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ellenigrace's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pregnancy, Dementia, Confinement, Death, Rape, Blood, Grief, Animal death, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Infidelity, and Homophobia
dogearedbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, Child death, Sexism, Animal death, Blood, and Rape
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Body horror
Minor: Car accident and Bullying
rhi_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Rape, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Lesbophobia, and Medical trauma
Minor: Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
queenmackenzie's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The book follows the two, each chapter alternating between them in their different timelines, each slowly revealing the underlying darkness of Lichen Hall. Because, though it is beautiful and surrounded by forest, all is not quite what it seems… the forest itself is haunted by a creature of shadow, Mr and Mrs Whitfield have bursts of strangeness, and mushrooms sprout all around, some even invading the hall and breaking it down slowly. The tension is built slowly, helped by the fact that the setting is viewed from two different points in time as they gradually catch up with each other. However, I can’t say that I was ever properly pulled in or felt a chill at any point.
I’m not really a horror reader, but I do sometimes like when a book gives me goosebumps or keeps me up because I have to resolve the tension, and sadly this one didn’t hit that spot. I really liked the characters, Mabel most of all, and the writing was beautiful, but I mostly remained indifferent to the story and when I’d finished it was left quite unsatisfied. I was hoping more would come of the figure that stalks the narrative: the mythic witch Nicnevin. I think a bit point of the story was to highlight the horror of the situation unmarried mothers found themselves in during this time, which it did do very well, but that’s just not what it’s marketed as…
However, if you are looking for a tense, character-focused story with horror elements and a wonderful cast of female characters, I do recommend you pick this and other books by C.J. Cooke up. Just beware that it’s a bit of a slow build-up.
Graphic: Pregnancy and Body horror
Moderate: Medical content and Child death
Minor: Car accident and Rape