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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a great book to get you out of a reading slump. It’s accessible, fun, and the plot is intriguing—on the surface. If you’re not in need of a reading slump bump, however, I would avoid.
The characters are thin, and everyone outside of the two main characters are essentially interchangeable. The mystery is intriguing at first but it doesn’t really lead to much—and what does happen is so rushed and unearned. That’s not to say I didn’t have a good time. I read the whole thing in one sitting. But ultimately, like most binge meals, it was fun while it lasted but ultimately unsatisfying.
The characters are thin, and everyone outside of the two main characters are essentially interchangeable. The mystery is intriguing at first but it doesn’t really lead to much—and what does happen is so rushed and unearned. That’s not to say I didn’t have a good time. I read the whole thing in one sitting. But ultimately, like most binge meals, it was fun while it lasted but ultimately unsatisfying.
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quality of Writing: 5/10
Pacing: 4/10
Characters: 1/10
Plot: 6/10
Ending: 2/10
1.8
Pacing: 4/10
Characters: 1/10
Plot: 6/10
Ending: 2/10
1.8
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This was so atmospheric with such immersive writing that it took me several hours to realize “wait a minute, was anything about the Dolloway Five even answered fully?”
I think, somewhat by necessity which it would be a big spoiler to explain, the past (both distant and recent) and present get really intertwined in this book. I also think this book has the best done “unreliable narrator” trope I’ve ever read. Like I was shocked a few times to the point I said “wait, what!?” loud enough that random strangers stared at me. However, because some questions weren’t answered, or were answered partially by inference if you want to make a guess at it, this wasn’t a five star read to me.
The inferences you would have to draw to answer the questions would also require modification on the genre of the book. I’ve seen this tagged as fantasy but, to be clear, it is definitely not.
I think, somewhat by necessity which it would be a big spoiler to explain, the past (both distant and recent) and present get really intertwined in this book. I also think this book has the best done “unreliable narrator” trope I’ve ever read. Like I was shocked a few times to the point I said “wait, what!?” loud enough that random strangers stared at me. However, because some questions weren’t answered, or were answered partially by inference if you want to make a guess at it, this wasn’t a five star read to me.
The inferences you would have to draw to answer the questions would also require modification on the genre of the book. I’ve seen this tagged as fantasy but, to be clear, it is definitely not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse
Pretentiousness elevated to a superlative degree.
Two emotionally constipated girls trading psychological mind games under the guise of literary ambition, and, as you may guess, witch cosplay.
The setting is atmospheric enough and quite compelling, and honestly, it’s the only reason this isn’t a one-star.
The prose tries way too hard to be elegantly eerie, and every sentence seems desperate to be quoted on a dark academia pinterest board (this would have thrived on 2012 tumblr dot com). Just imagine if ennui and narcissism had their own teeny tiny book club.
The plot blindly stumbles between gothic mystery and psychological thriller but never fully commits to either. Instead, it gets lost in its own sense of superiority and pseudo-intellectualism. The book really wants to be clever, but it just feels hollow (oooh, have you heard last Eurovision's banger that is Dons' “Hollow”? No? Go listen, it’s a much better use of your time than whatever this book is.)
TL;DR: Read it if you’re here purely for the vibes, aesthetic, and lesbian witches in tweed. Skip it if you want depth, nuance, or characters whose personalities aren’t built entirely out of self-imposed trauma and theatrics.
Two emotionally constipated girls trading psychological mind games under the guise of literary ambition, and, as you may guess, witch cosplay.
The setting is atmospheric enough and quite compelling, and honestly, it’s the only reason this isn’t a one-star.
The prose tries way too hard to be elegantly eerie, and every sentence seems desperate to be quoted on a dark academia pinterest board (this would have thrived on 2012 tumblr dot com). Just imagine if ennui and narcissism had their own teeny tiny book club.
The plot blindly stumbles between gothic mystery and psychological thriller but never fully commits to either. Instead, it gets lost in its own sense of superiority and pseudo-intellectualism. The book really wants to be clever, but it just feels hollow (oooh, have you heard last Eurovision's banger that is Dons' “Hollow”? No? Go listen, it’s a much better use of your time than whatever this book is.)
TL;DR: Read it if you’re here purely for the vibes, aesthetic, and lesbian witches in tweed. Skip it if you want depth, nuance, or characters whose personalities aren’t built entirely out of self-imposed trauma and theatrics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
“For Felicity, I did it all for you.”
