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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
mysterious
tense
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was sooo excited for this book, but by the end it was extremely disappointing. The writing was beautiful and it was so perfectly atmospheric. I really enjoyed the story most of the way through, until the end which really ruined it for me. The ending honestly made this a 2 start book for me, but because I enjoyed so much of it and because of the writing I bumped it up to 3 stars.
This is also NOT a fantasy book, there was BARELY any magic in it at all. I would classify this as a mystery/murder mystery, so don't pick it up if you're wanting a witchy fantasy. If you love beautiful writing and are just looking for an atmospheric book to read on a cozy, cloudy, rainy fall day and don't mind a subpar plot then this was a wonderful book and I would recommend reading it in that scenario.
I've seen several people say that they really didn't like the characters and that they were very bland, and while I can see that, I can't say I feel the same. I did enjoy the characters. I do wish there was a bit more, but I feel like what we were told of them was fitting for this short standalone. I very much enjoyed the love story between them.
To be clear, I really enjoyed this book until the end which really ruined it for me.
*************************
**SPOILERS FROM HERE ON**
*************************
It was pretty predictable what happened to the teen who mysteriously died. You figure it out pretty early on. That wasn't what bugged me most though. What I really disliked was how flat the resolution of the "mystery" was. You're telling me that this group of elders on this island, several of whom are mentioned as thinking of August (MMC) as their own son, knowingly let this kid be beat by both his father and grandfather for YEARS. Not only that, but they are also totally willing to kill this kid to take over his family's orchard that he literally doesn't even want and you KNOW his plan is to leave town anyway??? If you loved him like a son, why wouldn't you just be like "hey when you leave do you mind signing over the orchard to the town since you don't want it?" Instead of you know...thinking the ONLY way to get the orchard from him is to murder him?? Wtf? Also having no remorse in the role you played in the death of your own granddaughter? Seemed a bit too ridiculous to me and I will accept a lot of ridiculous plots.
So yeah, all of that ^^^ is why this was a pretty lame plot and ending and really plummeted the rating for me. This had soooo much potential and I loved sooo much of this book.
This is also NOT a fantasy book, there was BARELY any magic in it at all. I would classify this as a mystery/murder mystery, so don't pick it up if you're wanting a witchy fantasy. If you love beautiful writing and are just looking for an atmospheric book to read on a cozy, cloudy, rainy fall day and don't mind a subpar plot then this was a wonderful book and I would recommend reading it in that scenario.
I've seen several people say that they really didn't like the characters and that they were very bland, and while I can see that, I can't say I feel the same. I did enjoy the characters. I do wish there was a bit more, but I feel like what we were told of them was fitting for this short standalone. I very much enjoyed the love story between them.
To be clear, I really enjoyed this book until the end which really ruined it for me.
*************************
**SPOILERS FROM HERE ON**
*************************
It was pretty predictable what happened to the teen who mysteriously died. You figure it out pretty early on. That wasn't what bugged me most though. What I really disliked was how flat the resolution of the "mystery" was. You're telling me that this group of elders on this island, several of whom are mentioned as thinking of August (MMC) as their own son, knowingly let this kid be beat by both his father and grandfather for YEARS. Not only that, but they are also totally willing to kill this kid to take over his family's orchard that he literally doesn't even want and you KNOW his plan is to leave town anyway??? If you loved him like a son, why wouldn't you just be like "hey when you leave do you mind signing over the orchard to the town since you don't want it?" Instead of you know...thinking the ONLY way to get the orchard from him is to murder him?? Wtf? Also having no remorse in the role you played in the death of your own granddaughter? Seemed a bit too ridiculous to me and I will accept a lot of ridiculous plots.
So yeah, all of that ^^^ is why this was a pretty lame plot and ending and really plummeted the rating for me. This had soooo much potential and I loved sooo much of this book.