A review by chewie_the_mouse
Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham

dark tense medium-paced

5.0

First off, I have to say that I absolutely adored this book! The year isn't over yet, but I'm confident that this one will be making my Top 10 list. Yes, it's that good.

I want to suggest that, if at all possible, please do yourself a favor and start reading at page 1, without reading any sort of summary or book description first. I think you'll enjoy the story even more if you have no idea what's coming. The story's events were still a bit of a surprise, but I would have been full-on shocked and stunned if I hadn't read the description first.

Now, on to why I loved "Winterset Hollow" so much:

1. It's different. I read a lot of books, so when I come across one that really strikes me as something I haven't experienced before, I take notice. While this book has some familiar fantasy and magical realism elements, the direction and nature of the story itself is truly unique. When an author manages to surprise me like this, I'm always impressed.

2. The actual story is very good. If you haven't already read the description, I'll provide the spoiler-free version: A young man and his friends visit the island home of the author of a favorite book. Many things happen during this visit, and they will surprise even if you have read a more detailed summary. They will THRILL you if you go in blind.

3. The characters were very well-written. I felt like I really knew all of the major ones by the time the story ended. Eamon, the main character, is provided with an incredibly detailed psychological profile. Enough is shared about everyone else who matters to the plot that the reader understands each of them and their motivations. I felt so connected that I'd love to read a follow-up book (or even a short story) about what happened after the novel ended.

4. The writing itself was impressive! I don't just mean that the book was free of typos and grammatical errors. It was, but that is to be expected. I mean that the actual writing style was amazing. This book was beautifully written, with a lyrical quality evocative of Markus Zusak. Don't worry...the writing style never bogs down or takes away from the flow of the story in any way. It's just perfect!

Thank you, Jonathan Edward Durham, for writing such a fantastic book. This one will have a home in my permanent collection, and I eagerly await whatever you come up with next.

Five out of five chunks of my absolutely favorite sharp cheddar!