Scan barcode
A review by elerireads
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't really enjoy this, but I think a solid part of that was to do with it not being to my taste rather than it not being good. I bought it on a whim and had I read the blurb more closely and thought about it a bit more I suspect I might have realised I might not enjoy it, so that's on me really. The supernatural elements pissed me off - I just found them deeply unsatisfying. Also, as I've said before, my tolerance for reading deeply traumatic things is not high, but this is definitely a problem I could have anticipated from the blurb.
What I will say is that I thought the suspense wasn't handled that well in some places. I understand the tack of dropping subtle but gradually more obvious hints about some mystery or other over the course of the book before a dramatic reveal, but (a) this wears a bit thin if you do it for every single interesting detail; and (b) the hints in this were not AT ALL subtle. It was like HERE IS AN INTERESTING THING I'M REFUSING TO TELL YOU ABOUT followed by loads of unrelated stuff. Imho that kind of mystery is much better handled with a quicker turn-around, i.e. you can make it super clear that there's something we don't know so we're left guessing for a few pages, but then the next chapter has to resolve it. Much more satisfying reading experience that way anyway, although maybe I'm just too impatient 😂
What I will say is that I thought the suspense wasn't handled that well in some places. I understand the tack of dropping subtle but gradually more obvious hints about some mystery or other over the course of the book before a dramatic reveal, but (a) this wears a bit thin if you do it for every single interesting detail; and (b) the hints in this were not AT ALL subtle. It was like HERE IS AN INTERESTING THING I'M REFUSING TO TELL YOU ABOUT followed by loads of unrelated stuff. Imho that kind of mystery is much better handled with a quicker turn-around, i.e. you can make it super clear that there's something we don't know so we're left guessing for a few pages, but then the next chapter has to resolve it. Much more satisfying reading experience that way anyway, although maybe I'm just too impatient 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Violence, Murder, and Stalking