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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
3,5/5
A predictable thriller with an amazing setting and great writing.
A predictable thriller with an amazing setting and great writing.
im sad to say this wasn't everything I wanted it to be. It failed to really grip me and I could not pay attention to what was happening on the page like ever, I was bored. The story was creepy but I just feel like not incredibly relevant to right now and I didn't really care about the main character so idk. The gothic descriptions really got me, she's killer at that and I did love the ending, but idk if id recommend this. Just read Rebecca.
Moody and atmospheric, even a bit creepy, this tale is set upon the Bodmin Moors, at a desolate and sinister inn that welcomes no one.
Not my usual choice for a pre-bedtime read, but so well-crafted and interesting, with an intelligent and courageous main character. I found it difficult to put down.
Not my usual choice for a pre-bedtime read, but so well-crafted and interesting, with an intelligent and courageous main character. I found it difficult to put down.
If you're looking for a gothic read, this book ticks many of the boxes. The villain is a murderous tyrant? Check. The heroine is a virginal orphan, prone to fainting? Check. It's set in an inn in the middle of nowhere in a poor state of repair? Check. The inn has a sinister owner? Check. The laws of the land are brazenly flaunted? Check.
Overall, this book was a good time. Just keep in mind when reading that you're not going to see some outstanding examples of feminism here. While I liked the main character, Mary Yellan, she overly relied on the men in her life to save her from dangerous situations. The amount of implied violence, sexual and otherwise, bothered me, moreso because it was viewed as inevitable with no other alternative conceivable.
Overall, this book was a good time. Just keep in mind when reading that you're not going to see some outstanding examples of feminism here. While I liked the main character, Mary Yellan, she overly relied on the men in her life to save her from dangerous situations. The amount of implied violence, sexual and otherwise, bothered me, moreso because it was viewed as inevitable with no other alternative conceivable.
I felt like I was on a bleak Bodmin moor throughout this story it was so atmospheric. It just made me want another holiday there.
I absolutely loved this book, I think it is the fastest I have ever read a book. I could not put this book down! Very atmospheric which kept me completely enthralled. The setting reflects the mood and emotionally strained relationships of the characters; making it a beautifully written book. For a thriller, I could not fault it. I am a bit disappointed about the ending as I believe it was cliche and as I expected more from the fiercely independent heroine. However, that is a minor detail in a book which takes you on a unforgettable journey through the moors. Definitely one to keep on the bookshelf.
It felt like a mixture of Wuthering Heights and a Sherlock Holmes story. I found the repetition throughout the novel of "like a live/living/dead thing" a little jarring after a while and struggled to connect with the characters, but the writing itself was extremely good overall and definitely a page turner.
What a delightful gothic novel, in the spirit of the Bronte sisters or Wilkie Collins, but published in 1936! DuMaurier’s work is infused with the mysterious spirit of Cornwall and its landscape, which enhances the sense of young Mary Yellan’s lack of choices. Though alone in the world and dependent on her aunt and malevolent uncle, still Mary forges a courageous path through immorality and abuse.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes