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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
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
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a read! I’m a sucker for a good small-town mystery, and it’s always a plus when it’s set in a gothic Southern style — this one delivered.
I actually can’t remember who recommended this book to me, but I’m glad they did. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator nailed it with the Southern accent. The characters were complex and layered, and the setting was eerie, creepy, and at times grotesque — so much so that I purposely avoided listening close to bedtime.
This novel is deeply rooted in social issues and historical commentary. Racism plays a big part in the plot, and there were moments that made me uneasy, blurring the line between fiction and painful historical truth. That’s also the power of a good storyteller: the ability to use words and circumstances that make you feel, question, and process.
The story itself is a slow burn — very character-driven — with most of the action happening towards the end. Some readers have critiqued the ending as a bit “formulaic” once the horror fully manifests, and I can see that perspective. The build-up is excellent, though, and while the pacing in the first half may feel slow for some, I personally think the atmospheric mood-setting paid off.
Overall, this was an eerie, thought-provoking, and unsettling read. I’m definitely curious about Christopher Buehlman’s other work and already have The Blacktongue Thief on my list
I actually can’t remember who recommended this book to me, but I’m glad they did. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator nailed it with the Southern accent. The characters were complex and layered, and the setting was eerie, creepy, and at times grotesque — so much so that I purposely avoided listening close to bedtime.
This novel is deeply rooted in social issues and historical commentary. Racism plays a big part in the plot, and there were moments that made me uneasy, blurring the line between fiction and painful historical truth. That’s also the power of a good storyteller: the ability to use words and circumstances that make you feel, question, and process.
The story itself is a slow burn — very character-driven — with most of the action happening towards the end. Some readers have critiqued the ending as a bit “formulaic” once the horror fully manifests, and I can see that perspective. The build-up is excellent, though, and while the pacing in the first half may feel slow for some, I personally think the atmospheric mood-setting paid off.
Overall, this was an eerie, thought-provoking, and unsettling read. I’m definitely curious about Christopher Buehlman’s other work and already have The Blacktongue Thief on my list
*Deep sigh* I just…don’t have the patience for unlikable racist sexist POVs, even if it’s a historical novel and the main character is a WWII veteran.
I thought this book was going to be a scary southern gothic novel about a sleepy town where something is very wrong. But 150 pages in, it’s just this rude, horny, racist guy researching a supposedly haunted plantation. As far as I can tell, that haunted plantation is not about the horrors of enslavement handled with care and sensitivity, (especially when it is done by a white author) rather, like too many out dated books the plantation centers white peoples fear. It’s dehumanizing and handled lazily and thoughtlessly.
Side note, the women are handled no better. This man’s wife reads like she’s a total airheaded idiot who does nothing but serve as the MCs little wifey. Happily having sex with him whenever he wants and otherwise starring into space. All the other women are described as whores.
Yes I know it’s a historical novel and no, that is not an excuse. Yes that might be the main characters POVs, but no, the author does nothing to show that this POVs are wrong.
I am absolutely out. Read “The Glinda Stories,” instead for a creepy southern gothic tale.
I thought this book was going to be a scary southern gothic novel about a sleepy town where something is very wrong. But 150 pages in, it’s just this rude, horny, racist guy researching a supposedly haunted plantation. As far as I can tell, that haunted plantation is not about the horrors of enslavement handled with care and sensitivity, (especially when it is done by a white author) rather, like too many out dated books the plantation centers white peoples fear. It’s dehumanizing and handled lazily and thoughtlessly.
Side note, the women are handled no better. This man’s wife reads like she’s a total airheaded idiot who does nothing but serve as the MCs little wifey. Happily having sex with him whenever he wants and otherwise starring into space. All the other women are described as whores.
Yes I know it’s a historical novel and no, that is not an excuse. Yes that might be the main characters POVs, but no, the author does nothing to show that this POVs are wrong.
I am absolutely out. Read “The Glinda Stories,” instead for a creepy southern gothic tale.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The first N word casually comes in the first 1% of the book. That's a hard pass for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs