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A review by mercuric_oxide
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I picked up this book after seeing so many glowing reviews and its high rating on Goodreads, but it did not live up to the hype. While the writing style and atmosphere were engaging at first, the story quickly became overwhelming. There were too many characters to keep track of, which made following the narrative confusing. The frequent shifts in perspective only added to the chaos and felt more like an attempt to stir up unnecessary drama rather than build a strong mystery.
As the plot unfolded, it started to lose direction. I kept waiting for a moment that would tie everything together or a twist that would justify the slow pacing, but the ending was underwhelming and predictable. What was marketed as a suspenseful mystery felt more like a long and meandering piece of historical fiction. It had a promising premise, but the execution fell short. Ultimately, it left me feeling disappointed and ready to move on to something more cohesive and impactful.
A. Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐: Minimal suspense, twists felt forced or clichéd.
B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Immersive atmosphere, writing was polished and added tension.
C. Character Development
⭐⭐: Characters were underdeveloped, with unclear motivations.
D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.
E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐: The resolution felt rushed or unsatisfying.
F. Emotional Impact
⭐: No emotional connection; the story felt flat.
As the plot unfolded, it started to lose direction. I kept waiting for a moment that would tie everything together or a twist that would justify the slow pacing, but the ending was underwhelming and predictable. What was marketed as a suspenseful mystery felt more like a long and meandering piece of historical fiction. It had a promising premise, but the execution fell short. Ultimately, it left me feeling disappointed and ready to move on to something more cohesive and impactful.
A. Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐: Minimal suspense, twists felt forced or clichéd.
B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Immersive atmosphere, writing was polished and added tension.
C. Character Development
⭐⭐: Characters were underdeveloped, with unclear motivations.
D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.
E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐: The resolution felt rushed or unsatisfying.
F. Emotional Impact
⭐: No emotional connection; the story felt flat.