Reviews with content warning for Torture - Das Dorf der toten Seelen

Okay, if you're looking for a spooky read, this book definitely fits the bill. It's the kind of book that I would not be able to handle in movie form—I couldn't stop listening to it because I just had to know what was happening or I wouldn't be able to sleep haha.

The narrator did a good job too. The blurb compares this book to two movies, and I think if I'd been familiar with those movies I probably wouldn't have read this...but honestly did not know what those movies were about lol. So this rating is my own fault; this genre is just not one that I particularly enjoy and, though I'm entertained while reading, I'm left with a "meh" feeling and a desire to start a different book immediately.

I was disappointed in the characters in this one. I never felt like I got to know any of them, not really. Even the main character doesn't have any tangible development. So I didn't really care about the characters as much as I would've liked. They made stupid decisions which of course had consequences and I just shrugged and kept reading.

Also, the "answer" to the mystery...was too unbelievable for me. I was left with a lot of questions about plausibility that I feel like were just ignored for the sake of the plot.

But like I said, this genre just doesn't do it for me—if you enjoy a good plot-focused mystery with spooky/creepy/horror elements, you'll probably like this one!

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kathkas's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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creepycrawlybookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a great audio read, that had me hooked quickly. There were some more predictable plot points, but others that I didn't expect too! I became more invested in the characters as the story progressed, even though not all were loveable, that isn't an issue for me particularly, as I'd rather read about flawed, interesting characters, than sugar-coated ones.
There was also a good mix of creepiness and suspense amongst the characters themselves, as well as in the town, and it worked well alongside the group dynamic and documentary parts of the story.

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thrillofthepage's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book was everything I wanted it to be...it was creepy, atmospheric, and spine tingling. As soon as I saw the comparison to The Blair Witch Project I requested it immediately!

The Lost Village follows Alice, a documentary filmmaker, and her small crew to an old, abandoned mining village in Sweden. Alice longs to find out what happened to the almost 900 people who vanished from the village in 1959, including her great-grandmother’s entire family. Everything was left as though the townspeople would return, but 60 years later Silvertjärn stands empty. The only people left in the village were a woman tied to a pole, stoned to death, and a newborn baby.

The setting was absolutely incredible and the way Sten crafted the village made it a character itself. As soon as the crew saw the town I got goosebumps just from the anticipation of what was to come. The vivid descriptions of the homes, the church, and schoolhouse were so creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat. Books where the setting is its own character are some of my favorite and this was no exception.

The Lost Village is told through dual timelines, Then and Now. For a majority of the book I loved the Now timeline because that’s where the action was. However, the closer I got to the end the more invested I was in the past timeline. It was fascinating to witness the changes in the village and I thought the reveal was perfect.

If I had one critique it would be that I wanted a little more from the ending. I liked the ending, but it did seem a little far fetched and I did figure it out. This was the only thing that kept The Lost Village from being a five star read for me.

I loved this book and think it would make an amazing Netflix series! If you enjoy spooky, sinister stories then I highly recommend The Lost Village by Camilla Sten!

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