Scan barcode
A review by missbreathing
Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I give this one 4⭐️. Some thoughts:
HEX expertly blends paranormal horror with psychological horror, focusing as much on the witch as on the claustrophobia of being stuck in one place and the insidiousness of mob mentality. The idea of a haunted town is scary enough, but little by little the reader is introduced to more human sources of horror. The author conjures an inescapable sense of dread, and guides us unflinchingly towards the haunting climax.
This is a translation from Dutch, and, as a result, it’s easy to feel unmoored and confused. The story is also a bit dated in its use of technology (it was published in 2013). And, apparently, the original story is set in a small Dutch town rather than in upstate New York and has a completely different ending (good luck finding it online, though!). This made sense, since the upstate New York setting feels a bit incongruous with the story. However, the ending of this version is pretty great; it feels earned and unavoidable.
Honestly, this might be a new horror favorite! I’d recommend it to fans of the genre.
HEX expertly blends paranormal horror with psychological horror, focusing as much on the witch as on the claustrophobia of being stuck in one place and the insidiousness of mob mentality. The idea of a haunted town is scary enough, but little by little the reader is introduced to more human sources of horror. The author conjures an inescapable sense of dread, and guides us unflinchingly towards the haunting climax.
This is a translation from Dutch, and, as a result, it’s easy to feel unmoored and confused. The story is also a bit dated in its use of technology (it was published in 2013). And, apparently, the original story is set in a small Dutch town rather than in upstate New York and has a completely different ending (good luck finding it online, though!). This made sense, since the upstate New York setting feels a bit incongruous with the story. However, the ending of this version is pretty great; it feels earned and unavoidable.
Honestly, this might be a new horror favorite! I’d recommend it to fans of the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Islamophobia