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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A group of parliamentarian soldiers go missing in Moresby Wood in 1643. The mystery of their disappearance is still unresolved and now, a group of academics go in search to find out what happened. The story is told with a duo timeline so we get an insight into the building anxiety of each group as we follow them into the forest, where the Corrigal is said to haunt (is it a monster, is it a witch, a demon?).
This was sold as a slow burner but I was hooked from the beginning and the flow of the pace so grabbed me that I stayed up until midnight to finish it. It is mainly plot driven but there was enough development and background to the characters that I felt a connection and was emotionally invested in them. There is determination which morphs into obsession, longing and loss and a constant sense of threat which overspills into frantic panic. The story moves from historical fiction and mystery, unravelling folklore and mythology as it goes.
This was everything I hoped it would be and more.
This was sold as a slow burner but I was hooked from the beginning and the flow of the pace so grabbed me that I stayed up until midnight to finish it. It is mainly plot driven but there was enough development and background to the characters that I felt a connection and was emotionally invested in them. There is determination which morphs into obsession, longing and loss and a constant sense of threat which overspills into frantic panic. The story moves from historical fiction and mystery, unravelling folklore and mythology as it goes.
This was everything I hoped it would be and more.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
TW: death, animal death, body horror, gore, gun violence
An enjoyable suspense novel with an interesting premise and strong bunch of characters. The author writes suspense really well, and the gloomy but sinister atmosphere was believable and convincing. I'm not usually a fan of dual timeline narratives, but the author weaved them together so effortlessly that I really enjoyed the switch from chapter to chapter.
Unfortunately the ending lost me a bit. I felt like we were building up to a big reveal or at least some sort of devastating event, but we got neither of those things. You could argue that the anticlimactic ending actually fits perfectly with the story and the idea that you never have all the answers, but I think this book could have benefitted from a stronger ending for at least one/some/all of the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
An enjoyable suspense novel with an interesting premise and strong bunch of characters. The author writes suspense really well, and the gloomy but sinister atmosphere was believable and convincing. I'm not usually a fan of dual timeline narratives, but the author weaved them together so effortlessly that I really enjoyed the switch from chapter to chapter.
Unfortunately the ending lost me a bit. I felt like we were building up to a big reveal or at least some sort of devastating event, but we got neither of those things. You could argue that the anticlimactic ending actually fits perfectly with the story and the idea that you never have all the answers, but I think this book could have benefitted from a stronger ending for at least one/some/all of the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood
Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel!
Following duel timelines - one in the 1600s and another in modern day - we follow two different groups of characters investigating a forest area rumored to be haunted. Or if not haunted, rife with disappearances and mysterious potential deaths.
I struggled with maintaining my interest reading this, however that’s probably more on me for not jiving with the writing style. The characters were interesting enough I just didn’t fully connect.
Following duel timelines - one in the 1600s and another in modern day - we follow two different groups of characters investigating a forest area rumored to be haunted. Or if not haunted, rife with disappearances and mysterious potential deaths.
I struggled with maintaining my interest reading this, however that’s probably more on me for not jiving with the writing style. The characters were interesting enough I just didn’t fully connect.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Suspenseful read! The beginning was a bit slow, but it really picked up at the end, and I enjoyed it!
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a very interesting book to read and, in the end, I really don't know how to feel about it. I guess I will go with 3.5 stars, but really this could fluctuate in the future depending on how my thoughts process over these next couple of days. The writing was a very interesting and unique way to tell a story in that we do not get all the answers even as the story is progressing. There were moments when I flipped back a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything while reading on my kindle. I'm not sure what the "theme" or "point" of the story was but I'm not sure it matters. If you're looking for a confusing horror tale that isn't going to give you all the answers but will be a story in which you can kind of create your own thoughts as to what is going on, then this will be for you. Super quick read and a small page number actually helps this story. Had it been longer I would have most likely been frustrated by the lack of answers. Because this story moves quickly it makes sense that the reader has a lost feeling much like what the characters are experiencing. I can honestly say I haven't read a horror like this before and it really made me think about this type of storytelling.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes