Reviews

The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth

ebussa47's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Read for class. This book was fun, just not really my thing. I love how every time something happens, the characters are like, “I sure hope that thing doesn’t happen” and then it does.

hannahbelk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

novelideea's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

matchafiction's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Capitola wins the award for the most badass twelve year old for real

notthemonalisa's review against another edition

1.0

This book was read for a family book club. It was read to my husband when he was a child and became a family classic. I did not enjoy the themes- they grated on my modern nerves. I can usually set that aside and enjoy a story for what it would have been when published, but this one was just too much for me. It can also be difficult to read a story that was published in a serial format all in one go. The book was too long, with too little substance, and the substance itself was not worth the effort.

Honestly, if I could give zero stars, I would. (Apologies to my in-laws, should you ever see this review.)

jacobandthefrogs's review against another edition

3.0

Read for class (Capitola’s #1 Fan)

allie_hilleson's review against another edition

4.0

I've read this book three times and I enjoy it every time :).

Historical fiction with romance and mystery. The PoV jumps around a bit but in a controlled and understandable manner. I was never left wondering who I was following.

The story itself is sweet, a little sad, and thrilling. Mysteries and deceptions lurk around every corner.

A warning for those who may be bothered (mild spoilers):

-Capitola is high-spirited and a little naughty and disrespectful at times.
-Her guardian, Old Hurricane is blustering and has frequent brief fits of rage. Sort of like a grown ups temper-tantrum.
- There is a scene where a man is in Capitola's bedroom to carry her off. His intentions are evil but nothing inappropriate is said or done.

sfstagewalker's review against another edition

2.0

My low review is more of a "not for me" rating than in indictor of the quality of the writing. For what it is, and what it was trying to do, for the time... it was obviously extremely successful and well done. I found it quite interesting at first as a historical study of genre, but the conventions of serialized melodrama (paper thin characterizations, over the top emotionalism, cartoon villainy, everyone being secretly related to each other) just got to be more than I could bear by the end. I am putting it aside at about the half way mark. I doubt I'll pick it up again.

counting_sunsets's review against another edition

5.0

5 ⭐️

darbystouffer's review against another edition

3.0

Well, I downloaded this for the iPad, and apparently I only got part of it, because in the end, virtually nothing was resolved. Harumph. That said, it was a nice enough story, just had a little bit too much 1800's sentimentality for me. "She drew her into a warm embrace tremulously." Yeahhhhh. No.

11 down, 93 to go! :D