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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNFing at pg. 145; I’m not feeling this one at the moment. This may be a book I revisit next year…
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The book was a little confusing and moved through time weirdly/its pacing was off. I enjoyed reading it, however, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. I think the switch-up at the end brought the whole book down. It would've been better if the end with the sole survivor was different. It just felt like the whole book was building up to something that never came to fruition. Overall, I was let down after enjoying the way the suspense had built. Writing style makes up for some of it (hence 3/5).
It had potential, but it never flourished. There is a point where you should REVEAL the truth. These hikers and soldiers are hiking through the woods, dying left and right. We hear about the creature, and Alice witnesses the creature. Nuria escapes. The time portal is sort of revealed. The author leaves every single assumption up to the reader. The characters are weak and underdeveloped. The trees and the atmosphere are characters as well as the historical family as previous owners play a part as a character. But damn. Give the reader SOMETHING.
The premise is intriguing, but do something with it. Also, this had undertones of the M. Night Shamaylan movie The Village, however, it didn't come close.
The premise is intriguing, but do something with it. Also, this had undertones of the M. Night Shamaylan movie The Village, however, it didn't come close.
This book is more literary fiction than genre which I didn't realize before I started. There was a lot of introspection and not enough horror for me. Thank you, Netgalley, for providing a copy for me to read in exchang for an honest review.
This was basically all vibes, and not much plot. Very little is answered about the mystery -- like why the people keep getting cut open. (My hypothesis is that they're caught on a boundary of a fold in the woods.) But the vibes were very impeccable, and the repeated mentions of the risk assessments are quite funny, in an existential way, given what's happening. That last little kick in the teeth for poor Nuria was rough.
Really interesting premise but I had a really hard time getting into this book. However, once it picked up it was fun. Lots of loose threads but it was a vibe.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
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:
No
This was indeed a spooky read. I was wondering where this would go; at times I almost expected a more dramatic ending, but this one also matches the vibe of the woods. The secret about the woods and the people in it is also super interesting as well. Very eerie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Animal death, War