A review by cozysquib
Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates

2.0

Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates

I am not a spooky girlie.

In the world of horror lovers and suspense addicts, I'm over here cowering under a Hello Kitty blanket.

So, naturally, I picked up a horror book! Seems logical...

I was already spooked by 15% in. Yay me. So brave. A brave little toaster.

That being said, I wouldn't say this book hooked me beyond the spook factor. It struggled to keep my interest when it came to the actual plot. I can't tell if it was the story itself or a personal misalignment, but I was fighting to stay invested. The idea was cool, the setting had a lot of eerie vibes, but once I realized I could not be bothered to care about the winery or MC’s personal journey, the plot struggled.

I called it quits around 60%. At a certain point, spooky stuff was happening fast enough that I could kind of coast along, clutching my little blanket and yelling at the main character to get the eff out of the haunted house already. But suspense alone can only drag a girl so far without an emotional hook.

For me, this was a read-during-the-day kind of book. Maybe one day I will grow a pair and start reading horror before bed. But today is not that day. Future me might not be that girl either 😂. I would like to keep my soul tucked safely inside my body and my fear of dark corners at a reasonable level, thank you.

From a baby to other horror newbies:

- The suspense and atmosphere were solid and I had a good time in small doses

- The plot and character motivations were meh at best and could not hold my attention

I think if you are already a horror lover, this might land better. But if your tastes are anything like mine, maybe start somewhere else if you want your first horror dip to really stick the landing.