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A review by feuillycakes
A Dark Inheritance by H.F. Askwith
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I'm rather torn over this book. On the one hand, I really liked it for its readability and I got on well with the characters, but on the other hand it was so fast paced I lost the threads of plot a couple times.
I enjoyed many aspects of this book, starting with the content warnings at the very beginning. I really appreciate the author for warning us as readers about the subject of intense anxiety present in the book; it very much helped prepare me for the journey.
Felix is a great main character. Being in his head felt very familiar. He's doing his best without any real answers and is just trying to keep it all together. The realistic exploration of anxiety and the way it influenced Felix's thoughts and actions really clicked with me and I saw myself in him. I adored his relationship with his younger brother, Nick, too. It was very sweet the way he looked after him. His relationship with his best friend Lois took longer to grow on me. At first she annoyed me but I felt she got a bit more understanding as the book went on and by the end I was rooting for them both.
The overarching mystery was nicely done. I was surprised at how dark and graphic it got. I wish it could've been a slower sort of mystery but I was surprised at what was really going on, barring one specific person which I guessed from the vibes I was getting from them and then promptly second guessed myself. I've seen a similar sort of magic system in a book before, and it was no less horrifying here than it was there, which was very fun and added to the tension.
I'm going to put this next bit rather bluntly. The book was too short for all that happened, and I say this with the certainty that I felt when I thought it was trying to set up a series and had to check twice from my disbelief that it wasn't. I understand that a time limit builds tension, but approximately 25% from the end I realised that there wouldn't be enough time for the next arc to happen. The ending felt rushed and I had to read the last few chapters twice because I missed what happened. If this book were even 100 pages longer or perhaps split into 2 books with enough time devoted to each section, I would have probably felt more satisfied. That being said, I did find the waiting unbearable despite how fast the book went, so it didn't do too badly in that regard.
To end on a more positive note, while I was reading I found myself on several occasions wishing I could watch it as a movie. The descriptions and the way everything was set out really had me imagining it as if it were already a movie.
big thanks to netgalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed many aspects of this book, starting with the content warnings at the very beginning. I really appreciate the author for warning us as readers about the subject of intense anxiety present in the book; it very much helped prepare me for the journey.
Felix is a great main character. Being in his head felt very familiar. He's doing his best without any real answers and is just trying to keep it all together. The realistic exploration of anxiety and the way it influenced Felix's thoughts and actions really clicked with me and I saw myself in him. I adored his relationship with his younger brother, Nick, too. It was very sweet the way he looked after him. His relationship with his best friend Lois took longer to grow on me. At first she annoyed me but I felt she got a bit more understanding as the book went on and by the end I was rooting for them both.
The overarching mystery was nicely done. I was surprised at how dark and graphic it got. I wish it could've been a slower sort of mystery but I was surprised at what was really going on, barring one specific person which I guessed from the vibes I was getting from them and then promptly second guessed myself. I've seen a similar sort of magic system in a book before, and it was no less horrifying here than it was there, which was very fun and added to the tension.
I'm going to put this next bit rather bluntly. The book was too short for all that happened, and I say this with the certainty that I felt when I thought it was trying to set up a series and had to check twice from my disbelief that it wasn't. I understand that a time limit builds tension, but approximately 25% from the end I realised that there wouldn't be enough time for the next arc to happen. The ending felt rushed and I had to read the last few chapters twice because I missed what happened. If this book were even 100 pages longer or perhaps split into 2 books with enough time devoted to each section, I would have probably felt more satisfied. That being said, I did find the waiting unbearable despite how fast the book went, so it didn't do too badly in that regard.
To end on a more positive note, while I was reading I found myself on several occasions wishing I could watch it as a movie. The descriptions and the way everything was set out really had me imagining it as if it were already a movie.
big thanks to netgalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!