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archergal's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book because it was described as a ghost story. Sometimes I want to read ghost stories.
It's a pretty compelling read for about the first half or two-thirds of the book. Then I began to see where it was going, and I became less happy about it.
The prose is all very modern, even though the book is set in the 1600s on a sheep farm. I did like some of the descriptions of shepherding and working with sheep. There's also a bit of gothic atmosphere here: a crumbling hall, family secrets, general poverty and gloom in the area.
Strange things happen. Secrets have been kept. The secrets are the kind that will ruin a family and a home. Things progress to an inevitable conclusion. Not every story has a happy ending.
Props to the author for a strong female character who nevertheless is still constrained by the limits of her society. Though honestly, the accusations of her being a witch seem a little tacked on, and not a full part of the story.
It's a pretty compelling read for about the first half or two-thirds of the book. Then I began to see where it was going, and I became less happy about it.
The prose is all very modern, even though the book is set in the 1600s on a sheep farm. I did like some of the descriptions of shepherding and working with sheep. There's also a bit of gothic atmosphere here: a crumbling hall, family secrets, general poverty and gloom in the area.
Strange things happen. Secrets have been kept. The secrets are the kind that will ruin a family and a home. Things progress to an inevitable conclusion. Not every story has a happy ending.
Props to the author for a strong female character who nevertheless is still constrained by the limits of her society. Though honestly, the accusations of her being a witch seem a little tacked on, and not a full part of the story.
sharon_1963's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
The Coffin Path is a story that brings to mind the haunting sadness and foreboding of Wuthering Heights. Whilst not a scary ghost story the hints of things that lie just beneath the surface of Scarcross Hall leave you feeling ill at ease. A brilliant story with a twist at the end that will break your heart into a million pieces.
Now that I have absorbed the story more and had a couple of weird dreams bought on by the story of this book, I have to say that there are also subtle reminders of The Haunting of Hill House as well.
Highly recommended, 4.5 stars
Now that I have absorbed the story more and had a couple of weird dreams bought on by the story of this book, I have to say that there are also subtle reminders of The Haunting of Hill House as well.
Highly recommended, 4.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Death
sprainedbrain's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
katynka_'s review against another edition
3.0
this was so atmospheric, i was really swept up in the growing dread and i loved the descriptions of the landscape, the geography of the setting felt like a character in itself - a bit like wuthering heights, and very gothic. i really enjoyed the book until the last third which is why i've knocked stars off my review. it felt a bit like the ending was cobbled together - a longer and more drawn out finale would have left me feeling happier at the ending, i think.
laufox's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was so good! The perfect haunting, chilly, eerie read for Fall if you love English countryside decrepit estates, family secrets, superstition amongst a religious community, and shepherding. I still have so many unanswered questions, but I think the novel is actually all the stronger for that aspect. I loved the pacing...it slowly kept building and building and pulling in tendrils of doubt as events would happen or characters would come into question...and then that ending! Intense, albeit beware because there is quite a bit of physical grotesqueness, abuse and sexual abuse, and some complicated familial relationships. I saw each reveal come just before they were written on page, but the way the author executed those reveals was intentional in that way, I think - it makes your stomach writhe in disgusted and apprehensive anticipation as you wait for it to play out on page and be revealed to the characters, while leaving you biting your nails hoping you're wrong and you've misinterpreted something...but then it goes horribly wrong and then some as you anticipated. Very brilliant subtle work and doubt planting, foreshadowing and clues by the author.
1001reads's review against another edition
4.0
Tense, atmospheric but I’m not sure how I feel about that twist tbh.
ina_s's review
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hera90's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
richardpierce's review against another edition
3.0
In truth, I don't really know what to make of this book. It is well-written and a good read. Maybe I'm just not one of those who can entirely make sense of what actually happens in it. Worth a read.
ege72's review
i liked the plot and the writing, but unfortunately, was too slow paced for me.
maybe, at some point, i will give it another try.
maybe, at some point, i will give it another try.