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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/4 for me. It takes some turns and wasn't what I expected. I'm not mad about it.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was pleasantly surprised by Hemlock Island. There was a paragraph about 20 pages in that made me think, “Oh, great. Karen has checked the diversity box next to queer protagonist.” But it slowly became clear that that wasn’t the goal here. This book is fast paced and thoughtful; a gripping plot and well written characters. The main characters sexuality isn’t all that relevant to the story most of the time, but it is mentioned in relation to trauma (CW: rape) and, more importantly, love. It helps give a more complete picture of the person. It also didn’t hurt that the author made the cop character an unredeemable asshole and gave him what he deserved.
What a weird take on Moana /j.
This book had me in the first half, ngl. It was a solid 4 stars for me: fast-paced, fun, creepy, spooky, and occasionally actually kinda scary.
It was never a 5-star for two major reasons, and a smaller third reason.
1. The characters. It was very clear which characters the author wanted readers to like and which she hoped we wouldn’t like too much. Kit is literally a flawless character, and I mean that in a negative sense. He’s inhumanly perfect, not at all relatable. He’s a tech CEO, in a band, “captain” of the football team. Strong, smart, athletic, funny, kind, etcetcetc. A character needs FLAWS. His only characteristic that was even remotely negative, having left his wife seemingly at random, is erased as soon as we find out it was all just a big misunderstanding. Please, please allow your characters to make mistakes, even if they’re supposed to be morally good. Laney was characterized in much the same way. I felt like the author knew that her characters had this problem, too, but she just didn’t know how to remedy that.
2. The pacing. Yes, it was fast-paced (which I loved). I was thrilled when the characters found a severed hand on like page 40, lmao. Hell yeah, let’s goooo. But unfortunately, too many of these initial scares just got completely written off by the characters which actually put a bit of a damper on the action. None of the early scares actually had any immediate consequences and ended up feeling not very serious (despite being wild sh*t) because the characters themselves often didn’t take them seriously. I wanted these people to be scared out of their minds, as most people would, after finding severed body parts all over the place or whatever. I reached a point where, if anything spooky happened, I stopped getting excited because I knew it wouldn’t mean much to the characters and wouldn’t cause the reaction I wanted.
3. Perhaps a bit of a small issue or just one specific to me and the workings of my brain: I was confused out of my mind when the characters were talking about or referencing some big secret for over the first half of the book. I understand the author didn’t want us to know what that was all about until the reveal later, but it did genuinely confuse me and make me question if I missed something. I just didn’t get it, so it did frustrate me at first to not have any idea what the characters were talking about.
MAJOR SPOILERS UPCOMING
.
.
The ending of the story made me so angry it took me all day long to read the last 30 or so pages. I don’t mean HOW it ended or the consequences, exactly. Though I did think all the negotiations with the spirit started to get goofy. I mean that this book led me to believe there was a very clear underlying meaning or message, a moral to the story, only for the ending to completely spit on what I thought this story was supposed to be. Why would you do that to me?!?
Let me be clear, I have no issue with a book just being a scary good time, but to very clearly be waltzing around the edge of a fantastic message about the ethics of landownership, AirBnB, renting, encroaching on nature and exploiting renters for the sake of pure desire, only to say this exact quote: “No one is to blame except nature itself” ??? That’s WILD behavior. Girl, what the f is even that. Fumbled the message so hard, I can’t. That quote is so insanely antithetical to what the entire story was building.
Another quote: “I will finally find the confidence to say something was not my fault.” Girl, PLEASE take responsibility. Yes, it WAS your fault!!! I’m not saying she didn’t have good intentions. I’m not saying she did something wrong or horrible or even necessarily bad. She definitely had good reasons, regardless. However, it seems like the author really just does have this issue with allowing her characters to make mistakes and accept responsibility, which is where true growth and meaning originates. I don’t understand why the author is so fundamentally opposed to allowing her characters to have flaws like normal human people.
