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sakshiagrwl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
3.5
I liked the premise and the mystery was quite engaging, but I’m not sure ambiguous endings work for me. Also some of the descriptions were a little weird and random, like “mutton-coloured clouds”??
mimi13's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
aieshab's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
oftalone90's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A gothic tale set in Victorian Bath. An interesting premise - similar to her other book ‘The Corset’ but less compelling.
lybrarie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. I read Purcell's The Whispering Muse last year and absolutely adored it, and I was really hoping for a similar experience with this book. Unfortunately that just wasn't the case for me. I think this book had real potential, but something about it just didn't grab me in the same way The Whiserping Muse did.
I think what I really wanted this book to be was a lot creepier than it turned out to be. The atmosphere just never really felt quite right to me, I was never completely drawn into the world Purcell was describing to me. I think it could have been a lot more interesting if it was entirely told from Pearl's perspective, but I understand for story reasons why that was not possible.Pearl deserved so much better.
I also think Pearl was probably the only character in this book I actually liked. Agnes was definitely an interesting character, I just did not like her at all. I would have loved to have spent more time getting to know Myrtle, obviously seeing her through Pearl's perspective the majority of the time cast her in one particular light, but I would have loved to have explored more about her and what lead her to the decisions she made.
Overall, unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I still have a lot of interest in reading more of Purcell's work, but this book just wasn't the one.
I think what I really wanted this book to be was a lot creepier than it turned out to be. The atmosphere just never really felt quite right to me, I was never completely drawn into the world Purcell was describing to me. I think it could have been a lot more interesting if it was entirely told from Pearl's perspective, but I understand for story reasons why that was not possible.
I also think Pearl was probably the only character in this book I actually liked. Agnes was definitely an interesting character, I just did not like her at all. I would have loved to have spent more time getting to know Myrtle, obviously seeing her through Pearl's perspective the majority of the time cast her in one particular light, but I would have loved to have explored more about her and what lead her to the decisions she made.
Overall, unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I still have a lot of interest in reading more of Purcell's work, but this book just wasn't the one.
adequate_squatch's review
3.0
Me, about 1/3 of the way into this book: what if the main POV character ends up being the killer all along?
Me to me: nah, that's such a lazy and overused trope, the author wouldn't ruin the whole story with a cheap twist like that
Me at the end: surprised Pikachu face
Seriously, I loved this book until the ending, which made me hate it. I loved the pacing, the aesthetic, the heartbreaking themes of abuse and coercive control, the development of characters who felt genuine and sympathetic even when they were making bad decisions. I loved that the main character was a fiercely independent woman past her prime who was fighting hard for her way of life.
Then the ending makes her the killer all along. Apparently she blacks out and murders her clients because...her sister was a psychopath, so she is too? There's no motive other than "psychos be killin'". It makes no sense, other than to have a twist for the sake of a twist. Such a shame that this otherwise enjoyable book is ruined by the dumbest horror trope of them all.
Me to me: nah, that's such a lazy and overused trope, the author wouldn't ruin the whole story with a cheap twist like that
Me at the end: surprised Pikachu face
Seriously, I loved this book until the ending, which made me hate it. I loved the pacing, the aesthetic, the heartbreaking themes of abuse and coercive control, the development of characters who felt genuine and sympathetic even when they were making bad decisions. I loved that the main character was a fiercely independent woman past her prime who was fighting hard for her way of life.
Then the ending makes her the killer all along. Apparently she blacks out and murders her clients because...her sister was a psychopath, so she is too? There's no motive other than "psychos be killin'". It makes no sense, other than to have a twist for the sake of a twist. Such a shame that this otherwise enjoyable book is ruined by the dumbest horror trope of them all.
sanabug's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Was super depressed while reading this need to read it again but it was really really captivating
girlglitch's review
3.0
With The Shape of Darkness Laura Purcell has, once again, crafted a compelling gothic story. This is historical fiction without the gloss: Agnes' Bath is bleak and grimy, choked with disease - and ghosts.
There are some striking scenes and genuinely spooky moments, but I can't help but wish Purcell had picked one trope and stuck to it. With spooky silhouettes, prescient seances and maraudering murderers, there is a lot to unpack. By the end there are simply too many threads to tie together to reach a satisfying conclusion, and the plot twist falls a little flat.
The Shape of Darkness is a compulsive read - if not the most finely crafted Victoriana novel.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
There are some striking scenes and genuinely spooky moments, but I can't help but wish Purcell had picked one trope and stuck to it. With spooky silhouettes, prescient seances and maraudering murderers, there is a lot to unpack. By the end there are simply too many threads to tie together to reach a satisfying conclusion, and the plot twist falls a little flat.
The Shape of Darkness is a compulsive read - if not the most finely crafted Victoriana novel.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
heatherinthenether's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a delightfully unsettling story of ghosts and loss and hauntings. I didn't see the end coming, though I'm not a big mystery reader most of the time. I loved the way the supernatural elements were neatly woven in and often called into question.