3.86 AVERAGE

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

3.5 Stars. An extra star for some details at the end.
This is a fascinating idea - basically combining folk and slasher, with a dash of fantasy! There's a lot of stuff about "never meet your heroes" and problematic creators as well, but it's done in a way that's woven into the story, so it doesn't feel heavy-handed.
Runny, Finn, Bing, and Flakwell are great characters, and they are much more developed than most slasher/killers. I would say this is a good entry into slasher books, as there's a fair amount of tension and blood, although as an established fan of the genre it was a bit long for my liking. Things don't really get going until 1/3 into the book, and the tension flags a bit in the final 1/4 too.
The stories of the animals from the Hollow was horror in itself, and the details of their lives, and their broken spirits/coping mechanisms were haunting.
Could definitely done with a trim, but there's a lot to enjoy in this odd horror.
adventurous dark mysterious tense 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: Complicated
dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No

fafpaf0405's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

I wanted to like this book, I was so eager and excited to read it. It has however taken me forever to get through the first little bit and I don't think I'm going to attempt to finish it right now. The overuse of "fancy" language was distracting and the POV are hard to follow. Might attempt to finish it later.
adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Fuzzy bunny horror book! Don't let his sophisticated looks and manners fool you. Runny is a dickhead.

I don't want to give away too much, but I know I'm not the first one to compare this with a cross over of Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland. Jonathan Edward Durham may well have been micro dosing when he came up with this winner.

A perfect bedtime horror story with a touch of fuzzy cuteness and fantastic characters. There was one unfavorable issue I had (story spoilers)
Spoiler the ending was just too long. OMG. Die already. I wanted to find that cricket bat and punt Runny's ass. It's like everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, had to have their Oscar moment.