast, complicated and quirky individuals and thr promise of s good mystery but it didn't hit for me now.
I am a mood reader and this may not have been the right time. I do intend to retry when I am in the mood for a super natural mystery.
ryttu3k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
noshyira's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
the_crooked_neighbor's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This story has a great premise and a solid base. I think this book could be a 4.5 or 5 star read if it went through a couple more rounds of edits. The pacing of the book is really strange with almost nothing happening for half the book and then a solid two chapters of a climax that felt like it went on forever followed by a way too long ending. I think I honestly would have enjoyed the book more if nothing had happened at all because while the late half of the book fell flat- I did really enjoy the set up and the characters. I think if one or two (or three) of the very large cast of this book were cut and the genesis for the conflict was re-written to seem less totally avoidable this would have been infinitely better. In the end, it is a 3.5 not a 3 for me because the representation and the care put into the book made it worth reading for me, even if I was sad that it did not meet its potential.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
3.0
I'm always down to read about queer people, neurodivergent people, and ghosts. So this book is right up my alley! I appreciate the safe space the author has dreamt up in the big house of Casswell Park. The characters support and accommodate one another, trying to live in (though a little apart from) a world that tends to be unwelcoming of them. We love to see it.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.