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2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Literary no redeeming qualities in the prose and narrative, then come to find out the author was falsifying her Native identity. Disgusting.
mysterious
When Pen said, "We’ve got some Dorian Gray–level shit going on here," and I was like OMG I WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I read/reviewed this novel prior to what ended up coming out about Colby. Doesn’t change my opinions, I still hated this book.
Full review: Similarly to the conflicting feelings the characters have for each other throughout this novel, I am incredibly confused after reading this book.
I went into this thinking it was going to be a romance novel mixed with some light fluffy haunting, but it was a full blown attempt at adding a horror element to it. The tone between the romance aspect of the book plus this scary ghost element did NOT mesh well for me at all, and instead felt underdeveloped and gimmicky.
For example, every time something horrible or tragic happened regarding ghost activities in the house, Pen and Neil (the two main characters) just wanted to bang each other. This was the major reason why I questioned why even have this incredibly scary supernatural side plot if the characters don’t even seem to be affected by it?
I truly believe this book would have worked better for me if it was one or the other: a romance OR a horror novel, but that spooky side definitely would have needed work. I feel like the mystery behind the ghosts was interesting, or justified the haunting at all.
I am giving the book two stars because I was able to finish it instead of DNFing, but I can say for certain this novel was not for me.
Thank you St Martin’s for the e-arc approval via netgalley.
Full review: Similarly to the conflicting feelings the characters have for each other throughout this novel, I am incredibly confused after reading this book.
I went into this thinking it was going to be a romance novel mixed with some light fluffy haunting, but it was a full blown attempt at adding a horror element to it. The tone between the romance aspect of the book plus this scary ghost element did NOT mesh well for me at all, and instead felt underdeveloped and gimmicky.
For example, every time something horrible or tragic happened regarding ghost activities in the house, Pen and Neil (the two main characters) just wanted to bang each other. This was the major reason why I questioned why even have this incredibly scary supernatural side plot if the characters don’t even seem to be affected by it?
I truly believe this book would have worked better for me if it was one or the other: a romance OR a horror novel, but that spooky side definitely would have needed work. I feel like the mystery behind the ghosts was interesting, or justified the haunting at all.
I am giving the book two stars because I was able to finish it instead of DNFing, but I can say for certain this novel was not for me.
Thank you St Martin’s for the e-arc approval via netgalley.
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
I went into this book a bit hesitant after learning about the recent concerns surrounding the author’s background, but I decided to approach it with an open mind and separate the story from its creator. Listening to the audiobook, courtesy of @librofm ALC program, I was happy to discover that both narrators are Indigenous, which added authenticity to the performance. They brought a lot to the table, but even good narration can only do so much.
The story follows four writers on a retreat to a castle in Scotland, where their history and turmoil will be brought up constantly throughout the book. We experience the story through two Indigenous characters: one a widely recognized horror author and another whose lack of tribal connection makes her feel less than an author. Each writer specializes in a different genre—romance, horror, thriller, and mystery—which is a cool idea in theory.
However, the book struggled to balance the romance, mystery, and horror elements. Instead of blending, it felt like no genre got a chance to shine. The romance felt underwhelming, with forced chemistry between the main characters, while the two other friends felt like they were just along for the ride.
When the ghostly horror aspects finally arrived, there were a few intriguing moments, but the suspense fizzled out quickly. And the mystery aspect? It felt more like a side note than a driving force. Penelope, the main character, also often breaks into intense "soap box" moments, especially when addressing the love interest, Storm. These moments became very repetitive and detracted from the story.
Ultimately, I finished it, and I didn’t hate it, but I felt like it needed more focus. It tried to be too many things at once—romance, lit with a message, and a mystery ghost story. I wish it had settled on one and let it shine.
The story follows four writers on a retreat to a castle in Scotland, where their history and turmoil will be brought up constantly throughout the book. We experience the story through two Indigenous characters: one a widely recognized horror author and another whose lack of tribal connection makes her feel less than an author. Each writer specializes in a different genre—romance, horror, thriller, and mystery—which is a cool idea in theory.
However, the book struggled to balance the romance, mystery, and horror elements. Instead of blending, it felt like no genre got a chance to shine. The romance felt underwhelming, with forced chemistry between the main characters, while the two other friends felt like they were just along for the ride.
When the ghostly horror aspects finally arrived, there were a few intriguing moments, but the suspense fizzled out quickly. And the mystery aspect? It felt more like a side note than a driving force. Penelope, the main character, also often breaks into intense "soap box" moments, especially when addressing the love interest, Storm. These moments became very repetitive and detracted from the story.
Ultimately, I finished it, and I didn’t hate it, but I felt like it needed more focus. It tried to be too many things at once—romance, lit with a message, and a mystery ghost story. I wish it had settled on one and let it shine.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was fine, but not memorable. Since reading, I have learned of TAAF's investigation into the author's heritage, which definitely needs to be addressed by the author and the publisher.
I was so bored and I didn't not enjoy any of the characters or the romance progression.
