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_kayrae's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I found it entertaining but a little bit difficult to stay focused on some of the middle that felt kind of redundant. Overall though it was good.
jteach's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cwhimpenny's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
gsantino32's review
2.0
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
She only went off the trail for a moment...
Warning, warning, long review alert!
Oh boy, I was excited about this book. First of all because of Darcy Coates who writes some of the most amazing horror books, but secondly because this was different from her usual work. Those feature haunted houses that will murder you in your sleep, while this one was about a girl who got lost in the forest, met with a monster, and then how her brother and friends, the police, went to search for her and uncovered something gigantic. I have to say that it had a bit of a slow start, I didn't like Todd, but that after a while I settled in, the story got creepier and better, and I just couldn't stop reading. I just wanted to read, read, and read. I needed to know if the characters would be fine. I wanted to know who the monster was. I wanted to see them captured. The parts in the woods were delightfully frightening, and maybe not the best to read while it was dark outside, but eh.
I first want to address the characters/POV.
We have several POV. Todd (urrghhh), Chris (what are you doing?), Carla (ah look a stone-cold police officer). Later on Hailey gets the spotlight as well. Then there are short POV spotlights for Eileen, Flint, and a guy who finds something of hers while fishing. Not counting those short POVs as they lasted only for a chapter, from URGHH to OK, these were the rankings for those POVs: Todd, Carla, Chris, Hailey.
If I had to rate the characters I would say Anna and Hailey were my favourites.
Yep, I had serious issues with Todd, I even considered dropping the book, thankfully something happens. No, I am not saying what, but it did solve the problem for me. Yes, I feel bad for saying that, but sorry, Todd was a creep. He was disturbingly icky. I can imagine that people may not want to have him around. He was obsessed with Eileen, to the point that he was just sitting at his PC for her to post pictures of her trip. Even minutes after her being late he considered calling the police/Chris (the brother). What the actual hell man? There are various other instances that just made my skin crawl. But I really want to stop talking about Todd. Yucky dude.
Carla. Phew. I disliked her so so much in the beginning. Up to the point that yes, for her I would also have dropped the book. Thankfully, the author showed us what was going on in Carla's head, and her life, and it made me like her more. I could imagine why she was acting like this. She has gone through a lot, is still not in the right mindset. Plus, in the middle when she finds out stuff about the mountain/what is going on there, she really turns around and shows a cop who is kind, determined, and set to help out people (instead of making harsh comments and just letting them rot). As the story continues we see that Carla is really getting more and more determined, and I started to root for her to solve the mystery, capture the bad guy, and find some happiness as well.
Chris. Well, I could understand his determination, but I do wish he had listened to his friends. That he had been a bit more open. He pushed through, and I understand that he wants to find his sister, but this is not the way to go. You are just blindly wandering around without much of a clue (especially true after a certain point). One of your friends is in pain, yes, he says he can continue, but really? So yes, I am a bit conflicted on Chris. On the one hand I could understand him, on the other I wanted to throw him to the monster.
Anna, ah, Anna. I just liked her and how smart she was. How she was happy to help, and how she was fundamental to our group and their survival. Really, they wouldn't know what to do if it wasn't for her. And I loved that she knew, or had at least a good guess, how people were. I liked that she knew she came over a bit strong, and even talked to Chris when he was frustrated with it (as he wanted to lead the search party).
Hailey, I just loved that girl. How she seemed to be a girl without much content, but then you started to get to know her and you saw she was actually really smart, interesting, and wow. Her knowledge of medical really helped our team out quite a few times. My love for this girl went up when she did that nearer to the end. Add strong to one of her points. Her encounter with the monster made me want to go into the book and just kick the monster to stay away from Hailey. I loved that, unlike Chris and Flint, she actually thought of what Anna had given each of them. A map and a compass.
The story gets creepier with each passing page. The forest are already a freaking factor over 9000 of nope, and then there is also something lurking in the forest. Something big, clawy, and eager to hunt you for the whole evening. I was constantly on guard while reading, I just knew that as soon as the night fell something would be there. Something lurking. Something NOPE. The author really wrote a terrific atmosphere. It was like I was there with the characters, surrounded by a forest that doesn't let in much light, will confuse you to no end.
There is, as with most horror books, a lot of horror stupidity. For instance that the group didn't think to also mark their way through the forest by adding a line on the map, or looking which direction they were going. They just relied on that rope, but I knew already that that would be futile. Come on, there is a big baddy wandering around doing God knows what to people, and you rely on a flimsy rope? I would have held the compass, made sure to note what way we were walking, and also drew on the map where we went, plus add some stuff we encountered on the way. But these kids just blindly go forth, and then expect to get back easily and breezily. *sighs*
But also other instances that just had me snorting. Oh well, I guess in a way I also kind of like that stupidity. I am not to sure how to explain, but for some reason I think without that stupidity horror books would be just too serious. Sometimes one just need to have a bit of a laugh in all that creepiness.
