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obstinateheadstrongcurl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The Blackhouse follows Maggie, a young woman who moves to a small community on an island in the Outer Hebrides. As a child she visited the island after becoming convinced that she was the reincarnation of a resident who she claimed was murdered. She and her mother were understandably not welcome, but she has returned as an adult after the death of her mother to try to find out the truth of what happened.
I picked this up because I’d enjoyed Johnstone’s previous book Mirrorland and I was intrigued by the premise of this one. It starts off strong, with a fast-paced plot and creepy vibes on the island. It does get a bit bogged down in the middle, and I found myself getting frustrated with the way Johnstone used mental health disorders as plot devices. The pace picks back up in the last third but the ending was a bit too bizarre for me and kind of ruined the whole story.
Overall not one I’d recommend but I would still give Johnstone’s other works a chance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Transphobia
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