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missgrangerr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
A mothers love know no bounds ...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Violence, Death, Blood, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
3.0
***3.5/5 stars***
Folk horror novella following an alcoholic PI on the hunt for her daughter’s killer. In a sleepy New Hampshire town, Rebecca finds evidence of disturbing rituals and more murders. As she spirals deeper into depression, substance abuse, and the inability to look in the mirror, Rebecca learns about the dark secrets her daughter was hiding.
Extra messed up short story that packs a punch. Anyone looking for more in the vein of Midsommar should check it out.
Folk horror novella following an alcoholic PI on the hunt for her daughter’s killer. In a sleepy New Hampshire town, Rebecca finds evidence of disturbing rituals and more murders. As she spirals deeper into depression, substance abuse, and the inability to look in the mirror, Rebecca learns about the dark secrets her daughter was hiding.
Extra messed up short story that packs a punch. Anyone looking for more in the vein of Midsommar should check it out.
liznannigans's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
reads_vicariously's review against another edition
5.0
My jaw is on the floor, dragged there by equal parts disgust and awe. Disgusted by what I just read, in awe of its dark, twisting brilliance. I went into this story completely unprepared and was taken on a shocking, thrilling ride, spit out the other side transmuted, never to be the same again. And that's exactly how I recommend you approach this novella as well.
How to review RITES OF EXTINCTION without revealing too much of its multilayered magnificence?
It's a tale of loss, obsession, possession, revenge, and madness. It's grief horror, folk horror, cult horror, and psychological horror. It's brutal, disturbing, mind-bending, hilarious, full of turns I didn't expect, and extremely well written - I couldn't put it down and eagerly ate up every word. It's all of these things and still something I can't quite put my finger on. It has a loose, dream-like quality to many of its scenes, where the characters and the reader both become unmoored from time and space. So. Good.
This was my first book by Matt Serafini, and I can't wait to read more of his work!
How to review RITES OF EXTINCTION without revealing too much of its multilayered magnificence?
It's a tale of loss, obsession, possession, revenge, and madness. It's grief horror, folk horror, cult horror, and psychological horror. It's brutal, disturbing, mind-bending, hilarious, full of turns I didn't expect, and extremely well written - I couldn't put it down and eagerly ate up every word. It's all of these things and still something I can't quite put my finger on. It has a loose, dream-like quality to many of its scenes, where the characters and the reader both become unmoored from time and space. So. Good.
This was my first book by Matt Serafini, and I can't wait to read more of his work!
phantomthreads's review against another edition
dark
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? No
0.5
abbymatz's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
elle_ette's review against another edition
3.0
Rebecca Daniels is a woman obsessed with finding her daughter's killer, and has taken it upon herself to hunt the man down when the police show signs of giving up after coming up empty handed. Her search takes her to a small town called Bright Fork, and upon her arrival she begins to realise that this is only the beginning of her true suffering.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I loved the beginning and the ending, but the middle lost me for a while. I think tighter editing would have served it well despite the small page count because the transition from crime thriller to outright psychological horror felt disjointed, almost like there were chunks of action missing - I had to re-read several sections to be sure I was understanding exactly what had happened to move us to those points.
I think the premise was excellent and I agree that the twist ending was something of a gut punch, not expected at all, there is some excellent writing in here and very solid characters that I connected with easily. Unfortunately I just think that for me this would have worked better if it continued as a thriller instead of shifting into horror, it became a little bit too convoluted with unreliable dream/hallucination sequences. I might try a re-read now I understand what is going on and see if that helps at all. Not bad by any means!
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I loved the beginning and the ending, but the middle lost me for a while. I think tighter editing would have served it well despite the small page count because the transition from crime thriller to outright psychological horror felt disjointed, almost like there were chunks of action missing - I had to re-read several sections to be sure I was understanding exactly what had happened to move us to those points.
I think the premise was excellent and I agree that the twist ending was something of a gut punch, not expected at all, there is some excellent writing in here and very solid characters that I connected with easily. Unfortunately I just think that for me this would have worked better if it continued as a thriller instead of shifting into horror, it became a little bit too convoluted with unreliable dream/hallucination sequences. I might try a re-read now I understand what is going on and see if that helps at all. Not bad by any means!