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theequestrianslibrary's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
DISCLAIMER: This may or may not be a full list of every trigger/content warning found in the book. Some triggers and content warnings may contain spoilers!
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To start, I really liked this book. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator did a great job with the descriptions and the voice adjustments as well.
I think overall the book is some sort of metaphor. There is a lot going on at any given time, but being a thriller/horror, that's to be expected. It wasn't until after I relooked at the content warnings listed on the author's website, that some vague imagery settled into what they might have actually been implying. For my first solid attempt into a NA based horror, I really liked this one. It flowed well, and moved right along throughout the numerous POVs and storylines that interconnected and fell apart before weaving back together.
The primary characters: Laurel, Isaac, Garrett, and Ricky are all in their 20s, with emphasis on Laurel dropping out of college and Isaac wanting to go. The book is not for a younger audience due to the imagery described in it, but an older YA/general NA, this is a solid take. I loved the description of the scenes and the setting given that it takes place not far from where I actually live. I do think the language was maybe a little flowery, but being a flowery writer myself, I could glaze right on over it. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it was maybe a tad long-winded.
I did like the consistent use of internal monologue for the characters since that lets us get inside their heads and see what they're thinking. I do wish some of the conflict between the characters was a little more heated and strung out. Some parts felt like issues between the group were moreso brushed under the rug than allowed to heat up and boil, but maybe that was the point of the narrative. Each character had their own quirky personality and were distinctive from one another which was good.
The imagery that the author used to describe the "devil" and its monsters was definitely eerie. There was a lot of research done on the different aspects and parts of blood and bone, and as well as the natural parts of rotting, decomposition, the idea of death, and the concept of life and rebirth. There's an emphasis on cycles when it comes to life and death with a strong emphasis on the cycles affecting the forests on the Early property. There are parts where Laurel talks to the plants and they talk back which is definitely eerie and creepy, but effective for what she needs it for.
There is a queer relationship within the book which I really liked how it was handled. The author played with the concept of internalized homomisia in one of the characters and allowed that self-loathing to grow more into a generalized acceptance and then trust in the character's feelings. Depictions of homomisia are present in the book with an implied slur used without being named from a parent to a child which is part of a bigger scene that may be difficult to some readers. However, I think it's realistic, especially being part of the LGBT+ community within the hills of Kentucky. Otherwise, there is an overarching acceptance for the characters' existences between the friend group and outlying minor characters beyond the main culprit of abuse.
The ending tied up some very prevalent questions I had towards the end and left some idea of "well, how did that happen then," but the questions weren't bothersome enough to really be too much of a problem. I do not think the book left on a cliffhanger and I think a stand-alone fits it nicely.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with this one! I look forward to seeing what else the author conjures beyond their debut novel. I will definitely recommend this one for readers looking for an easy to read thriller/horror with accents of magic and heavier themes.
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To start, I really liked this book. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator did a great job with the descriptions and the voice adjustments as well.
I think overall the book is some sort of metaphor. There is a lot going on at any given time, but being a thriller/horror, that's to be expected. It wasn't until after I relooked at the content warnings listed on the author's website, that some vague imagery settled into what they might have actually been implying. For my first solid attempt into a NA based horror, I really liked this one. It flowed well, and moved right along throughout the numerous POVs and storylines that interconnected and fell apart before weaving back together.
The primary characters: Laurel, Isaac, Garrett, and Ricky are all in their 20s, with emphasis on Laurel dropping out of college and Isaac wanting to go. The book is not for a younger audience due to the imagery described in it, but an older YA/general NA, this is a solid take. I loved the description of the scenes and the setting given that it takes place not far from where I actually live. I do think the language was maybe a little flowery, but being a flowery writer myself, I could glaze right on over it. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it was maybe a tad long-winded.
I did like the consistent use of internal monologue for the characters since that lets us get inside their heads and see what they're thinking. I do wish some of the conflict between the characters was a little more heated and strung out. Some parts felt like issues between the group were moreso brushed under the rug than allowed to heat up and boil, but maybe that was the point of the narrative. Each character had their own quirky personality and were distinctive from one another which was good.
