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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
***** SPOILERS *****
This was sitting at a solid 3 stars until about the second half. The premise started off intriguing, the characters were fine, and I was just along for a spooky ride. But when the event that kicked off the whole thing turned out to be an accidental "oath" to an entity that no one knew existed and who goes on a murderous rampage because people don't respect nature, I lost any investment I had in the outcome. That on it's own could have still been a 2.5 maybe still a generous 3 star.
Then we start rationalizing the rage-aholic rapist. The 19 year old man who drugged and raped a 15 year old girl, threatened her if she told anyone, who then ends up pregnant. This is barely revealed before we hear multiple times "he's not a monster", "but he's such a good brother" and "he cares about his daughter". What the actual fuck is all that! Even if the justification came from a place of residual trauma and denial, there were plenty of other characters that could have bene used to address that regardless of how nice he is to his sister, he is still a rapist and sugar coating that is just gross. And if that wasn't enough, she doesn't want to say too much bad about him because she wants her daughter to have some kind of relationship with this man. It was obvious from he arrived to the story that he was a shit human being, and then as we realize just how shit he was, we also seem to be led to believe he's still not so bad, abusive, rage filled, and a rapist, but not so bad.
This was sitting at a solid 3 stars until about the second half. The premise started off intriguing, the characters were fine, and I was just along for a spooky ride. But when the event that kicked off the whole thing turned out to be an accidental "oath" to an entity that no one knew existed and who goes on a murderous rampage because people don't respect nature, I lost any investment I had in the outcome. That on it's own could have still been a 2.5 maybe still a generous 3 star.
Then we start rationalizing the rage-aholic rapist. The 19 year old man who drugged and raped a 15 year old girl, threatened her if she told anyone, who then ends up pregnant. This is barely revealed before we hear multiple times "he's not a monster", "but he's such a good brother" and "he cares about his daughter". What the actual fuck is all that! Even if the justification came from a place of residual trauma and denial, there were plenty of other characters that could have bene used to address that regardless of how nice he is to his sister, he is still a rapist and sugar coating that is just gross. And if that wasn't enough, she doesn't want to say too much bad about him because she wants her daughter to have some kind of relationship with this man. It was obvious from he arrived to the story that he was a shit human being, and then as we realize just how shit he was, we also seem to be led to believe he's still not so bad, abusive, rage filled, and a rapist, but not so bad.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong!
Kelley Armstrong’s Hemlock Island is a disappointing and poorly paced horror/thriller that never quite comes together. In the novel, a writer travels to her remote lake home after a series of horrifying incidents occur. Together with her ex-husband, niece, and others, she must discover who or what is causing the mayhem. Armstong’s novel has so much potential, but the novel fails to build suspense, mystery, or tension. Once the characters arrive on the island, the novel moves clunkily from one plot point to another without ever leaving the reader time to process what’s unfolding or why it matters to the characters. The novel begins to feel repetitive after a few chapters. The characters are poorly drawn and the novel handles sexual assault in a way that is distasteful and lacking in care. The dialogue is poorly written, the island lacks a cohesive sense of place, and the horror never truly scares. I loved the premise of the novel, but little here actually works. The final reveal is bland and feels disappointingly familiar. I do not recommend this novel.
Kelley Armstrong’s Hemlock Island is a disappointing and poorly paced horror/thriller that never quite comes together. In the novel, a writer travels to her remote lake home after a series of horrifying incidents occur. Together with her ex-husband, niece, and others, she must discover who or what is causing the mayhem. Armstong’s novel has so much potential, but the novel fails to build suspense, mystery, or tension. Once the characters arrive on the island, the novel moves clunkily from one plot point to another without ever leaving the reader time to process what’s unfolding or why it matters to the characters. The novel begins to feel repetitive after a few chapters. The characters are poorly drawn and the novel handles sexual assault in a way that is distasteful and lacking in care. The dialogue is poorly written, the island lacks a cohesive sense of place, and the horror never truly scares. I loved the premise of the novel, but little here actually works. The final reveal is bland and feels disappointingly familiar. I do not recommend this novel.
