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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
My thanks for NetGalley for this ARC — I wanted so much to love this based off the premise but the prose really dragged on and it gave no meat to the horror/thriller aspects that I kept looking for. I’m gonna be honest here — I couldn’t even finish this one because I couldn’t get into it enough to vibe with it.
This was a very uneven read that has left me with some very mixed thoughts.
The concept was intriguing, and the idea of the forest itself was exciting, but it wasn't enough to carry a story. The characters were as thin as they were odd, none of them likable, and that made it hard to really engage with their plight. Alternating past/present perspectives just duplicated story content and extended the book, without really adding anything to it, making me want to skim the past chapters to read the present ones. There was a lull in the second half where I really just didn't care what happened, and the ending . . . well, it really wasn't one . . . left me unfulfilled.
The concept was intriguing, and the idea of the forest itself was exciting, but it wasn't enough to carry a story. The characters were as thin as they were odd, none of them likable, and that made it hard to really engage with their plight. Alternating past/present perspectives just duplicated story content and extended the book, without really adding anything to it, making me want to skim the past chapters to read the present ones. There was a lull in the second half where I really just didn't care what happened, and the ending . . . well, it really wasn't one . . . left me unfulfilled.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
I liked this so much more than the Ministry of Time, in regards to a sort of fanfic about time travel and a company of lost people. But it was very similar to The Watchers and Annihilation, but in a bland way.
dark
mysterious
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
I really wanted to like this book for the characters but the plot just isn’t there. I would have taken a story without resolution if the threat in the woods was better defined, but sadly both are lacking.
This book lies squarely in the “oh no, don’t go in the forest” genre of horror, alongside Blair Witch or The Ritual. Barnett intersperses the story of a present day expedition of academics with the story of the long lost soldiers whose disappearance they’re investigating. Some of the outcome is predictable, but there were a few elegant twists that I didn’t see coming.
I enjoyed this read and it was a great book to accompany my own forest vacation. However, I deducted a star because of the historical segments—the narration and dialogue frequently contained modern idioms and it kept jarring me out of the narrative. That said, I enjoyed the read and would definitely eagerly pick up another book by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
I enjoyed this read and it was a great book to accompany my own forest vacation. However, I deducted a star because of the historical segments—the narration and dialogue frequently contained modern idioms and it kept jarring me out of the narrative. That said, I enjoyed the read and would definitely eagerly pick up another book by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No