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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't usually read horror but I do like plague stories, wonder why.
It's surprisingly paced with the horror and gore elements, dropping some here and there with most of the bloodshed at the end. The resolution seemed pretty obvious, unsure why the hell no one else tried it but I suppose the looking after our own angle that's weaved through the centuries meant it impossible.
My heart broke at a couple of places which I definitely did not expect. Interesting read over all but strongly suggest you scan through the warnings cause some of it is intense as hell.
It's surprisingly paced with the horror and gore elements, dropping some here and there with most of the bloodshed at the end. The resolution seemed pretty obvious, unsure why the hell no one else tried it but I suppose the looking after our own angle that's weaved through the centuries meant it impossible.
My heart broke at a couple of places which I definitely did not expect. Interesting read over all but strongly suggest you scan through the warnings cause some of it is intense as hell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
3.5 rounded up.
Another very enjoyable slice of folksy horror from James Brogden.
After a traumatising break-in, a family move to a new village, where they find themselves the custodians of the “plague stone” that sits in their back garden. Dotted around the village, these stones are a relic from the time of the Black Death, and mark the boundary that was once established to keep the diseased at arm’s length. But while the Black Death may have ended some 600 years ago, there are still those that strive to cross the boundary…
Brogden isn’t the most flowery or artsy writer, but his style is very easy to read. For instance, flashbacks to the time of the Black Death don’t really transport you back in time, or bring the era to tangible life, but they do add colour and background to a story that is surprisingly resonant. And there are some deliciously disgusting depictions of the symptoms of bubonic plague.
The Plague Stones is a tale of the haves and have-nots; those who circle the wagons at the first sign of trouble, and refuse aid to those that need it; who become callously insular, looking after their own first, and everyone else be damned. It’s difficult not to think of the desperate people forced to drown in the Channel, or our horrible little island cutting itself off from the wider world, or any number of other headlines from recent years. A Serbian family living in the run-down block of flats near the village only helps to ram these ideas home.
Most incredible of all, for a book about a deadly pandemic and the way people react to it, this was written and published before COVID even began.
Another very enjoyable slice of folksy horror from James Brogden.
After a traumatising break-in, a family move to a new village, where they find themselves the custodians of the “plague stone” that sits in their back garden. Dotted around the village, these stones are a relic from the time of the Black Death, and mark the boundary that was once established to keep the diseased at arm’s length. But while the Black Death may have ended some 600 years ago, there are still those that strive to cross the boundary…
Brogden isn’t the most flowery or artsy writer, but his style is very easy to read. For instance, flashbacks to the time of the Black Death don’t really transport you back in time, or bring the era to tangible life, but they do add colour and background to a story that is surprisingly resonant. And there are some deliciously disgusting depictions of the symptoms of bubonic plague.
The Plague Stones is a tale of the haves and have-nots; those who circle the wagons at the first sign of trouble, and refuse aid to those that need it; who become callously insular, looking after their own first, and everyone else be damned. It’s difficult not to think of the desperate people forced to drown in the Channel, or our horrible little island cutting itself off from the wider world, or any number of other headlines from recent years. A Serbian family living in the run-down block of flats near the village only helps to ram these ideas home.
Most incredible of all, for a book about a deadly pandemic and the way people react to it, this was written and published before COVID even began.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-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:
Yes
dark
slow-paced
More gory than spooky. The way it was structured meant that there was no real mystery or spookiness here.
dark
mysterious
medium-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:
No
dark
tense
fast-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:
N/A
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book deploys an interesting mix of psychological horror and descriptive violence to achieve its end. The plot is quite interesting and moves along at a good pace.
One scene near the final act was particularly heart rending.
However the scary sections of the story were quite few and far between, and it never felt like a sense of tension or dread was maintained through the bulk of it. I also felt that the resolution was a little predictable from quite early on in the narrative. Still a fun read though.
One scene near the final act was particularly heart rending.
However the scary sections of the story were quite few and far between, and it never felt like a sense of tension or dread was maintained through the bulk of it. I also felt that the resolution was a little predictable from quite early on in the narrative. Still a fun read though.
Holy hell is this book terrifying. The imagery, the violence, the absolute terror - so good. The scene with the fox scarred me forever and Maya's family dying of carbon monoxide poisoning broke me.
The reveal that Nash had arranged for the Feenan's house to be broken into so that they'd move to Stone Cottage came as an absolute shock.
My heart was in my throat the entire time and reading this book and reading it in this not so post pandemic world was really stressful.
I also want to know if Peter was okay!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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