Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide, Dementia
This quick-paced, Easter egg-filled, (meta) ode to horror was a lot of fun to read. The characters felt real and complicated, and not like the placeholders that often fill out the scenery in horrors. The relationship between the sisters felt especially dynamic and historied and compelling. The writing was punchy and direct, never feeling flowery, and it was well-paced—as soon as I finished a chapter I immediately wanted to go on to the next. The reason I am not giving a five star review is there is something about the story itself that felt a little clunky, or a little overwrought. Even the way the phrase “burn the negative” gets used repeatedly just felt unwieldy, like an early draft idea that should have been left behind once it opened the creative doors it needed to open, and that was a feeling I kept getting as the story went on. Overall, I enjoyed the story, there was a good combination of showing and hiding, leaving the readers in the dark, and red herrings galore. Some of the red herrings, too, felt, expected and unconvincing, and I didn’t find myself amazingly surprised at each twist and turn the story took, but I also didn’t feel disappointed or cheated. It is a solid story, enough to keep a genre reader entertained and constantly guessing about the next twist or turn, and the love for the horror genre really shined through every page (especially through the character Brian that feels like probably an author surrogate). The way the story played out was cinematic, in many ways, which is entirely appropriate for a horror story about a cursed horror movie, and the ending felt earned and appropriate. The novel is a lot of fun, and a quick and easy read. If you appreciate the genre of horror in both film and novels you will find a lot to enjoy in this story, and should definitely give it a try.
I want to thank the author, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I want to thank the author, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Just ALL the yes to this book! I was instantly hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, the story was just freaking fantastic. And I loved the formatting too, that’s always something that draws me in more. It’s creepy and it’s gory and it’s just downright excellent, really can’t recommend this one highly enough!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Books about haunted movies? Yes, please.
I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this novel. It was fast-paced, exciting, maybe a little predictable, and a touch campy. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the last five pages, but I could definitely live with it.
I have been anticipating this book since January and it didn't disappoint.
I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this novel. It was fast-paced, exciting, maybe a little predictable, and a touch campy. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the last five pages, but I could definitely live with it.
I have been anticipating this book since January and it didn't disappoint.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
