hex_its_jaff 's review for:

The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw

3.0

dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Thanks to Macmillan Audio and netgalley for a copy of this arc

Natalie Naudus had a pretty big task in narrating this audio book. There are more characters than you can shake a stick at but Naudus does a pretty good job of distinguishing between them. 

The narration is almost blasé and that adds to the feeling of disorientation of book. You’re thrown right in to a strange situation and the people there (other than our group students)  are treating it like a normal day.

The books its self is a bit the worst version on the X-men for the students. A group of misfits with terrible powers that they struggle to control. With a weird little death game just for fun.

The prose is pretty purple and the plot is a bit confusing. It does feel like the goal of the book is get to the next gore scene rather then to deliver a compelling plot. 

I like gore so I didn’t particularly mind.  I did feel like I had to simply roll with the story. I think if we had had a more linear timeline this would have been a stronger story.

 If you liked horror that prioritizes vibes 

I think there’s potential to really enjoy this. For me I’m always chasing the The Salt grows heavy high.

From what I’ve read of Khaws books and think if you liked the dead take the A train in particular you will enjoy this one

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault