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Search tags: dark-and-twisty
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review 2020-09-05 01:18
THE HOLLOW PLACES BY: T. KINGFISHER
The Hollow Places - T. Kingfisher

I think this book will stay with me for awhile, I'm afraid the willows have taken root. I know many people draw the obvious parallels with Lovecraft, but for me this one also had some vibes that brought up touchstones from The Mist (Stephen King) and a smidge of Pan's Labyrinth. Definitely that dark otherworldliness but also the religious and/or mythical undertones throughout.

 

Sometimes the vastness and imagination that goes into multiverses can be overwhelming but I thought this was beautifully balanced by the characters, with their lightness and their dark humor and being so down-to-earth (which is funny, all things considered!). Carrot and Simon, and even Uncle Earl help even things out and brought levity to a quagmire of disturbing otherness.

 

The disquieting undertones all throughout was classic horror that I greatly appreciate. It's like a feeling you get that something is behind you and that paralyzing moment where you're deciding whether to look or not, to quickly escape or rationalize it away. In willow world or not, that feeling stays with you throughout the story and it's fabulously unsettling. On the flip side the vivid picture painted with some of the more in your face creepy situations, like the bus or Sturdivant, was grotesquely clear and so easily visualized.

I think my favorite part of all though was the last part in the Museum. It brought a whole new heartwarming element to the tale that I wasn't expecting. For lack of a better term, there really is no place like home, and the idea that your home might feel that way about you too is quite touching. All in all this was a fast paced enthralling read and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

 

I received an arc of this book from Gallery Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

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review 2020-07-19 14:43
HIS & HERS BY: ALICE FEENEY
His & Hers - Alice Feeney

One thing I can say 100% this book kept me guessing until the very end! I really enjoyed the shifting narrators, even though they were rather unlikable at times. This story is full of very flawed people but that was part of the macabre charm to this particular novel. This ended up being a lot darker than I initially anticipated but the twists and turns and fast pace kept me flying through the pages. I can't say I was real invested in the characters as they could be hard to root for but I was definitely way into solving this mystery. Every time I thought I had it figured out something or someone came along and changed the game.The flashes of past intermixed with the present to form the full picture from varying perspectives was really great. I quite liked the addition of the killer's POV along with Anna and Jack's. I can say there is a few different scenarios that will be triggering for some readers so be aware that this book can be disturbing and it isn't for the faint of heart. All in all a solid suspense/mystery for me and I definitely want to check out more from this author.

 

I received an arc of this book from Flatiron Books and this is my honest review.

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review 2020-07-19 14:36
NOS4A2 BY: JOE HILL
NOS4A2 - Joe Hill

I finally read my first Joe Hill book! I've been wanting to for some time now. I could definitely see the family resemblance, hard to miss even without all the many nods at his dad's numerous works. I don't want to compare the two, but one thing I found a little lacking here was something that King novels almost always deliver on, I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I think that seemingly little thing could have taken this book to the next level, but honestly I still enjoyed the story without that.

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review 2020-02-22 20:51
YOU ARE NOT ALONE BY GREER HENDRICKS & SARAH PEKKANEN
You Are Not Alone - Greer Hendricks,Sarah Pekkanen

I was excited to get an arc of this book. I've read this dynamic duo's previous two books, Anonymous Girl & The Wife Between Us, and really enjoyed them. You Are Not Alone was very on brand for them. If you enjoyed one or both of their previous titles I'm confident this is right up your alley too.

 

I've learned to go into these stories suspicious of everyone, trying to eye details that might be telling later, hoping to get a jump on at least one of the inevitable twists. Try as I might they still manage to surprise me and I love that about these authors! You may figure out a few things on your own along the way but they seem to always have at least one ace up their sleeve that will rock you.

 

I read most of this book in one sitting. It is so absorbing. You can't help but keep breezing through the pages eager to find out what will happen next. I don't want to give any spoilery details, which is especially hard to do with this one. I will say I extra loved the darker undercurrent that connected all these ladies. I look forward to whatever these two come up with next!

 

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press and this is my honest review.

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review 2020-01-30 16:26
RUTHLESS GODS BY: EMILY A. DUNCAN
Ruthless Gods - Emily A. Duncan

Wow. This book was a Godsdamned JOURNEY. The ending. Oh my gods THAT ENDING.

 

 

There were times when I wasn't sure we'd make it there, time would drag and then it would speed up and go by in a blink. If Malachiasz is chaos then this book is like living in his mind. It is chaotic and pointed at the same time. Those points are sharp though and they will exact their pound of flesh. I feel like I could read this book thousands of times and still not fully grasp everything, which can be maddening at times, but is weirdly quite fitting for this story.

 

 

This was probably even more dark and gritty and twisty than I expected. I honestly have no clue how all of this will end but I'm dying to see what happens next! I definitely need to follow this one up with something light and fluffy. Give me comfort because I'm shook.

 

 

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.

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