Okay, where do I start? Am I rewriting this again? . . . Yes.
I initially wanted to give this novel four stars, but the more I ponder and look back upon it the more I began to lean towards three.
Let's begin by discussing our setting. I adored the boarding school and Godwin House. The theoretical ties to Emily Dickenson, which I wish were more properly explored. And the death of the Galloway Five. However, a map might've been nice.
Secondly, the characters. I really enjoyed watching Felicity's journey through PTSD and her incapability to properly recall the exact events of her girlfriend's death outside of knowing she had killed her herself. Alex was an enjoyable character as well, and given plenty of motive to be the vengeful ghost that Felicity felt was stalking her constantly (even though I still argue it was the released soul from the ouija board that was never discussed again. . . of course). Clara was also enjoyable to the most part, and was Alex's doppelganger throughout the series. Kajal was really a placeholder character and I still do not really understand what her purpose was in the series other than to provide another girl in the house and a reason to add diversity. -__- Finally, we have Ellis. . . all I'm gonna say is she's a yandere author.
Lastly, we have the plot. The lackluster plot. So what happened? I think the author has a similar writing process that I do. In the sense that it's easier to imagine introduction and conclusions than the build up to the climax, causing the middle to feel more like filler than actual plot. The introduction was incredibly strong convincing you that maybe more than one ghost was on the loose seeking vengeance and the promise (roughly quoted) "I will kill you." I wanted this plot to continue. However, we instead received what felt like a hodge-podge strong conclusion to a different novel where
What I initially perceived as my next favorite novel, has seemingly fallen apart at the threads, but it was still an enjoyable enough ride to be given three stars. Thus ends my rant and opinions.
TW: Death of significant other / friends, blood / gore, & occult.
Okay, where do I start? Am I rewriting this again? . . . Yes.
I initially wanted to give this novel four stars, but the more I ponder and look back upon it the more I began to lean towards three.
Let's begin by discussing our setting. I adored the boarding school and Godwin House. The theoretical ties to Emily Dickenson, which I wish were more properly explored. And the death of the Galloway Five. However, a map might've been nice.
Secondly, the characters. I really enjoyed watching Felicity's journey through PTSD and her incapability to properly recall the exact events of her girlfriend's death outside of knowing she had killed her herself. Alex was an enjoyable character as well, and given plenty of motive to be the vengeful ghost that Felicity felt was stalking her constantly (even though I still argue it was the released soul from the ouija board that was never discussed again. . . of course). Clara was also enjoyable to the most part, and was Alex's doppelganger throughout the series. Kajal was really a placeholder character and I still do not really understand what her purpose was in the series other than to provide another girl in the house and a reason to add diversity. -__- Finally, we have Ellis. . . all I'm gonna say is she's a yandere author.
Lastly, we have the plot. The lackluster plot. So what happened? I think the author has a similar writing process that I do. In the sense that it's easier to imagine introduction and conclusions than the build up to the climax, causing the middle to feel more like filler than actual plot. The introduction was incredibly strong convincing you that maybe more than one ghost was on the loose seeking vengeance and the promise (roughly quoted) "I will kill you." I wanted this plot to continue. However, we instead received what felt like a hodge-podge strong conclusion to a different novel where
Spoiler
Clara dies by the hands of our local yandere Ellis who did it all for the sake of love and having a realistic conclusion to her book before dying at the hands of Felicity in the same way she murdered her girlfriend. Then we get a fast forward three years later where Felicity has never so much as touched a prison cell and is holding Ellis' book published with the haunting dedication that I have so lovingly tacked as the introduction to this review.What I initially perceived as my next favorite novel, has seemingly fallen apart at the threads, but it was still an enjoyable enough ride to be given three stars. Thus ends my rant and opinions.
TW: Death of significant other / friends, blood / gore, & occult.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It wasn’t a bad book. It felt like the author put a lot of research heart and soul into it. The ending was good and worth sticking with it - but I did struggle during the middle- the characters are pretty unsympathetic and there wasn’t much action or going’s on. Mostly a lot of traipsing about the house with books and a lot of underage drinking. However (purposely) we have unreliable narrator and a bit of a mystery or two so it kept me reading to the end. I wish there’d been more of the witchcraft in it.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Predictable