So when Carla went to search, and sure she had the knowledge, but still, I just laughed so hard.
The who or what the monster was. WellSo I just want to give applause to author for writing it so exquisitely.
I have loved this book a lot, but due to the slow start, some of the stupidity, and of course let's not forget icky Todd, I just couldn't rate this one 5 (or 5+ stars). Instead I settled on 4.5 stars.
Phew, this review has gotten quite long, I will just end this review with a "I would recommend this to everyone-statement", because really, after you have gotten through the slow start and, you will not be able to want to stop or drop this book. Be warned not to read this one when it is dark out.
As for me? I cannot wait for the next Darcy Coates book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Warning, warning, long review alert!
Oh boy, I was excited about this book. First of all because of Darcy Coates who writes some of the most amazing horror books, but secondly because this was different from her usual work. Those feature haunted houses that will murder you in your sleep, while this one was about a girl who got lost in the forest, met with a monster, and then how her brother and friends, the police, went to search for her and uncovered something gigantic. I have to say that it had a bit of a slow start, I didn't like Todd, but that after a while I settled in, the story got creepier and better, and I just couldn't stop reading. I just wanted to read, read, and read. I needed to know if the characters would be fine. I wanted to know who the monster was. I wanted to see them captured. The parts in the woods were delightfully frightening, and maybe not the best to read while it was dark outside, but eh.
I first want to address the characters/POV.
We have several POV. Todd (urrghhh), Chris (what are you doing?), Carla (ah look a stone-cold police officer). Later on Hailey gets the spotlight as well. Then there are short POV spotlights for Eileen, Flint, and a guy who finds something of hers while fishing. Not counting those short POVs as they lasted only for a chapter, from URGHH to OK, these were the rankings for those POVs: Todd, Carla, Chris, Hailey.
If I had to rate the characters I would say Anna and Hailey were my favourites.
Yep, I had serious issues with Todd, I even considered dropping the book, thankfully something happens. No, I am not saying what, but it did solve the problem for me. Yes, I feel bad for saying that, but sorry, Todd was a creep. He was disturbingly icky. I can imagine that people may not want to have him around. He was obsessed with Eileen, to the point that he was just sitting at his PC for her to post pictures of her trip. Even minutes after her being late he considered calling the police/Chris (the brother). What the actual hell man? There are various other instances that just made my skin crawl. But I really want to stop talking about Todd. Yucky dude.
Carla. Phew. I disliked her so so much in the beginning. Up to the point that yes, for her I would also have dropped the book. Thankfully, the author showed us what was going on in Carla's head, and her life, and it made me like her more. I could imagine why she was acting like this. She has gone through a lot, is still not in the right mindset. Plus, in the middle when she finds out stuff about the mountain/what is going on there, she really turns around and shows a cop who is kind, determined, and set to help out people (instead of making harsh comments and just letting them rot). As the story continues we see that Carla is really getting more and more determined, and I started to root for her to solve the mystery, capture the bad guy, and find some happiness as well.
Chris. Well, I could understand his determination, but I do wish he had listened to his friends. That he had been a bit more open. He pushed through, and I understand that he wants to find his sister, but this is not the way to go. You are just blindly wandering around without much of a clue (especially true after a certain point). One of your friends is in pain, yes, he says he can continue, but really? So yes, I am a bit conflicted on Chris. On the one hand I could understand him, on the other I wanted to throw him to the monster.
Anna, ah, Anna. I just liked her and how smart she was. How she was happy to help, and how she was fundamental to our group and their survival. Really, they wouldn't know what to do if it wasn't for her. And I loved that she knew, or had at least a good guess, how people were. I liked that she knew she came over a bit strong, and even talked to Chris when he was frustrated with it (as he wanted to lead the search party).
Hailey, I just loved that girl. How she seemed to be a girl without much content, but then you started to get to know her and you saw she was actually really smart, interesting, and wow. Her knowledge of medical really helped our team out quite a few times. My love for this girl went up when she did that nearer to the end. Add strong to one of her points. Her encounter with the monster made me want to go into the book and just kick the monster to stay away from Hailey. I loved that, unlike Chris and Flint, she actually thought of what Anna had given each of them. A map and a compass.
Spoiler
Her fight with the monster, and how she managed to get away, wow. That poor girl, but at least she wasn't the only one getting wounded in that fight. The monster also got his fair share of pain. Good thinking! And can I just give extra points to how she got away from him? Pure brilliance.The story gets creepier with each passing page. The forest are already a freaking factor over 9000 of nope, and then there is also something lurking in the forest. Something big, clawy, and eager to hunt you for the whole evening. I was constantly on guard while reading, I just knew that as soon as the night fell something would be there. Something lurking. Something NOPE. The author really wrote a terrific atmosphere. It was like I was there with the characters, surrounded by a forest that doesn't let in much light, will confuse you to no end.