The story would have so much more meaning if the character was able to admit that perhaps keeping the island WAS truly a bit greedy, and humans are allowed a bit of greed, but consequences may follow. People buying up land just to rent it out can be seen as unethical and greedy, to both nature and humanity alike, despite purity of intention.
Horror is at its best when utilized as a medium to explore the meaning of humanity, ethics, and/or morality. If you’re not going to do that, fine, but set it up appropriately. Be clear about what you’re doing. Don’t tease depth until a reader dives in headfirst only to injure themselves in the shallows
This book had me in the first half, ngl. It was a solid 4 stars for me: fast-paced, fun, creepy, spooky, and occasionally actually kinda scary.
It was never a 5-star for two major reasons, and a smaller third reason.
1. The characters. It was very clear which characters the author wanted readers to like and which she hoped we wouldn’t like too much. Kit is literally a flawless character, and I mean that in a negative sense. He’s inhumanly perfect, not at all relatable. He’s a tech CEO, in a band, “captain” of the football team. Strong, smart, athletic, funny, kind, etcetcetc. A character needs FLAWS. His only characteristic that was even remotely negative, having left his wife seemingly at random, is erased as soon as we find out it was all just a big misunderstanding. Please, please allow your characters to make mistakes, even if they’re supposed to be morally good. Laney was characterized in much the same way. I felt like the author knew that her characters had this problem, too, but she just didn’t know how to remedy that.
2. The pacing. Yes, it was fast-paced (which I loved). I was thrilled when the characters found a severed hand on like page 40, lmao. Hell yeah, let’s goooo. But unfortunately, too many of these initial scares just got completely written off by the characters which actually put a bit of a damper on the action. None of the early scares actually had any immediate consequences and ended up feeling not very serious (despite being wild sh*t) because the characters themselves often didn’t take them seriously. I wanted these people to be scared out of their minds, as most people would, after finding severed body parts all over the place or whatever. I reached a point where, if anything spooky happened, I stopped getting excited because I knew it wouldn’t mean much to the characters and wouldn’t cause the reaction I wanted.
3. Perhaps a bit of a small issue or just one specific to me and the workings of my brain: I was confused out of my mind when the characters were talking about or referencing some big secret for over the first half of the book. I understand the author didn’t want us to know what that was all about until the reveal later, but it did genuinely confuse me and make me question if I missed something. I just didn’t get it, so it did frustrate me at first to not have any idea what the characters were talking about.
MAJOR SPOILERS UPCOMING
.
.
The ending of the story made me so angry it took me all day long to read the last 30 or so pages. I don’t mean HOW it ended or the consequences, exactly. Though I did think all the negotiations with the spirit started to get goofy. I mean that this book led me to believe there was a very clear underlying meaning or message, a moral to the story, only for the ending to completely spit on what I thought this story was supposed to be. Why would you do that to me?!?
Let me be clear, I have no issue with a book just being a scary good time, but to very clearly be waltzing around the edge of a fantastic message about the ethics of landownership, AirBnB, renting, encroaching on nature and exploiting renters for the sake of pure desire, only to say this exact quote: “No one is to blame except nature itself” ??? That’s WILD behavior. Girl, what the f is even that. Fumbled the message so hard, I can’t. That quote is so insanely antithetical to what the entire story was building.
Another quote: “I will finally find the confidence to say something was not my fault.” Girl, PLEASE take responsibility. Yes, it WAS your fault!!! I’m not saying she didn’t have good intentions. I’m not saying she did something wrong or horrible or even necessarily bad. She definitely had good reasons, regardless. However, it seems like the author really just does have this issue with allowing her characters to make mistakes and accept responsibility, which is where true growth and meaning originates. I don’t understand why the author is so fundamentally opposed to allowing her characters to have flaws like normal human people.
