Take a photo of a barcode or cover
I don't really want to put a rating on this because everyone's tastes vary. This is my second Adam Nevill book that I've read that I wasn't terribly impressed with. I think the concept is awesome, and I was really intrigued by it. However, the 500+ page count could have used significant fat-trimming to make it a more reasonable 300-ish page horror book.
I say this because while I appreciate the prose immensely, I felt that there was so much fluff regarding descriptions of rooms, people, and things. It would make sense if the descriptions enhanced the plot, but they really don't. By the time I got to the climax, I was actually kind of bored, and everything before that didn't have much of a payoff. The ending was an incredible let-down. Open the spoiler if you want to know more, but ye have been warned...
And the child? Kyle just walked out of the room and didn't speak a word to the child he wanted to save? I'm so confused. He was more worried about whether he'd get arrested. I kinda understand why he'd be afraid of being arrested, but there are literal witnesses to the whole reason he was there. And the child! You know what would have been cool? Leaving it up to the reader whether Katherine's exchange happened before he killed Chet.
All of this comes after an incredibly LONG info dump from Max when Kyle is at his house and after Kyle's visit to Antwerp to view these cursed paintings. Honestly? I have NO idea what transpired either with Max's monologue, or the dull painting reveal. I was excited to read the part with the paintings because of the way it was described as shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Ultimately, the scene was severely lacking and wasn't scary in the slightest.
I do think the concept was a good one, it was just not executed well in my opinion.
I say this because while I appreciate the prose immensely, I felt that there was so much fluff regarding descriptions of rooms, people, and things. It would make sense if the descriptions enhanced the plot, but they really don't. By the time I got to the climax, I was actually kind of bored, and everything before that didn't have much of a payoff. The ending was an incredible let-down. Open the spoiler if you want to know more, but ye have been warned...
Spoiler
So, the ending was abrupt. My eyes skipped over a key sentence that literally killed Jed. Later on, there was a heavily cloaked sentence that killed Max. MAX. The main person behind the whole charade. He was gone in subtext.And the child? Kyle just walked out of the room and didn't speak a word to the child he wanted to save? I'm so confused. He was more worried about whether he'd get arrested. I kinda understand why he'd be afraid of being arrested, but there are literal witnesses to the whole reason he was there. And the child! You know what would have been cool? Leaving it up to the reader whether Katherine's exchange happened before he killed Chet.
All of this comes after an incredibly LONG info dump from Max when Kyle is at his house and after Kyle's visit to Antwerp to view these cursed paintings. Honestly? I have NO idea what transpired either with Max's monologue, or the dull painting reveal. I was excited to read the part with the paintings because of the way it was described as shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Ultimately, the scene was severely lacking and wasn't scary in the slightest.
I do think the concept was a good one, it was just not executed well in my opinion.