Reviews

The Asylum by John Harwood

hayleysf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

geirlover33's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition

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2.0

Despite it being one of my least favorite literary plots, I seem to keep reading about people being wrongly submitted to mental asylums. I need to stop. It's too frustrating and claustrophobic for me. Being confined to this particular asylum with the feeble Georgina/Lucy was no fun at all. It could have been, in a frustrating and claustrophobic way, but the story was too predictable and the villains too cartoonish. This annoyed me to the point where I was actually hoping the villains would get away with their evil plan. A big chunk of the novel consists of letters, another literary device I dislike. Nobody writes entire pages of dialogue! Not even in the 19th century!

That said, I'm sure for lovers of Victorian Gothic who don't have a beef with imprisoned heroines this will be a treat. Overall the writing is good and everything (sort of) comes together at the end.

efabri123's review against another edition

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2.0

Better than The Seance.

ceebs's review against another edition

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3.0

I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn’t already read Fingersmith, which is leagues better.

blake55's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

leksikality's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.5

I am so utterly perplexed by this book. I listened to the ending 3 times and it still doesn't make sense.

Rosalyn Landor is a fantastic reader, though. She's the only redeemable thing about this book.

aggielexi's review against another edition

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1.0

Slow, mildly interesting, confusing, slow. That's the pace of the book. The blurb sounds interesting, it's why I picked it up, but I fully regret that decision now.

The plot is flawed, the characters are annoying and not a single one of them is a 'strong' character. The lesbian make out? Why? Oh wait...it's a male author. I see.

Nothing is shocking, there is no suspense. Would not recommend.

barmyjen's review against another edition

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dark 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? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

danahuff's review against another edition

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2.0

This one didn't do it for me. I liked [b:The Ghost Writer|123031|The Ghost Writer|John Harwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442351970l/123031._SY75_.jpg|1332325]. If it was meant to be a parody of melodramatic Victorian fiction, then it was successful, but I'm afraid that it is meant to be sincere. It had a straight-up Scooby Doo ending.