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jos_haunted_library's Reviews (176)
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thirst is a gripping folk horror novel, appropriate for adults and teens alike. The story is told by the perspective of a teenage boy named Gorse who lives in Maimsbury, a village that seems to be a perfect place but that hides a secret or two 👀
I really enjoyed how Simpson weaved a compelling dark story with folklore and thoughtful storytelling: small town, botanical names, creepy children’s songs, cautionary/moral compass tales. What else would you need for getting into the creepy decaying Autumnal season? Perhaps…sacrifices?🩸 say less 👀
I was hooked from the beginning and truly enjoyed the book as a whole, it gave me all the creepy feelings as it was so immersive and left me on edge while I was reading it. I would say I would have loved to get to know the village residents a bit better as I feel like more secrets could be uncovered, that being said it was a solid ending that did not disappoint me.
This book was so up my alley and had so many elements that I love, anyone who knows me knows I cannot resist an eerie creepy forest and a bloody twisted tale 👻 🌲 🩸
As this is a horror book, even if appropriate for younger readers, I would advise to check trigger warnings as some themes might cause discomfort and/or distress.
I really enjoyed how Simpson weaved a compelling dark story with folklore and thoughtful storytelling: small town, botanical names, creepy children’s songs, cautionary/moral compass tales. What else would you need for getting into the creepy decaying Autumnal season? Perhaps…sacrifices?🩸 say less 👀
I was hooked from the beginning and truly enjoyed the book as a whole, it gave me all the creepy feelings as it was so immersive and left me on edge while I was reading it. I would say I would have loved to get to know the village residents a bit better as I feel like more secrets could be uncovered, that being said it was a solid ending that did not disappoint me.
This book was so up my alley and had so many elements that I love, anyone who knows me knows I cannot resist an eerie creepy forest and a bloody twisted tale 👻 🌲 🩸
As this is a horror book, even if appropriate for younger readers, I would advise to check trigger warnings as some themes might cause discomfort and/or distress.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
A thrilling atmospheric YA dark academy with a (big) dash of obsession.
When I heard about this book I loved the premise: a group of eight ambitious writing students stuck in a haunting mansion in the middle of nowhere competing in one of the most prestigious programs. One opportunity to change the life of one of them. One unhinged teacher, Meredith Graham, who is a famously known (for better or worse) writer, actress and filmmaker. Where could things go wrong am I right? Turns out things do start to slowly go wrong.
The book is told in two POVs by two of the students, Effy and Arlo, who are no strangers to the dramatic and have had their fair share of trauma. I did enjoy how both of them were portrayed and how they grew through the story.
There is just this eerie feeling through out the book which makes you feel like you don't know when the shoe will drop. The reality of the characters sometimes gets blurred with the paranoia they experience and you start to question things.
Niven has an incredible and unique way to transport us to the setting of the book, the writing is immersive and you can almost smell the sea salt water and the mossy scents in the air and hear the waves battering the cliffs nearby.
This is a slow burn thriller, character driven, that will keep you guessing through the unhinged wild ride that is When We Were Monsters.
As a dark academy and thriller lover I enjoyed this book, although I felt like some parts were too slow to develop and made me have to consciously push through to stay engaged, particularly during the first half of the book as it sets the backstory for the characters and the mood.
Overall, a great book perfect for the start of Autumn :)
When I heard about this book I loved the premise: a group of eight ambitious writing students stuck in a haunting mansion in the middle of nowhere competing in one of the most prestigious programs. One opportunity to change the life of one of them. One unhinged teacher, Meredith Graham, who is a famously known (for better or worse) writer, actress and filmmaker. Where could things go wrong am I right? Turns out things do start to slowly go wrong.
The book is told in two POVs by two of the students, Effy and Arlo, who are no strangers to the dramatic and have had their fair share of trauma. I did enjoy how both of them were portrayed and how they grew through the story.
There is just this eerie feeling through out the book which makes you feel like you don't know when the shoe will drop. The reality of the characters sometimes gets blurred with the paranoia they experience and you start to question things.
Niven has an incredible and unique way to transport us to the setting of the book, the writing is immersive and you can almost smell the sea salt water and the mossy scents in the air and hear the waves battering the cliffs nearby.
This is a slow burn thriller, character driven, that will keep you guessing through the unhinged wild ride that is When We Were Monsters.
As a dark academy and thriller lover I enjoyed this book, although I felt like some parts were too slow to develop and made me have to consciously push through to stay engaged, particularly during the first half of the book as it sets the backstory for the characters and the mood.
Overall, a great book perfect for the start of Autumn :)
medium-paced
Sometimes in life a book really hits you in unexpected ways. I was hoping for a cosy book and somehow I ended up crying and feeling a warm feeling on my chest. It is a book about grief, loss, regrets but also healing and acceptance. I will always have a soft spot for books that deal with grief, especially as tenderly as this one does. It is beautifully written and translated and the way it weaves different stories with music and books is so endearing.
🌸
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop only appears during cherry blossom season, and their visitors find it precisely when they need it (even though they won’t know it) and by finding a magical cherry blossom tree. There are four stories, with interludes between them, where different visitors find the bookshop and their unique hosts: a magical cat named Kobako 🐱 and a girl named Kozue.
Other books that I know and love are also mentioned in this book and it made me really happy in the way they were included.
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop is a book that will stay with me for a while.
🌸
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop only appears during cherry blossom season, and their visitors find it precisely when they need it (even though they won’t know it) and by finding a magical cherry blossom tree. There are four stories, with interludes between them, where different visitors find the bookshop and their unique hosts: a magical cat named Kobako 🐱 and a girl named Kozue.
Other books that I know and love are also mentioned in this book and it made me really happy in the way they were included.
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop is a book that will stay with me for a while.
