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ilona_rae's review against another edition
3.0
I tend to watch crime rather than read it. So I find it hard to review without much comparison. I thought Hulda, the main character, was interesting and complex. The writing style was a bit blunt for my tastes and the atmosphere was suffocating.
sslovesbooks_1's review
5.0
Have not read anything by this author before but I was gripped by this Icelandic crime novel. A great novel to end 2018
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
3.0
The Darkness is not the first book I've read by the author, and as such, it suffers from the same problems. It is very bluntly written, others might think this a reflection of the starkness of Iceland, but I think it's just the author's writing style, and while it makes for a ridiculously easy read it is not necessarily a good thing as there is a lack of description other than what the weather is doing and everything feels 'half-formed' and also, 'too easy'. The causality of the book throws up few surprises.
There are three intermingling stories told in this incredibly short tale, and while they all eventually resolve into some sort of coherence, I didn't find the resolution satisfying or indeed, that convincing.
I always want to enjoy these books set in Iceland, I am drawn to the bleakness of it all, but I am, sadly, often left disappointed, and this is the same for this book. There just needs to be 'more' to these stories, and even the unconventional ending is ultimately disappointing while also being bold, a strange this to say, but true all the same.
There are three intermingling stories told in this incredibly short tale, and while they all eventually resolve into some sort of coherence, I didn't find the resolution satisfying or indeed, that convincing.
I always want to enjoy these books set in Iceland, I am drawn to the bleakness of it all, but I am, sadly, often left disappointed, and this is the same for this book. There just needs to be 'more' to these stories, and even the unconventional ending is ultimately disappointing while also being bold, a strange this to say, but true all the same.
opplecopter's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Suicide, Deportation, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Cursing
gray5217's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
aharke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dagnydav's review against another edition
4.0
Spennandi, ég er ekki mikið í spennusögum lengur og fannst hún svolítið basic þangað til undir lokin sem breytti upplifun minni. Þoldi ekki endinn, sem varð eiginlega til þess að mér fannst bókin enn betri.
eadaoinc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
asmale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0