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sinsandscares 's review for:
Stolen Tongues
by Felix Blackwell
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The prologue of Stolen Tongues is nothing short of perfection. It’s chilling, gripping, and packed with the kind of terror that raises the hairs on the back of your neck. If the book had ended there as a short story, it would have been an easy 5/5 stars for me. But as I kept reading, my enthusiasm began to wane.
The dark, snowy atmosphere of the cabin felt wonderfully immersive at first, setting the perfect stage for creeping dread. Unfortunately, once Felix and Faye left the cabin, the story lost much of its spark. What started as a gripping horror tale turned repetitive, and the scares that had me hooked in the beginning eventually wore off.
Felix and Faye’s characterization left much to be desired. While there were glimpses of depth, such as Faye’s protective instincts, the constant focus on the creature exploiting her supposed motherly nature felt forced and overdone. They don’t have children, and Faye mentions wanting a child maybe once, making this recurring theme feel unearned and disconnected. By the third or fourth mention, I was ready to give up entirely.
I listened to this on audiobook through Libby, narrated by J.S. Arquin. While I can imagine their voice working well for lighter genres like sci-fi or comedy, it didn’t quite match the eerie, atmospheric tone needed for horror. Combined with the story’s repetitiveness, the narration made this a less enjoyable experience overall.
Then there’s the ending. After all the buildup, I was hoping for a climactic, spine-tingling resolution, but it fell flat and left me unsatisfied.
It’s disappointing to go from expecting a 5-star read to settling on 3/5, but Stolen Tongues still has its moments. Fans of atmospheric horror with a slow-burn pace may find more to love here than I did, but for me, the incredible prologue only highlighted the missed opportunities in the rest of the book.
The dark, snowy atmosphere of the cabin felt wonderfully immersive at first, setting the perfect stage for creeping dread. Unfortunately, once Felix and Faye left the cabin, the story lost much of its spark. What started as a gripping horror tale turned repetitive, and the scares that had me hooked in the beginning eventually wore off.
Felix and Faye’s characterization left much to be desired. While there were glimpses of depth, such as Faye’s protective instincts, the constant focus on the creature exploiting her supposed motherly nature felt forced and overdone. They don’t have children, and Faye mentions wanting a child maybe once, making this recurring theme feel unearned and disconnected. By the third or fourth mention, I was ready to give up entirely.
I listened to this on audiobook through Libby, narrated by J.S. Arquin. While I can imagine their voice working well for lighter genres like sci-fi or comedy, it didn’t quite match the eerie, atmospheric tone needed for horror. Combined with the story’s repetitiveness, the narration made this a less enjoyable experience overall.
Then there’s the ending. After all the buildup, I was hoping for a climactic, spine-tingling resolution, but it fell flat and left me unsatisfied.
It’s disappointing to go from expecting a 5-star read to settling on 3/5, but Stolen Tongues still has its moments. Fans of atmospheric horror with a slow-burn pace may find more to love here than I did, but for me, the incredible prologue only highlighted the missed opportunities in the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Grief
Minor: Torture, Violence