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reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I have been striking out lately and ALL THE WHITE SPACES was a severe let down.
The intro to the book asks if I’ve locked my doors and turned on all the lights. I was ready and willing to be scared shitless by a historical fiction horror story. It did not deliver. If you’re going to hype yourself up with a “check under your bed” intro, I better wind up with fear-induced insomnia.
Instead, I got pages and pages and pages of a slog through an adventure story with a couple of creepy moments that did not stress me out in the least.
Honestly, I should have DNFed, but I was CONVINCED it would be worthwhile. ‘Twas not.
On a positive note, the writing was deeply atmospheric. I could feel the cold and the despair of this crew stranded in a brutal and unforgiving place.
I also appreciated having a trans MC who embraced the adventure to his core. However, many of the other characters were one dimensional and constantly making choices that seemed blatantly poor.
Had this book not gone so hard on setting itself up as a terrifying horror read, I might have enjoyed it more. The majority of the story was the adventure into The South and the disasters that occur to these adventurers. I wish it was being marketed as historical fiction with a creepy twist, rather than a heart-pounding horror story. Unfortunately, I feel like I was set up to fail with this one, which is just too bad.
The intro to the book asks if I’ve locked my doors and turned on all the lights. I was ready and willing to be scared shitless by a historical fiction horror story. It did not deliver. If you’re going to hype yourself up with a “check under your bed” intro, I better wind up with fear-induced insomnia.
Instead, I got pages and pages and pages of a slog through an adventure story with a couple of creepy moments that did not stress me out in the least.
Honestly, I should have DNFed, but I was CONVINCED it would be worthwhile. ‘Twas not.
On a positive note, the writing was deeply atmospheric. I could feel the cold and the despair of this crew stranded in a brutal and unforgiving place.
I also appreciated having a trans MC who embraced the adventure to his core. However, many of the other characters were one dimensional and constantly making choices that seemed blatantly poor.
Had this book not gone so hard on setting itself up as a terrifying horror read, I might have enjoyed it more. The majority of the story was the adventure into The South and the disasters that occur to these adventurers. I wish it was being marketed as historical fiction with a creepy twist, rather than a heart-pounding horror story. Unfortunately, I feel like I was set up to fail with this one, which is just too bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Grief, and Murder
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