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ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
2.0
This is a sequel of sorts to John Hart's debut novel, The Last Child. Set in North Carolina, among swamps and rugged hills, The Hush picks up a decade after the events of the previous novel. Johnny inherited 6,000 acres of land when he turned seventeen, and he's been living there ever since, in a shack he built himself. He's become a recluse in his wilderness, sleeping in trees and shooting at hunters who trespass on his land. He's spent time in prison, for shooting up the hunting camp of a powerful billionaire. Meanwhile, his best friend, Jack, has graduated from law school and has just started work in the most prestigious law firm in town.
But all is not well for Johnny. A law suit he can't afford to fight is threatening his home. And Jack sees Johnny changing in ways that make him unhappy. And when a dead body is discovered on Johnny's land, things become worse.
This is a horror novel of sorts, or at least it seems to be edging toward that genre. There's a supernatural force controlling the property, one which allows some to live, but kills others in horrific ways. Writing horror successfully is a difficult balancing act. Too little and the reader isn't scared, too much and it can suddenly veer from frightening to just silly. Hart does not manage to stick the landing. But whether or not the evil force is compelling or not is less important than Hart's handling of both women and African American history.
The women in this novel come in two varieties. Mothers are helpless, often addicted, and cannot parent their children. And the other woman of note is a lawyer, beautiful, manipulative and bad. We know this woman is bad because she is described as being a user and a taker soon after she makes an appearance. There's also a part of the plot involving an evil African princess and her African powers that made me deeply uncomfortable. It felt like an element out of a pulp novel from a different age and not in a good way. I'm not sure how this element could have worked in even the hands of a sensitive author. Hart was not at all sensitive. There is a ton of stuff going on, with plot lines and themes followed for a few pages or chapters and then discarded.
On the other hand, Hart has a talent for writing stories that compel the reader to keep turning pages. In the end, this was not enough to redeem this novel for me.
But all is not well for Johnny. A law suit he can't afford to fight is threatening his home. And Jack sees Johnny changing in ways that make him unhappy. And when a dead body is discovered on Johnny's land, things become worse.
This is a horror novel of sorts, or at least it seems to be edging toward that genre. There's a supernatural force controlling the property, one which allows some to live, but kills others in horrific ways. Writing horror successfully is a difficult balancing act. Too little and the reader isn't scared, too much and it can suddenly veer from frightening to just silly. Hart does not manage to stick the landing. But whether or not the evil force is compelling or not is less important than Hart's handling of both women and African American history.
The women in this novel come in two varieties. Mothers are helpless, often addicted, and cannot parent their children. And the other woman of note is a lawyer, beautiful, manipulative and bad. We know this woman is bad because she is described as being a user and a taker soon after she makes an appearance. There's also a part of the plot involving an evil African princess and her African powers that made me deeply uncomfortable. It felt like an element out of a pulp novel from a different age and not in a good way. I'm not sure how this element could have worked in even the hands of a sensitive author. Hart was not at all sensitive. There is a ton of stuff going on, with plot lines and themes followed for a few pages or chapters and then discarded.
On the other hand, Hart has a talent for writing stories that compel the reader to keep turning pages. In the end, this was not enough to redeem this novel for me.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
"There is no 'normal' in The Hush. There is only story and magic."
This was a wonderful book 2 but very different from the first book. It follows the life of Johnny and Jack but also those that were around them in the last one. It throws in new characters but none of them are as big as The Hush is.
Although I loved the dynamic of all the pieces and the players in the story - I found that I loved the lore and the "Other" that's in the story, but I have to admit that the set up of all the characters bogged down at times. This book took me far too long to read because it felt slow in a lot of spots.
Finishing this one makes me appreciate even more the story, the characters and the relationships built in book 1. So glad I continued the series!
This was a wonderful book 2 but very different from the first book. It follows the life of Johnny and Jack but also those that were around them in the last one. It throws in new characters but none of them are as big as The Hush is.
Although I loved the dynamic of all the pieces and the players in the story - I found that I loved the lore and the "Other" that's in the story, but I have to admit that the set up of all the characters bogged down at times. This book took me far too long to read because it felt slow in a lot of spots.
Finishing this one makes me appreciate even more the story, the characters and the relationships built in book 1. So glad I continued the series!
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
5.0
I would give this novel 10 stars if I could! From the first paragraph I fell into the rhythm of the story. about Johnny and Jack, lifelong friends who have gone through horrific times and are about to again. All of the characters in this novel are so achingly well defined and as each launches into a quest for their own wants and needs, a thriller of a tale unfolds. Yes, there is an aspect of magical realism that can be off-putting for some, but Hart handles it so well.
John Hart is one of my favourite authors. I'll read anything he writes and he hasn't disappointed me yet.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy of this novel.
John Hart is one of my favourite authors. I'll read anything he writes and he hasn't disappointed me yet.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy of this novel.
deltajuliet83's review against another edition
4.0
I still liked the first book more but this was also great.
knitwgrace's review against another edition
5.0
This book was immersive and wild. I expected a suspense book but this ended up having many supernatural elements that I don’t usually enjoy. Well written and surprising.
spickett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
renaebarbot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Hart’s writing is quick and he moves from each character seamlessly. You definitely need to be paying attention to keep up with the storyline. I really enjoyed the different personal biases it brought up for me and allowed me to reflect on.
bwkramer's review against another edition
4.0
Such a great writer but I wish he would not go down the route of the supernatural. I stay in it until the end because the writing is so solid but I just can’t get completely bought in.
ogameliabedelia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the friendship between Johnny and Jack that was the centerpiece of John Hart's The Last Child. It's now ten years later and the friendship still endures but the circumstances have drastically changed. I couldn't put this book down.