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adamsbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I am very conflicted on how to rate this book. I enjoyed the overall plot and the ending was so strong. My biggest problem was the middle of the book (Parts 2&3). They felt so stagnant and nothing interesting was really happening. I found myself zoning out quite a bit.
However I did enjoy the story. I thought the Pastoral plot point was a cool concept, I just was so intrigued by the first part that I was waiting for the stories to connect so we could get back on track. it truly did feel like two separate stories that were pushed together. I am aware now that we follow Maggie and Travis as they are brainwashed into becoming Cala and Theo. I am rating this novel based on notes I took while reading. Even though I enjoyed how the two stories came together I still spent over half the novel confused on what's happening.
Overall maybe I'm too harsh on this book, but I have been on the waitlist since June 2022 at the library. I feel like the hype around this book lead to me being slightly disappointed.
However I did enjoy the story. I thought the Pastoral plot point was a cool concept, I just was so intrigued by the first part that I was waiting for the stories to connect so we could get back on track. it truly did feel like two separate stories that were pushed together.
Overall maybe I'm too harsh on this book, but I have been on the waitlist since June 2022 at the library. I feel like the hype around this book lead to me being slightly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Gun violence, and Torture
blissofalife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I spent most of the book confused, and the twists and explanations felt like a reach but a very original plot and like-able main characters. “The Village (2004)” vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, and Body horror
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Torture, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
melissalynn117's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
kayelina's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Confinement, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Violence, and Gaslighting
caseyrich's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Great premise and interesting buildup but predictable plot twists and a lackluster ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Suicide
laynakl's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Murder
miak2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Perhaps just like Eloise and the Fox, we have feared the wrong thing, when we should have feared what's right here within our own borders. Within our own walls. The beast is already inside the castle, tearing people apart, yet we stare into the woods waiting for it to appear.
3.5 stars
I liked the premise of this a lot but thought the execution of it was just okay. The book hinged on a few twist reveals which, largely, I saw coming. But I still enjoyed getting the full picture uncovered - all the motives and the explanations. I especially appreciated the multiple narrators for the audiobook, it made listening such an immersive experience, and all the narrators did a great job.
I want to praise Ernshaw for really creating the perfect, mysterious vibe for Pastoral. I could really picture their community and the spaces they occupied. The narrators all had strong voices that conveyed their speculations and emotions well. I also liked how the book wrapped up. The big reveals, while not surprising, all did make sense with the story and were pretty interesting.
You know the 'big book small book' meme? Throughout reading, though, I kept thinking about how many things could have been solved if straight people could just communicate. Theo and Calla. Bee and Levi. Just...talk to each other. Work together! Express your emotions!
Some other things I didn't like. The use of blindness as a plot point. I won't say much more, as I don't want to spoil anything, but what I thought was great disability rep ended up being...not quite that. Travis is shown to have a neat almost supernatural power that doesn't really come into play much at all. And there's some late-book reveals, past the climax of the plot, that seemed both super relevant but also very much an afterthought.
Very excited that I read this for my book club, though, as I think there'll be a lot to dissect!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Gaslighting, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book kept me guessing around every turn, keeping me on the edge of my seat. At first a bit confusing, as it starts off with an event and a character that doesn't seem to fit into the rest of the narrative, but as the mysteries slowly unfold, the beginning is only made better. This book was well crafted in a way that I haven't experienced in a while-- where the twists were both surprising yet made complete sense, and tempting me to read the whole book again with my newly-gained perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence and Suicidal thoughts
mtnest's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
If this entire book had been about Travis, I would have been way more interested. One of my least favorite tropes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Murder
mybookishdelights's review against another edition
DNF at page 20. I'm actually bummed about this. I love Shea Ernshaw's writing and loved her two previous books. Unfortunately, this one has content that I can't handle and it's too scary. And I'm a scaredy-cat. 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death