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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Wow I loved this book it was so good I was hooked from beginning to end. Flo I think was my fav character x
This book is BUSY. There were so many storylines and so many subplots and so many “big reveals.” I enjoyed the book, and I do think it was well written, but I think it would have been more enjoyable if it had been a little more pared down. There were so many side stories that I feel like they didn’t all get their due attention. The final “reveal” was a big surprise to me and I was shocked in a good way! I do look forward to reading Tudor’s other novels, and I recommend this one as a good read to anyone who loves a thriller with a side of horror and intrigue.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What to say. Good writing, mostly good just that ending. Too much going on and too disconnected to make a satisfying ending.
I knew from the book description inside the cover, with its heavy-handed gender neutrality around Jack, that I wasn't going to like this. I should've stopped there.
The protagonist is a vicar named Jack—but she's a woman!! SO edgy! So different and fun! Her name is Jacqueline but she goes by Jack, so people expect her to be a man! Good lord. This was constantly overplayed—including the aforementioned liner notes—like it was a big deal. I thought she was perhaps trans, or genderqueer, but noooo, just another pretty cis het white woman. Again, I should’ve just returned this one to the library right away. My mistake.
Anyway, Jack’s name aside, I have two main issues: first, the treatment of the ONLY characters in the book identified as Black and the only neuro-divergent/disabled character, and the way the author consistently made choices that made NO SENSE in service of her clumsy “plot twists.”
First, the Black family. It was FINE with me—as a story element, I mean, not a real-life thing—that they were That works within the story. But then, suddenly, nope! They’re WHAT?! This isn’t remotely supported by the story. It has NOTHING to do with why IT MAKES ZERO SENSE. Maybe Jack wasn’t judging them for being Black, but I’m thinking the author is.
Then there’s the only character with a neurological difference. At first he seems like he’s been unfairly judged, but no, wait! He’s actually
Speaking of drawing attention: so the story winds up that Gawwwwwd this made no sense. Again, this is the author having an idea and then latching onto it SO HARD that she forgot it doesn’t serve the story at ALL.
Finally and then I’ll shut up: you can have a violent psychopath in your story, especially if it’s a horror-ish thriller. No objection there. What you CAN’T have, in a village of like 500 people, is THREE VIOLENT PSYCHOPATHS. No. No no no. This is lazy storytelling and weak character development.
The protagonist is a vicar named Jack—but she's a woman!! SO edgy! So different and fun! Her name is Jacqueline but she goes by Jack, so people expect her to be a man! Good lord. This was constantly overplayed—including the aforementioned liner notes—like it was a big deal. I thought she was perhaps trans, or genderqueer, but noooo, just another pretty cis het white woman. Again, I should’ve just returned this one to the library right away. My mistake.
Anyway, Jack’s name aside, I have two main issues: first, the treatment of the ONLY characters in the book identified as Black and the only neuro-divergent/disabled character, and the way the author consistently made choices that made NO SENSE in service of her clumsy “plot twists.”
First, the Black family. It was FINE with me—as a story element, I mean, not a real-life thing—that they were
Spoiler
abusing/neglecting their foster child in the name of religious zealotry.Spoiler
stealing her government funds to spend on themselves!Spoiler
their home was unkempt, or why they would beat Ruby to death and leave her battered body in the church.Then there’s the only character with a neurological difference. At first he seems like he’s been unfairly judged, but no, wait! He’s actually
Spoiler
a violent psychopath who’s been faking his disability to … avoid attention? How does that work, exactly? Anyone could recognize him from anywhere; he’s made himself MORE visible, not less so. Also, he started faking his disability at, what, 9 years old?Speaking of drawing attention: so the story winds up that
Spoiler
Jack isn’t who she says she is, but she’s been hiding behind a “dog collar” for years because no one looks too closely at a vicar. Unless, oh hey, they thought the vicar was going to be a man, because the vicar’s name is Jack, because she’s fun and edgy! So now they ARE going to look at her closely, to see whether she’s trans (like I thought) or just a woman with a fun, edgy nickname.Finally and then I’ll shut up: you can have a violent psychopath in your story, especially if it’s a horror-ish thriller. No objection there. What you CAN’T have, in a village of like 500 people, is THREE VIOLENT PSYCHOPATHS. No. No no no. This is lazy storytelling and weak character development.
Always appreciate punk rock priest, some paranormal activity, and a murder mystery.
I wish the kids weren’t the perpetrators tho. But the surprise ending really got me.
I wish the kids weren’t the perpetrators tho. But the surprise ending really got me.
I'm... not even sure how to rate this book. I was so excited, it was on my "to read" list for some time, as a first book from this author. The premise sounded very interesting, I really like horror/suspence so I was ready for a joyful ride. But how I was mistaken...
TLDR: I found this book badly written, with many problematic choices from the author, and with the potential that she wasn't able to fullfill.
Main characters have strong "pick-me-i'm-not-like-other-girls-hihihi" vibes which is not... bad in overall, but quite boring to read about. Both Jack and her daughter are like this - well, like mother like daughter they say...