There is, as with most horror books, a lot of horror stupidity. For instance that the group didn't think to also mark their way through the forest by adding a line on the map, or looking which direction they were going. They just relied on that rope, but I knew already that that would be futile. Come on, there is a big baddy wandering around doing God knows what to people, and you rely on a flimsy rope? I would have held the compass, made sure to note what way we were walking, and also drew on the map where we went, plus add some stuff we encountered on the way. But these kids just blindly go forth, and then expect to get back easily and breezily. *sighs*
But also other instances that just had me snorting. Oh well, I guess in a way I also kind of like that stupidity. I am not to sure how to explain, but for some reason I think without that stupidity horror books would be just too serious. Sometimes one just need to have a bit of a laugh in all that creepiness.
So when Carla went to search, and sure she had the knowledge, but still, I just laughed so hard.
Spoiler
Because she found Eileen in a matter of hours if not shorter, while our group just wandered into the forest without much of a plan or an idea. In the end all the effort of the group was destroyed as they should just have waited (then again, given how the police was I can imagine they just wanted to go for it), then Anna would still be alive. But eh, I guess that wouldn't make a good story, and it would be a shame if we couldn't enjoy the creepy forest.The who or what the monster was. Well
Spoiler
I can tell you I definitely hadn't seen it coming. First we find out what the monster is, which was quite a shock, as I definitely hadn't expected it. I am sure there were hints, but come on, I am so used to Darcy Coates writing supernatural books that I definitely expected the monster to be real and undefeatable. If that was a shocker, the actual whodunnit was even more so. Dang, I hadn't suspected him at all. I guess it was suspicious on how certain things worked at that place, but I just hadn't expected him. Yes, he was a grumpy, not my favourite kind of, person, but all this? And even more as we find out... no. Just no.I have loved this book a lot, but due to the slow start, some of the stupidity, and of course let's not forget icky Todd, I just couldn't rate this one 5 (or 5+ stars). Instead I settled on 4.5 stars.
Phew, this review has gotten quite long, I will just end this review with a "I would recommend this to everyone-statement", because really, after you have gotten through the slow start and
Spoiler
what happened to ToddAs for me? I cannot wait for the next Darcy Coates book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
calamitykatie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
mariewikle's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Excellent book from beginning to end.
suriel_of_book_knowledge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
blackenedwhiplash's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Feels like a very good slasher film meets an engaging whodunnit. Similar to the last Darcy Coates book I read before this one, Dead of Winter. I loved the descriptions of the forest and hearing about the characters surviving in the wilderness looking for their friend. There are a few inconsistencies and plotholes here and there, miniscule ones (like when the police gave Chris's parents the thumb drive with the photos from Eileen's recovered camera and then suddenly Chris and his friends have printed copies of all the photos despite being in a different state and seemingly already started traveling during the time the parents received the thumb drive. And sure, there's plenty of ways that they could have gotten the contents of the thumb drive sent electronically and found a copy place to print, but you'd think the author would have described it in some form or fashion.) There are other examples that give spoilers, but they're similar in that yeah it's an inconsistency but it's not a glaring one. I've only read a couple of other Darcy Coates book so I'm definitely not a Coates expert, but the other two novels I read didn't have any loose ends (at least not off the top of my head right now) or inconsistencies, she seems to normally have tightly wound plots organized thoughtfully. So it was a little odd to see some of that in this book.
The biggest thing that keeps me from rating this higher is that near the end, it skips time from in the middle of some of the characters struggling to survival and Carla trying to piece together the answer she thinks she has figured out but hasn't told us the readers yet, and her about to send a search party into the woods, then it jumps to after everything's been resolved for a few days and the results of everything is told to us the readers through dialogue between Carla and another character. It would've been a lot better if we could see all that play out, not just have a summary of it all. I don't know if that was Coates wanted to get to finishing the book quicker or if she thought that was the best way to keep the mystery alive as long as she could before giving the big reveal. But that was a huge disappointment for me. Still a great book regardless and very entertaining. I loved the "who" and "why," even if I didn't care for how the information was delivered to us. 3.5 stars for me is still really solid, despite that it could've easily been a 4 star.
The biggest thing that keeps me from rating this higher is that near the end, it skips time from in the middle of some of the characters struggling to survival and Carla trying to piece together the answer she thinks she has figured out but hasn't told us the readers yet, and her about to send a search party into the woods, then it jumps to after everything's been resolved for a few days and the results of everything is told to us the readers through dialogue between Carla and another character. It would've been a lot better if we could see all that play out, not just have a summary of it all. I don't know if that was Coates wanted to get to finishing the book quicker or if she thought that was the best way to keep the mystery alive as long as she could before giving the big reveal. But that was a huge disappointment for me. Still a great book regardless and very entertaining. I loved the "who" and "why," even if I didn't care for how the information was delivered to us. 3.5 stars for me is still really solid, despite that it could've easily been a 4 star.