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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Kidnapping, Violence, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Emotional abuse, Child death, Blood, Death, Cursing, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content
tommooney's review against another edition
4.0
Small town. Check.
Creepy outsiders. Check.
Clapboard House. Check.
Beat-up jalopy. Check.
Man with a violent past. Check.
Spiralling pit of violence, death and despair. Check.
This is a classy piece of southern gothic. It bears all the tropes of the genre but Farris Smith reinvents them once again, this time with the suggestion of the supernatural.
Blackwood is so, so grim. Desperate damaged people running from their pasts, careening into doomed futures. And he absolutely goes the full early-Cormac McCarthy. The full Donald Ray Pollock. It's very good, if you're into that sort of thing.
Creepy outsiders. Check.
Clapboard House. Check.
Beat-up jalopy. Check.
Man with a violent past. Check.
Spiralling pit of violence, death and despair. Check.
This is a classy piece of southern gothic. It bears all the tropes of the genre but Farris Smith reinvents them once again, this time with the suggestion of the supernatural.
Blackwood is so, so grim. Desperate damaged people running from their pasts, careening into doomed futures. And he absolutely goes the full early-Cormac McCarthy. The full Donald Ray Pollock. It's very good, if you're into that sort of thing.
bundy23's review against another edition
2.0
It probably says a lot about how engaged you are with a book when you get to about 80% through before you realise that the lead character is actually 2 different people, AND THEN 10 minutes later you realise that the main supporting character is ALSO 2 different people
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A gripping, dark and gritty story, a great gothic novel that kept me hooked till the end.
It's atmospheric and its disturbing and creepy atmosphere kept me on the edge till the end.
The characters, the setting and the plot are great and the author is a talented storyteller.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's atmospheric and its disturbing and creepy atmosphere kept me on the edge till the end.
The characters, the setting and the plot are great and the author is a talented storyteller.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
alleson's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. The syrupy quality to the story and the bitter, gritty portayal of the characters was exactly what I love and expect from a really good Southern gothic.
ava23's review against another edition
2.0
Disclaimer: I won an ARC copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway.
2/5 stars
I did not like this book. I'm very surprised that I finished it. It took me forever to get into it even a little bit. I was confused in the beginning. I HATE the style that the author writes in. The only reason that I'm giving it a 2 is because I was able to finish the book, even though I wanted to put it down.
2/5 stars
I did not like this book. I'm very surprised that I finished it. It took me forever to get into it even a little bit. I was confused in the beginning. I HATE the style that the author writes in. The only reason that I'm giving it a 2 is because I was able to finish the book, even though I wanted to put it down.
daniboo22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Not what I was expecting, but not totally disappointed either. I was anticipating something more paranormal/creepy/horror and this wasn't that. The writing style does take some getting used to, but overall it's a fast read with an OK story to tell.
nicoleabouttown's review against another edition
4.0
Southern Gothic, is not a genre I read very often because I don't normally find the stories interesting or well done. I'm glad to see that Blackwood by Michael Farris Smith is both interesting and exceedingly well done.
It is layered and multi-faceted, and there were parts I had to reread to make sure that I was understanding them correctly. Part of what trips me up sometimes with southern gothic books is the difference between literal and figurative in these stories. In the case of Blackwood, it is not about literal ghosts of the dead, but rather the ghosts of our past and how they invade our present.
Blackwood is not going to be everyone's cup of tea because it is such a dark tale. It is filled with darkness and despair, for every character. As you flip through each page, you keep looking for the light and hope that life will let up on these people, but it never does. By the end of the book, I had was both equally depressed and impressed, which is a rather interesting combination.
It is layered and multi-faceted, and there were parts I had to reread to make sure that I was understanding them correctly. Part of what trips me up sometimes with southern gothic books is the difference between literal and figurative in these stories. In the case of Blackwood, it is not about literal ghosts of the dead, but rather the ghosts of our past and how they invade our present.
Blackwood is not going to be everyone's cup of tea because it is such a dark tale. It is filled with darkness and despair, for every character. As you flip through each page, you keep looking for the light and hope that life will let up on these people, but it never does. By the end of the book, I had was both equally depressed and impressed, which is a rather interesting combination.
joshrskinner's review against another edition
5.0
Tremendous. I wasn't planning on finishing it in a day, but I couldn't bring myself to step away from it.
nephron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75