Writting style was very dissapointing to me. Who the hell writes in present tense?! But then I thought - ok, stop, take a breath, that is a personal choice, you don't like it, someone else would. The plot thickens, and I was ready to dive back in! With many twists and turns (even twists of writting in first or third person), I have reached the final lines. I liked the ambiguity of last chapter. The rest? Not so much.
Across all three dimensions, Tudor makes some extremely dubious choices. Can gay people exist without being closeted? Can black characters actually contribute to the story, without being killed off immediately or existing only to play into stereotypes of welfare queens and abusers? Do we need to keep writing stories where a villain’s “psychopathy” can be neatly traced back to the fault of a bad mother? And how about that charming representation of people with disabilities? I’m sick and tired of narratives that only reinforce the idea that people with disabilities are faking their conditions only to impose harm on other people.
The problem with these choices in representation isn't that they can never be used, but that the use of these messy tropes necessitate sensitivity. When your black character is fulfilling a long-standing anti-black trope, are you doing the work of representing blackness or black community outside of this antagonist? When you rely on suspect horror tropes that center on people with disabilities and people with mental illness, are you also populating your story with characters who are also disabled, but good and dimensional? Also mentally ill, but kind? Horror is powerful because it reveals the anxieties of the powerful, but this does nothing to subvert, challenge, or even acknowledge how often our concepts of monstrous people are synonymous to disenfranchised Others. Instead, this novel reinforces the fear and the bias. Truly disappointing. see full review here
To end without spoilering too much. There was not enough good, multidimensional characters, writting was messy with way too many useless details. Plot twist are boring, cliche, not really giving you, as a reader, any joy. I was feeling tired reading this book. Tired with being treated like this by the author. Main character was oh-so-progressive! she was a female! vicar! she was good! with cars! she was t o l e r a n t! but not too much hihi cos she was a mother! taking care of her child! who would have imagine!
And again, I need to quote another review, because - again! someone put it in great words. Uhh, would be better for my sanity if I have seen those comments before.
the link
Wasted opportunity, and I am absolutely baffled that no one told author to fix bad choices in her book. Heed my warning, and stay away from this book.
TLDR: I found this book badly written, with many problematic choices from the author, and with the potential that she wasn't able to fullfill.
Main characters have strong "pick-me-i'm-not-like-other-girls-hihihi" vibes which is not... bad in overall, but quite boring to read about. Both Jack and her daughter are like this - well, like mother like daughter they say...
Writting style was very dissapointing to me. Who the hell writes in present tense?! But then I thought - ok, stop, take a breath, that is a personal choice, you don't like it, someone else would. The plot thickens, and I was ready to dive back in! With many twists and turns (even twists of writting in first or third person), I have reached the final lines. I liked the ambiguity of last chapter. The rest? Not so much.
Spoiler
You know who the main villains of this story are? Black women abusing a child. Character that is faking disability and is in fact evil killer. Paedophilic priest. Last one is just boring, it was done many time. The other two? They are vicious choices. Author also made other dubious choices with portraing lots of characters, and I need to quote here one very well written review - that I would have hoped to see earlier.Across all three dimensions, Tudor makes some extremely dubious choices. Can gay people exist without being closeted? Can black characters actually contribute to the story, without being killed off immediately or existing only to play into stereotypes of welfare queens and abusers? Do we need to keep writing stories where a villain’s “psychopathy” can be neatly traced back to the fault of a bad mother? And how about that charming representation of people with disabilities? I’m sick and tired of narratives that only reinforce the idea that people with disabilities are faking their conditions only to impose harm on other people.
The problem with these choices in representation isn't that they can never be used, but that the use of these messy tropes necessitate sensitivity. When your black character is fulfilling a long-standing anti-black trope, are you doing the work of representing blackness or black community outside of this antagonist? When you rely on suspect horror tropes that center on people with disabilities and people with mental illness, are you also populating your story with characters who are also disabled, but good and dimensional? Also mentally ill, but kind? Horror is powerful because it reveals the anxieties of the powerful, but this does nothing to subvert, challenge, or even acknowledge how often our concepts of monstrous people are synonymous to disenfranchised Others. Instead, this novel reinforces the fear and the bias. Truly disappointing. see full review here
To end without spoilering too much. There was not enough good, multidimensional characters, writting was messy with way too many useless details. Plot twist are boring, cliche, not really giving you, as a reader, any joy. I was feeling tired reading this book. Tired with being treated like this by the author. Main character was oh-so-progressive! she was a female! vicar! she was good! with cars! she was t o l e r a n t! but not too much hihi cos she was a mother! taking care of her child!
Spoiler
she had s a d and t r a u m a t i c past!And again, I need to quote another review, because - again! someone put it in great words. Uhh, would be better for my sanity if I have seen those comments before.
the link
Spoiler
How does a tiny town, where we keep emphasizing "everyone knows everyone!", there are anywhere between 3-8 serial murderers at any given point? It's somehow less believable than seeing the ghosts of dead 18th century preteens.(...) Why does the concept of the titular Burning Girls disappear halfway through the book, to be halfheartedly and rapidly addressed in the climax?Wasted opportunity, and I am absolutely baffled that no one told author to fix bad choices in her book. Heed my warning, and stay away from this book.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No