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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Format-eArc
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with Catriona Ward’s precious books that I have read so I was highly anticipating her newest books and even my extremely high expectations were blown out of the water.
Like any of her other books I would highly recommend going into this book as blind as possible. That’s mostly because I don’t think I could give a concise synopsis of this book that didn’t somehow spoil the fun of it. The only thing I will say is that this book is very self-aware and if you don’t like books that you really have to think about while you are reading them, you won’t enjoy this. It’s impossible to describe Ward’s writing style but just know, if you are somewhat confused through 80 percent of the book, you are doing perfect.
Reading a Catriona Ward book is like being given a giant paint by number but you can only fill it in while it is super zoomed in so you can no idea what it is and some of the colors don’t seem like they would fit in at all and once you finish it and zoom out, it the greatest thing you have ever seen.
I think any of Ward’s books could easily be studied in a literature class but this particular book opens itself to so many discussions. I could easily write pages about this book and still not run out of things to say. This is definitely going to be in my favorite books of the year.
Thank you so so so much to netgalley and tor nightfire for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with Catriona Ward’s precious books that I have read so I was highly anticipating her newest books and even my extremely high expectations were blown out of the water.
Like any of her other books I would highly recommend going into this book as blind as possible. That’s mostly because I don’t think I could give a concise synopsis of this book that didn’t somehow spoil the fun of it. The only thing I will say is that this book is very self-aware and if you don’t like books that you really have to think about while you are reading them, you won’t enjoy this. It’s impossible to describe Ward’s writing style but just know, if you are somewhat confused through 80 percent of the book, you are doing perfect.
Reading a Catriona Ward book is like being given a giant paint by number but you can only fill it in while it is super zoomed in so you can no idea what it is and some of the colors don’t seem like they would fit in at all and once you finish it and zoom out, it the greatest thing you have ever seen.
I think any of Ward’s books could easily be studied in a literature class but this particular book opens itself to so many discussions. I could easily write pages about this book and still not run out of things to say. This is definitely going to be in my favorite books of the year.
Thank you so so so much to netgalley and tor nightfire for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars
i was confused, then intrigued, then confused again. and i'm just gonna be vulnerable here, i'm too stupid to understand every twist that this author just threw in here. it's interesting, i guess? it's definitely weird and confusing so do with that what you will.
i will say: absolutely do NOT read the synopsis for this one. idk how many different synopses there are but the one on the back of my book talked about something that only started happening on page 185. while it wasn't necessarily a spoiler, it gave me a very different idea of what the book was going to be so i don't recommend doing that.
i was confused, then intrigued, then confused again. and i'm just gonna be vulnerable here, i'm too stupid to understand every twist that this author just threw in here. it's interesting, i guess? it's definitely weird and confusing so do with that what you will.
i will say: absolutely do NOT read the synopsis for this one. idk how many different synopses there are but the one on the back of my book talked about something that only started happening on page 185. while it wasn't necessarily a spoiler, it gave me a very different idea of what the book was going to be so i don't recommend doing that.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A twisting, convoluted gothic triumph from the Queen of modern gothic.
Wilder Harlow had something stolen from him. A story, the tale of The Dagger Man and events of his childhood that have haunted him forever. Now, he’s returned to Castine to write his final story - and get his revenge.
Sublimely told and twists upon twists of layers - I loved this book.
Wilder Harlow had something stolen from him. A story, the tale of The Dagger Man and events of his childhood that have haunted him forever. Now, he’s returned to Castine to write his final story - and get his revenge.
Sublimely told and twists upon twists of layers - I loved this book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
Was going to be a 5 but butchered ending
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Yes
A super compelling, well crafted thriller. I loved the narrative device and the slow reveals. The first 70-90 pages moved more slowly to me, like an introspective, coming of age novel, but then things really kicked off. I was gasping so much at one point my husband was rolling his eyes at me. 😅
5/5 ⭐️
At no point did I know where this book was going.
At no point did I know where this book was going.
Thank you, NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of Looking Glass Sound in exchange for an honest review.
I have been putting off writing this review for the past couple of weeks, mostly because my thoughts regarding this book are entirely jumbled, kind of like the plot itself.
The first half of this book was great. There was an ominous vibe surrounding a small coastal town where three teens met and become friends. There is a potential threat to the community, and multiple people have disappeared while going swimming, making it the perfect setup for a creepy mystery.
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters that were introduced. They simply fell flat for me and I couldn’t help but feel disconnected. However, the writing style made the story seem like I was always on the brink of a huge plot twist, which kept my interest going throughout the novel.
Then I got to the second portion of the book, and it all when downhill from there. So many scenes were repeated in different ways, I could no longer tell what portions of the book were happening, versus what portion of the book consisted of the story being written within the story being written and, you guessed it, within the story being written within that story. Are you confused? I know I am.
We have two writers that are trying to tell the same story but in their way, while adding some fictional flare and theft to make the horrific events of their lives more appealing to a potential audience. Amidst these two tales, we have little portions of the truth mingled in, just enough to have my brain going in circles, wondering what is real and what isn’t. Just when I think I have everything straightened out, I am thrown another curve ball that has me second-guessing everything I have read so far.
I would recommend this book to people who like trying to piece a scattered story together, however, it was simply too much for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I like a story within a story, however, the repeated mind-melting twists and sub-plots had me feeling a little out of my depths with this one.
I have been putting off writing this review for the past couple of weeks, mostly because my thoughts regarding this book are entirely jumbled, kind of like the plot itself.
The first half of this book was great. There was an ominous vibe surrounding a small coastal town where three teens met and become friends. There is a potential threat to the community, and multiple people have disappeared while going swimming, making it the perfect setup for a creepy mystery.
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters that were introduced. They simply fell flat for me and I couldn’t help but feel disconnected. However, the writing style made the story seem like I was always on the brink of a huge plot twist, which kept my interest going throughout the novel.
Then I got to the second portion of the book, and it all when downhill from there. So many scenes were repeated in different ways, I could no longer tell what portions of the book were happening, versus what portion of the book consisted of the story being written within the story being written and, you guessed it, within the story being written within that story. Are you confused? I know I am.
We have two writers that are trying to tell the same story but in their way, while adding some fictional flare and theft to make the horrific events of their lives more appealing to a potential audience. Amidst these two tales, we have little portions of the truth mingled in, just enough to have my brain going in circles, wondering what is real and what isn’t. Just when I think I have everything straightened out, I am thrown another curve ball that has me second-guessing everything I have read so far.
I would recommend this book to people who like trying to piece a scattered story together, however, it was simply too much for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I like a story within a story, however, the repeated mind-melting twists and sub-plots had me feeling a little out of my depths with this one.
I almost gave up so many times and finally did. Must read book, no audiobook. So self-congradulatory. No resolution for huge foundation laid. Not satisfying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts