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mrmokek's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
First horror novel I've read and I feel like it was a good introduction
Definitely got absorbed in it - it was very easy to read and didn't take long
Theme-wise it wasn't anything super special but that might be because I'm used to coming at books from an analytical angle and that might not apply for this genre
Had some loose ends that I felt could have been tied up - the storyline about Richard's father's madness and his mother's exclusion from the town were focused on enough that I thought they would play a much more important part in the story, or at least receive some explanation (felt like a failed Chekhov's gun)
Pacing and atmosphere was good, creepy and sufficiently tragic
Enjoyed the rural gothic and the aspects that hit a little too close (child suffers due to parents' inability to admit defeat/their own mistakes)
Definitely got absorbed in it - it was very easy to read and didn't take long
Theme-wise it wasn't anything super special but that might be because I'm used to coming at books from an analytical angle and that might not apply for this genre
Had some loose ends that I felt could have been tied up -
Pacing and atmosphere was good, creepy and sufficiently tragic
Enjoyed the rural gothic and the aspects that hit a little too close
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Sexual content
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