You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve been thinking about this book quite a bit since I finished it. I gave it the rating I did because, honestly, I felt it was predictable. Both big “twists” were telegraphed pretty early. As with a lot of these where o guess before the reveal, I finished because I had hope of a surprise. And also even if I know where it’s going, I want to go on that journey. The “big bad” reveal of what’s going on is great! And there were aspects of this that I didn’t see coming. However, the other twist was very blatant and I really didn’t like it. You could see it coming and there wasn’t a lot of payoff to it. I don’t want to get into details.
Overall, I didn’t dislike this. I actually zoomed through it in two days. But some more sensitive readers might want to look into trigger warnings just in case.
Overall, I didn’t dislike this. I actually zoomed through it in two days. But some more sensitive readers might want to look into trigger warnings just in case.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went from carbon monoxide poisoning, to zombies, to what???
Great book that kept me guessing.
Great book that kept me guessing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I haven’t read much horror, so maybe someday this rating will change. Overall, I enjoyed the book! It kept me engaged and I finished it in one day, pretty much in one sitting. It was suspenseful and I needed to know what would happen next. I found the red herrings worked to keep me distracted and I was surprised a few times - probably because I’m not a seasoned horror reader.
I think it would have been better if the characters were a little more developed. It would have been more impactful for me. They were a little flat/two-dimensional
I think it would have been better if the characters were a little more developed. It would have been more impactful for me. They were a little flat/two-dimensional
dark
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
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong. The title was intriguing, the cover eerie, and the synopsis enticing. What I thought would be a strong horror, turned out to be something much more subtle as we follow the complexities of small town families and friendships that can never truly leave you.
What really drove me to devour this book as quickly as I did, what provided me with the most tension, was not the mystery of what was happening on the island. Instead, it was the tension between characters that had me on edge throughout the novel. I hemmed and hawed and begged my friends to find spoilers for me so I could read at a leisurely pace, knowing whether main character Laney and her ex-husband Kit would reunite at the end. I never really realized how important those Happily Ever Afters were to me in romances until I was faced with a relationship in a different, crueler genre.
If interpersonal conflict and dredging up the past doesn’t do it for you, I’m not sure this will be a horror for you to pick up. The tension comes mostly from the relationships between characters and the secrets they’re clinging to. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely horror moments – dead bodies, weird happenings, etc. But that doesn’t really ramp up until the latter half of the book, and even then, I felt a bit let down. I had predicted it would be one thing, and that would’ve been cliche enough but very earned, very rewarding. However, what we actually find out is happening at the end feels disappointing, a letdown. It was enough of a letdown to knock what would’ve been a 5 star book down to 4.5. It just, it didn’t make sense to me and felt like such a boring climax compared to everything else that had happened.
After reading Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong, I think I will definitely pick up more by her as it was clear she could write a compelling thriller with plenty of tension. However, I’m not sure if I will necessarily go into it expecting horror the likes of Nick Cutter. This was a great read until a disappointing ending, but I definitely feel like readers who are new to the horror genre and are looking for something light to start with would love this. If you’re looking for something terrifying, maybe borrow this from the library.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No