The imagery that the author used to describe the "devil" and its monsters was definitely eerie. There was a lot of research done on the different aspects and parts of blood and bone, and as well as the natural parts of rotting, decomposition, the idea of death, and the concept of life and rebirth. There's an emphasis on cycles when it comes to life and death with a strong emphasis on the cycles affecting the forests on the Early property. There are parts where Laurel talks to the plants and they talk back which is definitely eerie and creepy, but effective for what she needs it for.
There is a queer relationship within the book which I really liked how it was handled. The author played with the concept of internalized homomisia in one of the characters and allowed that self-loathing to grow more into a generalized acceptance and then trust in the character's feelings. Depictions of homomisia are present in the book with an implied slur used without being named from a parent to a child which is part of a bigger scene that may be difficult to some readers. However, I think it's realistic, especially being part of the LGBT+ community within the hills of Kentucky. Otherwise, there is an overarching acceptance for the characters' existences between the friend group and outlying minor characters beyond the main culprit of abuse.
The ending tied up some very prevalent questions I had towards the end and left some idea of "well, how did that happen then," but the questions weren't bothersome enough to really be too much of a problem. I do not think the book left on a cliffhanger and I think a stand-alone fits it nicely.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with this one! I look forward to seeing what else the author conjures beyond their debut novel. I will definitely recommend this one for readers looking for an easy to read thriller/horror with accents of magic and heavier themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide and Drug use
Mental and physical abuse, homomisia, violence, dental trauma, guns, postpartum depression, drug usage, animal death, body horror, blood, alcoholism, and suicide.betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a creepy, atmospheric, horror fantasy novel that definitely works if you're looking for horror to read in the summer. It reminded me a little of [book:Summer Sons|53290204] but more YA with a little more magic to it. It gave me similar kind of vibes, though.
The characters in this are well done; you have a diverse group, working together to fight this bone monster that has shown up at Laurel's farm. Isaac was probably my favorite character, even though his story was probably the most heartbreaking. The scene with his dad in their apartment? Devastating.
The only thing that really turned me off was the changing perspectives throughout. I understood the necessity of it, but it kind of threw me off, listening to the audiobook. It would take me a minute to realize that we were in a different character's mind.
All in all, if you're looking for a new YA horror book to check out, definitely pick this one up!
The characters in this are well done; you have a diverse group, working together to fight this bone monster that has shown up at Laurel's farm. Isaac was probably my favorite character, even though his story was probably the most heartbreaking. The scene with his dad in their apartment? Devastating.
The only thing that really turned me off was the changing perspectives throughout. I understood the necessity of it, but it kind of threw me off, listening to the audiobook. It would take me a minute to realize that we were in a different character's mind.
All in all, if you're looking for a new YA horror book to check out, definitely pick this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Death
theknitterwithabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
*I was offered a copy of this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Laurel Early just dropped out of college. She decides to come back to the familial tobacco farm to work and spends time doing taxidermy. She tries to have a quiet life with her childhood friends but the farm wants something else. Something has awaken and it wants blood.
If you are looking for an older YA book with horror, mystery, magic and ghosts, this is the book. Young adults trying to find themselves, facing hardships and most of all the devil. The characters are not some superpowered humans, they are normal teenagers with real problems. I really liked how the story was built and how it all came together even though there was magic. A magic none of them understood but discovered.
Laurel Early just dropped out of college. She decides to come back to the familial tobacco farm to work and spends time doing taxidermy. She tries to have a quiet life with her childhood friends but the farm wants something else. Something has awaken and it wants blood.
If you are looking for an older YA book with horror, mystery, magic and ghosts, this is the book. Young adults trying to find themselves, facing hardships and most of all the devil. The characters are not some superpowered humans, they are normal teenagers with real problems. I really liked how the story was built and how it all came together even though there was magic. A magic none of them understood but discovered.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia and Mental illness
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