The story would have so much more meaning if the character was able to admit that perhaps keeping the island WAS truly a bit greedy, and humans are allowed a bit of greed, but consequences may follow. People buying up land just to rent it out can be seen as unethical and greedy, to both nature and humanity alike, despite purity of intention.
Horror is at its best when utilized as a medium to explore the meaning of humanity, ethics, and/or morality. If you’re not going to do that, fine, but set it up appropriately. Be clear about what you’re doing. Don’t tease depth until a reader dives in headfirst only to injure themselves in the shallows
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong is an engaging and atmospheric thriller that delivers on its promise of suspense and intrigue. Set on a remote island, the novel plunges readers into a world of isolation, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, creating a tense and eerie backdrop for the unfolding drama.
Armstrong’s writing is vivid and immersive, painting a detailed picture of Hemlock Island’s haunting beauty. The sense of isolation is palpable, adding to the tension as the characters confront their surroundings and inner demons.
The characters in Hemlock Island are well-developed, each bringing their complexities to the story. Their interactions and the secrets they harbour add depth to the narrative, making it more than just a straightforward thriller. Armstrong explores themes of trust, guilt, and redemption, weaving them into the fabric of the plot in a way that feels natural and organic.
One of the strengths of the novel is Armstrong’s ability to balance the supernatural elements with a grounded, psychological tension. The eerie occurrences on the island are unsettling, but they never overshadow the human drama at the story’s core.
That said, there are moments when the pacing slows, and certain plot developments might feel familiar to readers who are well-versed in the genre. Overall, Hemlock Island is a solid 4-star read that combines atmospheric storytelling with a gripping plot and memorable characters. Kelley Armstrong has once again proven her ability to craft a thrilling tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.
Armstrong’s writing is vivid and immersive, painting a detailed picture of Hemlock Island’s haunting beauty. The sense of isolation is palpable, adding to the tension as the characters confront their surroundings and inner demons.
The characters in Hemlock Island are well-developed, each bringing their complexities to the story. Their interactions and the secrets they harbour add depth to the narrative, making it more than just a straightforward thriller. Armstrong explores themes of trust, guilt, and redemption, weaving them into the fabric of the plot in a way that feels natural and organic.
One of the strengths of the novel is Armstrong’s ability to balance the supernatural elements with a grounded, psychological tension. The eerie occurrences on the island are unsettling, but they never overshadow the human drama at the story’s core.
That said, there are moments when the pacing slows, and certain plot developments might feel familiar to readers who are well-versed in the genre. Overall, Hemlock Island is a solid 4-star read that combines atmospheric storytelling with a gripping plot and memorable characters. Kelley Armstrong has once again proven her ability to craft a thrilling tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
This was creepy. I liked the epilogue / consequences but some of the information we got in the middle about the buyers was hard to follow and didn’t make a lot of sense.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
This is a standalone gothic horror. We meet Laney as she is rushing to a private island, where she has been renting out her large family home. The current renters say they are leaving because the place is haunted. They found bloody nail streaks on the wrong side of a closet door - creepy. This is after several nuisance cases of vandalism that she has been suffering on the property. Laney has to do something, since her divorce, the home is all she has and she cant afford to not rent it. When she arrives at the house with her young niece, she finds Kit, her ex-husband, his sister, her ex best friend, and 2 other friends, are there to help her. The group decides to spend the evening on the property and soon things start to unravel. A body is found, a boat, their only way off the island, is stolen, weird things start happening, and secrets from the groups past and present start coming out.
I read this in 2024 and gave it 4 stars. It was creepy, twisty tale, with lots of action. Not only does the house hold secrets, but the whole island. Everyone cannot leave.
I read this in 2024 and gave it 4 stars. It was creepy, twisty tale, with lots of action. Not only does the house hold secrets, but the whole island. Everyone cannot leave.
DNF
I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried.
I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a decent horror novel with interesting things to say about how we respect the land we live on but the characters could've done with a bit more personality to really hook me.