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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
This one features two narratives four hundred years apart that twine around and echo each other, as a group of Civil War soldiers stumble into a dark and mysterious wood, and a modern day all-female team of archeologists attempt to retrace their steps and solve their disappearance. The publicity mentions the obvious parallels with The Ritual and The Descent, and they are indeed strong, but there’s also a lot of the unresolved eeriness of Picnic At Hanging Rock and the sense of ancient landscape Alan Garner evokes. Very atmospheric, creepy, and a real page turner - I blazed through it.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5 stars.
As an introduction into this more thriller, slow build of suspense genre, I’ve got to say I really enjoyed myself. It wasn’t stand out amazing but the book held my interests and I really enjoyed it.
The dual timelines between the 17th century and the present day were quite fun to see develop, but honestly, I found that I didn’t really care for the present day group that much at all. I was far more interested in the Davies troop.
Captain Davies and Sergeant Harper were my favourite characters. They both really brought this novel to life and I adored them both for it. I think if the book had solely followed them, without flitting back to Alice’s research group, I’d have rated the book higher with 4 stars.
Either way, this was a good book, delightfully creepy and times. If you’re the type of person who wants definitive answers this might not be the book for you, because it doesn’t answer many questions you might have, but if you don’t mind that then definitely give it a go!
As an introduction into this more thriller, slow build of suspense genre, I’ve got to say I really enjoyed myself. It wasn’t stand out amazing but the book held my interests and I really enjoyed it.
The dual timelines between the 17th century and the present day were quite fun to see develop, but honestly, I found that I didn’t really care for the present day group that much at all. I was far more interested in the Davies troop.
Captain Davies and Sergeant Harper were my favourite characters. They both really brought this novel to life and I adored them both for it. I think if the book had solely followed them, without flitting back to Alice’s research group, I’d have rated the book higher with 4 stars.
Either way, this was a good book, delightfully creepy and times. If you’re the type of person who wants definitive answers this might not be the book for you, because it doesn’t answer many questions you might have, but if you don’t mind that then definitely give it a go!
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
An intriguing idea, about a forest in which time streams run in and out of each other and intermingle, but somewhat disappointing in its conclusion, which I felt left too much unresolved. The monster just stopped being a problem and the ending was so downbeat it was depressing.
I was looking for a spooky and creeping Halloween read and given the premise of the story (and the front cover) this one looked like it fit the bill. And it did! Mostly.
I liked the switching between history and the here and now. Split perspectives between the modern day researchers trying to crack what had happened to a group of parliamentarian soldiers in 1647. 17 entered and only 2 returned. What occurred to make these men disappear?
It was interspersed with moments of spooky excitement and then bits that just didn’t excite me at all. It was balanced with the boring to the sprinkles of intrigue. There was no doubt I’d finish it to see how it would conclude but I couldn’t immerse myself in the story for some reason. The audiobook was well narrated but I did find myself and my brain dipping out of it and having to bring myself back again! Great for a spooky feel though.
I liked the switching between history and the here and now. Split perspectives between the modern day researchers trying to crack what had happened to a group of parliamentarian soldiers in 1647. 17 entered and only 2 returned. What occurred to make these men disappear?
It was interspersed with moments of spooky excitement and then bits that just didn’t excite me at all. It was balanced with the boring to the sprinkles of intrigue. There was no doubt I’d finish it to see how it would conclude but I couldn’t immerse myself in the story for some reason. The audiobook was well narrated but I did find myself and my brain dipping out of it and having to bring myself back again! Great for a spooky feel though.
* Split narrative between the time periods
* Feels like a mix of piraneesi/house of leaves/as above so below
* Feels like a mix of piraneesi/house of leaves/as above so below
dark
mysterious
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
3.5 stars.
This was weird and creepy! Following two groups of people, 1) soldiers in the 1600s caught in an ambush who run for safety into Moresby Wood, and 2) a small, all-female team comprised of historians and park rangers, in the present, who enter a fenced-off Moresby Wood, looking for evidence of the long lost squad. Moresby Wood had a reputation, even years before the soldiers entered it, of darkness, witchcraft, and a monster even older than when Christianity came to Britain.
The soldiers soon find themselves lost, and gradually picked off, by something that no one can see, but that one amongst them is convinced is the monster, the Corrigal. The soldiers are already injured, and coming apart from the stress of the sudden and unexplained murders.
The present day team is fine their first day, but find themselves eerily repeating what we know happened to the soldiers.
The atmosphere is fantastic in this story! Claustrophobic, constant mist, cold, with the dripping of rain off the people and the trees around them. And slow, building, choking fear.
The author does sort of give us an answer, but also doesn’t, of what was causing the danger, which left me both a little frustrated and happy. In some ways, I’m glad the ending was as hopeless and lonely and dark as it was. It’s a monster story, a ghost story, and a malevolent entity story. I think I liked it, but its slow pacing won’t be for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.
This was weird and creepy! Following two groups of people, 1) soldiers in the 1600s caught in an ambush who run for safety into Moresby Wood, and 2) a small, all-female team comprised of historians and park rangers, in the present, who enter a fenced-off Moresby Wood, looking for evidence of the long lost squad. Moresby Wood had a reputation, even years before the soldiers entered it, of darkness, witchcraft, and a monster even older than when Christianity came to Britain.
The soldiers soon find themselves lost, and gradually picked off, by something that no one can see, but that one amongst them is convinced is the monster, the Corrigal. The soldiers are already injured, and coming apart from the stress of the sudden and unexplained murders.
The present day team is fine their first day, but find themselves eerily repeating what we know happened to the soldiers.
The atmosphere is fantastic in this story! Claustrophobic, constant mist, cold, with the dripping of rain off the people and the trees around them. And slow, building, choking fear.
The author does sort of give us an answer, but also doesn’t, of what was causing the danger, which left me both a little frustrated and happy. In some ways, I’m glad the ending was as hopeless and lonely and dark as it was. It’s a monster story, a ghost story, and a malevolent entity story. I think I liked it, but its slow pacing won’t be for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.