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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I read this for a book group. It was on my "to read" list before it was selected, but had it not been for the book group, I wouldn't have finished it. I did not like any of the characters, and I did not find the spiritualism to be believable. It took me forever to get through it (for me); in fact, I had returned it to the library at one point thinking I had finished it, and then I realized later that I hadn't. Never a good sign.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Finishing this was a struggle. And I have to blame myself a little because I LOVE The Lost Apothecary, Penner’s debut. So my expectations were high for this entrancing follow up about a Seance Society with too many secrets to count.
It just… often didn’t add up. I found the timeline and dual perspectives fuzzy, confusing, and ultimately unbelievable. And I’m typically a sucker for a good ghost story, which is not this.
It’s marketed as a sultry tale of seance and secret, but is more a messy murder mystery with a half hearted love story built in.
Lastly, Penner’s writing style fell so flat in this one. So much telling, no much added detail. Messy perspective switches and outlandish plot twists and you hate every one.
I will say a praise, her author’s note saved it for me. The nonfiction study she had behind it was admirable and much more interesting than the tale itself. A story with more of that, please.
Still, I will give her next book a chance because again I believe in her after TLA and am hoping this one just wasn’t for me.
It just… often didn’t add up. I found the timeline and dual perspectives fuzzy, confusing, and ultimately unbelievable. And I’m typically a sucker for a good ghost story, which is not this.
It’s marketed as a sultry tale of seance and secret, but is more a messy murder mystery with a half hearted love story built in.
Lastly, Penner’s writing style fell so flat in this one. So much telling, no much added detail. Messy perspective switches and outlandish plot twists and you hate every one.
I will say a praise, her author’s note saved it for me. The nonfiction study she had behind it was admirable and much more interesting than the tale itself. A story with more of that, please.
Still, I will give her next book a chance because again I believe in her after TLA and am hoping this one just wasn’t for me.
I really liked The Lost Apothecary but this one isn’t holding my interest. I’ve been trying to listen to it but find my mind wanders. Maybe it’s the person reading or maybe it’s the story? I’m going to DNF for now