One of the most ridiculous books I've ever read.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
An unexpected journey that I definitely didn’t see coming. Highly recommended
This started out promising, and it is fast-paced. Laney was given an island by her now ex-husband, Kit. While it being remote and disconnected from the outside world except by boat is great for her writing, she’s a teacher, and she can’t maintain all the other fees that go with owning a home on an island, so she has no choice but to rent it out. When renters complain about weird occult stuff being found around the house and surrounding area, she doesn’t know what kind of prank people are playing. Presumably someone who wants to buy it from her is trying to scare her off so she’ll sell it for less. The latest prank is blood and scratches on the inside door of a closet. Laney takes teenage Madelyn, who she is now the caregiver for to check things out. Unexpectedly, her ex-husband and his sister also come, as well as a frenemy and her brother. When they get there, all of her boats have been destroyed—they are stuck there until they can be rescued by Kit’s wealthy parents.
The paranormal elements of this novel just didn’t work for me. I understand the message it was trying to tell us (it wasn’t subtle), but you have to get me to believe in the paranormal forces at work, and this just didn’t. Also, the end of Laney and Kit’s marriage didn’t seem plausible to me either—apparently they ended it without really having a conversation. There was no trial separation. Just: Things got difficult over the pandemic so let’s quickly divorce and be on our way.
NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 12, 2023.
The paranormal elements of this novel just didn’t work for me. I understand the message it was trying to tell us (it wasn’t subtle), but you have to get me to believe in the paranormal forces at work, and this just didn’t. Also, the end of Laney and Kit’s marriage didn’t seem plausible to me either—apparently they ended it without really having a conversation. There was no trial separation. Just: Things got difficult over the pandemic so let’s quickly divorce and be on our way.
NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 12, 2023.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong is going to be difficult for me to rate because this is a case where going in blindly was a bad choice.
Life deals Laney a double punch in the gut with a pandemic field divorce and the loss of her sister to cancer. Now the guardian of her niece, Madison, and overwhelming financial issues Laney takes to renting out her vacation home on the private Hemlock Island. When her latest renters call her with creepy concerns, she heads out to the island to see what is going on.
I became very invested in the book for the first half and then the paranormal aspects creeped in and I just wanted it to be over. The implausibility, the overdone tropes, the lack of character development, the twists and turns just didn’t jive with me. This is totally my fault for going in blindly.
One of my biggest complaints was the dialogue. The constant “get in the house” now “leave the house” back and forth was exhausting and the character background was weakly done for the big ah-ha moment surrounding teenage Madison.
Overall it’s a 2.5 rounded up. I think a lot of people will enjoy Hemlock Island, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy to review.
Life deals Laney a double punch in the gut with a pandemic field divorce and the loss of her sister to cancer. Now the guardian of her niece, Madison, and overwhelming financial issues Laney takes to renting out her vacation home on the private Hemlock Island. When her latest renters call her with creepy concerns, she heads out to the island to see what is going on.
I became very invested in the book for the first half and then the paranormal aspects creeped in and I just wanted it to be over. The implausibility, the overdone tropes, the lack of character development, the twists and turns just didn’t jive with me. This is totally my fault for going in blindly.
One of my biggest complaints was the dialogue. The constant “get in the house” now “leave the house” back and forth was exhausting and the character background was weakly done for the big ah-ha moment surrounding teenage Madison.
Overall it’s a 2.5 rounded up. I think a lot of people will enjoy Hemlock Island, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy to review.
No way, I thought this was great. Very Evil Dead while not being Evil Dead. The audiobook is a must.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Mixed emotions with this one. I really liked it, until the ending. Not the ending I expected, also not the ending I would have liked to see? For all the blood & gore this book came with, I feel like blaming it on an entity was a cop out. I don’t even know why I feel that way, but I do lol. I didn’t hate it, it was a good read, but sentencing Laney to live most of her life on the island to appease the spirt felt lackluster. I wanted to see some good ole fashioned revenge! Especially on her horrible horrible friend Sadie that she never truly got to confront for being a POS basically since forever. I know she died & that’s a form of punishment, but ya know what I mean. 3 stars from me!