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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
My first book by Ronald Malfi and it did not disappoint! I love a good dual timeline book and enjoyed learning more about the kids' past while they are trying to figure out their present. Super dark and creepy. The audio book was done well, voices and pacing were great. I look forward to reading more of his books!
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Haunted by the memories of a traumatic childhood, Jamie ran away from his hometown leaving his brother Dennis and his friends Clay and Mia behind. But no matter where he goes or how much time passes, the nightmares never end and he turns to alcohol to find some relief. When he receives a call from the police, informing him that his mother passed away and his brother is now alone, he knows he has to go back for him. Around the same time, Clay and Mia are also drawn back to Black Mouth: the four of them share a horrible memory about their last summer together, about a mysterious man who used magic tricks to manipulate them into doing something terrible... and twenty years later, he is back.
In Black Mouth, Ronald Malfi creates a little world filled with well written characters to root for, a creepy and scary villain, lots of horror moments and emotional punches that will leave you in tears.
The settings of this story are incredible: not just Black Mouth, the area where a mine collapsed suffocating the workers trapped inside, but also Jamie's house, the carnival, the motel where they stop... Wherever the characters are, you can feel the supernatural and the dread invading their space.
The real strength of the book though are its characters: Malfi dedicates some chapters to properly introduce them one by one and, by the time they reunite, you feel like you've known them all your life too. Really well written, I found myself caring for them (I even cried a couple of times!). And the villain, "the Magician", is truly a charming one, dark and compelling, just like this atmospheric novel which I absolutely recommend to all horror lovers. This is my first Malfi, but it won't certainly be my last. 5 stars.
* I'd like to thank Ronald Malfi, Titan Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In Black Mouth, Ronald Malfi creates a little world filled with well written characters to root for, a creepy and scary villain, lots of horror moments and emotional punches that will leave you in tears.
The settings of this story are incredible: not just Black Mouth, the area where a mine collapsed suffocating the workers trapped inside, but also Jamie's house, the carnival, the motel where they stop... Wherever the characters are, you can feel the supernatural and the dread invading their space.
The real strength of the book though are its characters: Malfi dedicates some chapters to properly introduce them one by one and, by the time they reunite, you feel like you've known them all your life too. Really well written, I found myself caring for them (I even cried a couple of times!). And the villain, "the Magician", is truly a charming one, dark and compelling, just like this atmospheric novel which I absolutely recommend to all horror lovers. This is my first Malfi, but it won't certainly be my last. 5 stars.
* I'd like to thank Ronald Malfi, Titan Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars. A very fascinating story with some creepy twists. Not as scary as I was hoping though.
dark
emotional
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 wanted to be afraid but instead I fell in love with Dennis, the true hero and magician
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book was very well written, and I liked the undulating timeline. However, it was like reading a fanfic of Stephen King’s IT with a sprinkling of The Stand. Would recommend as a good horror read.
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
Often when a synopsis says something is like Stephen King, I usually take it with a grain of salt… However this one, this time it’s an accurate statement. I felt like I was reading a King novel. It has a small group of bullied outcasts, a childhood encounter that has left a mark on their childhoods that they must face as adults. A haunted place that the way it’s described it almost feels like a character on its own. I genuinely read the 12 hour book in one day I could not put it down for long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Lesbophobia, Abandonment
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Definitely gave IT and NOS4A2 vibes for me. Solidly creepy, I loved it!