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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I know he likes to put his characters through ordeals that are not humanly possible to survive, but this was overly exaggerated in that aspect from start to finish. Good grief. I felt it just dragged on with the same torture. At times I didn't even understand what I was reading. I think maybe it was because of the time period. It was a good story overall, but the points above just ruined it for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I came in expecting a SciFi, and it wasn't that, which I think may have tainted my experience. I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't stunning. I think there were way too many characters having separate experiences. Too hard to keep track of in such a short book.
adventurous
dark
sad
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
Oof. I love Blake Crouch but this was a little bit of a letdown.
I was hooked at the beginning and was expecting this to be a favorite. Disappearing town? Yes, please. It was such an interesting premise especially coming from Blake's sci-fi works. I loved the flashbacks and time switches between 1893 and present day, all the talented narrators, and the beautifully creepy setting so this was really set up to be a great read for me.
But... my issue with this was the resolution. I wasn't satisfied with the ending and the "why" seemed flimsy and convenient. I am not a fan of supernatural/paranormal elements in mystery books because those usually feel like cop-outs, especially to readers who are trying to solve the mystery as they read, but with this I actually would have preferred something ghosty over the ending. I also was fully expecting ghosty due to the synopsis and was extremely surprised when that wasn't where the story went.
Still giving 2 stars because the writing was good and kept me hooked at the beginning. Later on this did get pretty dark and almost exhausting to read in a way. I was a bit relieved when it was over, even though it was an unsatisfying ending.
I was hooked at the beginning and was expecting this to be a favorite. Disappearing town? Yes, please. It was such an interesting premise especially coming from Blake's sci-fi works. I loved the flashbacks and time switches between 1893 and present day, all the talented narrators, and the beautifully creepy setting so this was really set up to be a great read for me.
But... my issue with this was the resolution. I wasn't satisfied with the ending and the "why" seemed flimsy and convenient. I am not a fan of supernatural/paranormal elements in mystery books because those usually feel like cop-outs, especially to readers who are trying to solve the mystery as they read, but with this I actually would have preferred something ghosty over the ending. I also was fully expecting ghosty due to the synopsis and was extremely surprised when that wasn't where the story went.
Still giving 2 stars because the writing was good and kept me hooked at the beginning. Later on this did get pretty dark and almost exhausting to read in a way. I was a bit relieved when it was over, even though it was an unsatisfying ending.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Simplified summary:
Everyone from a mining town mysteriously disappears and over a century later a group of people investigate.
Opening lines:
Wind rips through the crags a thousand feet above, nothing moving in this godforsaken town, and the mule skinner knows that something is wrong.
Review:
Way more of a thriller than a horror, that had a really fun build up filled with intrigue and mystery, but unfortunately ended with a fizzle.
Everyone from a mining town mysteriously disappears and over a century later a group of people investigate.
Opening lines:
Wind rips through the crags a thousand feet above, nothing moving in this godforsaken town, and the mule skinner knows that something is wrong.
Review:
Way more of a thriller than a horror, that had a really fun build up filled with intrigue and mystery, but unfortunately ended with a fizzle.
3.5 stars! Loved it, but a little boring at some parts.
I had actually started to read this book and stopped because I couldn't get into it. I picked it up again months later where I left off and finished it in a single day! I was hooked and just had to keep reading about what actually happened in Abandon all those years ago and what would become of Abigail.