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A review by lene_kretzsch
Ashthorne by April Yates
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A generous 2 stars.
I did so want to like this sapphic Gothic horror novel set shortly after WWI but the amateurish execution let me down at every turn. Flat characters, jerky, uneven pacing (slow beginning and a ludicrously breakneck finish), and the author's seeming inability to know when to flesh out a scene and when to cut it short, all led to a most unsatisfying tale. A shame because there are the bones of a very good horror novel here and given more time, more stringent editing, and perhaps a few more critical eyes on the book, this could have been excellent. Yates has an interesting voice and some great ideas so I'll look out for more work by her but, sadly, this was a disappointment.
I did so want to like this sapphic Gothic horror novel set shortly after WWI but the amateurish execution let me down at every turn. Flat characters, jerky, uneven pacing (slow beginning and a ludicrously breakneck finish), and the author's seeming inability to know when to flesh out a scene and when to cut it short, all led to a most unsatisfying tale. A shame because there are the bones of a very good horror novel here and given more time, more stringent editing, and perhaps a few more critical eyes on the book, this could have been excellent. Yates has an interesting voice and some great ideas so I'll look out for more work by her but, sadly, this was a disappointment.