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camelia_martin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Those little revelations really kept the intrigue, and the way the seemingly unlinked characters and their lives became interlinked was incredible.
I had a gut feeling about how Mabel was pregnant and despite turning out to be correct I was still shocked by the way it was revealed.
I feel like Wulfie’s storyline was a bit rushed at the end - I really wanted to feel more for his character. The hints
I will say I didn’t find it scary, though I don’t find horror/thriller or gothic horror books to be scary anyway, but I did find myself reading faster and faster as I hit the last 100 pages.
Mrs W’s situation was predictable
Overall though an enjoyable book that kept me wanting more!
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Animal death, Grief, Child abuse, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Pregnancy, Rape, Child death, Classism, Death, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexism
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Sexism, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The truth is, I want to believe that I dreamed it all, I really do. It would be a hundred times easier than the alternative...A ghost, and unlike any ghost I've ever seen depicted in a film, or read of in a book.
Something unspeakably evil is stalkjng the grounds of Lichen Hall."
This historical and gothic thriller is set in two time-frames (1959 and 1965) in fictional Lichen Hall, in the Scottish borders. Protagonists Mabel and Pearl are pregnant and unmarried and have come to stay to give birth and have their babies adopted. There's an ancient woodland with spooky folkore, ever-encroaching fungus and creepy Mrs Whitlock to contend with, as the women's stays become a nightmare. Tackling themes of motherhood, patriarchy and slavery, it's beautifully written, making the characters feel real. I found it atmospheric and ominous, recommended in particular to fans of Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls.
Graphic: Slavery and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Abortion
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Pregnancy, and Death
Moderate: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Bullying, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Classism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Child death