975 reviews for:

Hemlock Island

Kelley Armstrong

3.47 AVERAGE

jlewenda's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

el_cafecito's review

4.25

dark emotional funny mysterious sad fast-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

alli_the_bookaholic13's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

annies_bookshelf's review

3.25

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

gen_wolfhailstorm's review

3.5

adventurous lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was a moreish story that was really easy to fall into and devour large chunks at a time and it helped that the characters were memorable (for better or worse). In fact, I didn't realize it was possible to care so much for a character that wasn't even an active character on page, but I loved Nate!

In tone, for a large portion of Hemlock Island it reminded me of Scooby Doo mysteries; it felt light hearted but like there was something always lurking just on the edge of the page. When the darkness emerged it got really intense and occult. I liked both aspects of the novels' delivery.

There was a fair bit of lines overused, such as Laney always being the one spot something and then getting into a dangerous situation just to answer her question. It was irritating from a character growth perspective, but from a reading point of view, it led to scenes feeling repetitive and stale on occasions. She also just felt like a savior trope that was perfect and selfless in every way, and to read that perspective was a little annoying. 

It was also annoying that it ran circles hinting at events that happened without saying it until a dramatic moment when it was revealed. It was effective, don't get me wrong, but the suspense was dragged out so much that I felt myself losing interest in the upcoming reveal.

There were definitely some components that I think could have been edited, as outlined above, but for the most part, this was an enjoyable, spooky story giving off haunted house, old entity type horror archetypes that I typically love.

nastystig's review

3.0

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As my first Kelley Armstrong novel I have to say that I’m disappointed. Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” is one of my very favourite mysteries, but even I’m tired of this ~trapped on a secluded island~ trope. Unfortunately this novel was a chaotic mess with “twists” just to have more twists and it wasn’t even that twisty. Just branches leading to nothing.

loveayeti's review

3.25

fast-paced

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

jilliansholt's review

4.25

dark mysterious tense 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: Complicated

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I guessed the ending halfway through but there were still enough twists to keep it interesting. 

cherylc's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

amberstow's review

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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: Complicated