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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
3.75, rounded up. It was a little chaotic for a bit, but I enjoyed the twists and turns. Not all the questions were answered in the end, but that felt right, and all the important ones were.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Slow, didn't care for any of the characters. You're kind of dropped in and it takes awhile to even figure out who all the names are. Not very tense, sort of confusing. The story wasn't compelling enough for me to find it interesting enough to continue.
DNF by page 52
DNF by page 52
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
A multi-POV story that starts with a horrific discovery. A group of people is found dead in a circle but one of them is still fighting for their life. A ritual has clearly taken place.
As the storytelling jumps in between timelines to understand how we came to that point, we learn that these people where all living together, partly isolated from the rest of society, forming their own cult with their own strong beliefs. The end of the world is near and they are getting ready for its rebirth.
They call their leader Uncle and they believe they are children of the sea, motherless and with a special role in this world. One of them will inherit the great powers of the Adder (Uncle), and needless to say, some of them will be ready to do anything to be the chosen one.
But events do not go as imagined as a Chief Inspector is decided to prove that a murder that took place not too far away is linked to the cult and their leader.
The start gets you curious right away with such a gruesome ritualistic setting. However, I have to admit that I was a bit lost at the beginning, between all the different characters and the time jumps I had trouble putting two and two together, but this quickly got resolved as I started to get to know the different characters.
The middle of the story felt a bit long at times but as we plunge into the routine of the cult, the repetitiveness can make sense. Things start accelerating by the end again which makes it hard to stop reading as you want to discover the truth.
I always enjoy a good cult book. This was not my favorite one, but it was still entertaining enough.
As the storytelling jumps in between timelines to understand how we came to that point, we learn that these people where all living together, partly isolated from the rest of society, forming their own cult with their own strong beliefs. The end of the world is near and they are getting ready for its rebirth.
They call their leader Uncle and they believe they are children of the sea, motherless and with a special role in this world. One of them will inherit the great powers of the Adder (Uncle), and needless to say, some of them will be ready to do anything to be the chosen one.
But events do not go as imagined as a Chief Inspector is decided to prove that a murder that took place not too far away is linked to the cult and their leader.
The start gets you curious right away with such a gruesome ritualistic setting. However, I have to admit that I was a bit lost at the beginning, between all the different characters and the time jumps I had trouble putting two and two together, but this quickly got resolved as I started to get to know the different characters.
The middle of the story felt a bit long at times but as we plunge into the routine of the cult, the repetitiveness can make sense. Things start accelerating by the end again which makes it hard to stop reading as you want to discover the truth.
I always enjoy a good cult book. This was not my favorite one, but it was still entertaining enough.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A cultish family unit living on a rocky Scottish island at the edge of the world. A horrific murder sets the stage and darker horrors unfurl from there. Gripping and terrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second of Catriona's books I've read (1st was last house on needless) and I can confidently say, I am in love with her writing. If at times a little confusing (same experience with the 1st book) the way it all unfolds leaves me enraptured by her stories. I cannot wait to read the rest of her books.
As for this story, I do have to say it definitely is a slow burn but the complexity of trauma mixed with doomsday cult vibes and a small town mistery in a gorgeously described setting made me love this book. So 5 stars!
As for this story, I do have to say it definitely is a slow burn but the complexity of trauma mixed with doomsday cult vibes and a small town mistery in a gorgeously described setting made me love this book. So 5 stars!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Me ha encantado la historia y la forma en que se desarrolla la trama, pero en ocasiones se me hizo difícil de leer y de seguir por la forma en que estaba escrita.
Es un pequeño cuento en el que todas las piezas y todo lo que te la autora te va mostrando a lo largo de la obra encajan en un final que, personalmente, me ha dejado un dulcísimo sabor de boca y el corazón calentito.
Desde el principio se te presenta la historia de una "familia" en un ambiente extraño y opresivo, aislado de la sociedad pero con pequeñas conexiones, y cómo eso afecta a todos los personajes según su forma de ser y de enfrentarse a la vida.
Los giros de la trama, sin entrar en detalles, no me han sorprendido en exceso, pero esto está compensado totalmente con todo el desarrollo y el viaje personal de los personajes. En este caso se ve claramente que lo que importa no es el final, sino cómo llegas a él.
Una vez terminado me ha dejado una sensación muy parecida a La Maldición de Bly Manor. Me ha encantado. Pese a lo complicado de cómo está escrito en ocasiones, y a alguna escena un poco dura, recomendadísimo.
Es un pequeño cuento en el que todas las piezas y todo lo que te la autora te va mostrando a lo largo de la obra encajan en un final que, personalmente, me ha dejado un dulcísimo sabor de boca y el corazón calentito.
Desde el principio se te presenta la historia de una "familia" en un ambiente extraño y opresivo, aislado de la sociedad pero con pequeñas conexiones, y cómo eso afecta a todos los personajes según su forma de ser y de enfrentarse a la vida.
Los giros de la trama, sin entrar en detalles, no me han sorprendido en exceso, pero esto está compensado totalmente con todo el desarrollo y el viaje personal de los personajes. En este caso se ve claramente que lo que importa no es el final, sino cómo llegas a él.
Una vez terminado me ha dejado una sensación muy parecida a La Maldición de Bly Manor. Me ha encantado. Pese a lo complicado de cómo está escrito en ocasiones, y a alguna escena un poco dura, recomendadísimo.