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carrieat's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this. The idea behind it is my kind of book. I’m not sure if it was the fact it took me 2 months to finish or if it was because I wasn’t enjoying it that it too so long. I also feel it could have been about 25% shorter than it was.
I didn’t mind Madaline’s character but really struggled with Catlin’s self centred whining.
The book is very beautiful in parts but when you struggle to be interested in a main characters it overshadows this.
It was ok but not good, certainly not great and defiantly not a favourite read.
Also completely ruined it when Buttons got dragged into it. The Fox was more than enough.
I didn’t mind Madaline’s character but really struggled with Catlin’s self centred whining.
The book is very beautiful in parts but when you struggle to be interested in a main characters it overshadows this.
It was ok but not good, certainly not great and defiantly not a favourite read.
Also completely ruined it when Buttons got dragged into it. The Fox was more than enough.
shivvyslibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hannahraymond's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stilesstilinksi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amotisse's review against another edition
5.0
This was deliciously dark and hauntingly beautiful! Thought provoking, edgy, descriptive writing.
A cautionary tale, coming of age, trust your intuition, don't fight your soul purpose kind of story.
Simply wonderful.
A cautionary tale, coming of age, trust your intuition, don't fight your soul purpose kind of story.
Simply wonderful.
mattressy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
bookishly_sam126's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure how to rate this book or even review it. What I do know is I have the second one on my tbr pile for this year.
Overall the story itself was really interesting, dark and twisty in places and somewhat confusing. If you can get past the writing style, the jumping from one scenario to another very quickly then I think you will find this an enjoyable read
Overall the story itself was really interesting, dark and twisty in places and somewhat confusing. If you can get past the writing style, the jumping from one scenario to another very quickly then I think you will find this an enjoyable read
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
Madeline and Catlin find their new home, Ballyfrann, a bit...well...odd. It's full of Collinses for a start, one family grown out of all recognition. There's the bodies that keep turning up – birds, foxes – and the strange feeling of warmth in the middle of winter, and Mamó, their new stepfather's cousin, with her herbs and potions. And, of course, there's the missing girls; teenagers have gone missing in Ballyfrann for many years. But that won't happen to Madeline or Catlin, of course. They're perfectly safe...
An atmospheric, slightly terrifying read. The language is amazing, lyrical sentences that lull you into thinking nothing bad can possibly happen – usually immediately followed by something bad happening. The increasing fear as things start to go wrong will ensure you can't put this one down. Deirdre has captured perfectly the relationship between siblings, sometimes prickly, sometimes supportive, always there for each other. I'd love to meet Mamó for real, assuming I could get her to answer my questions!
A great, chilling read.
Receiving a proof did not affect my review in any way.
"What will your Galway boyfriend be called?" I ask.
"Something pure Galway like Peadar or Ultan," she says.
"Mine will be called Fenian," I tell her. "Or maybe Mountain. Mountain Boyfriend O'Galway."
"That's good," she says.
I tell her that I know. We make her bed and then we go into my room and make mine. I quite like making beds. When you're putting the duvet cover on you can pretend to be a ghost. Our rooms are almost identical, mirror images, only with different tapestries and views. Every room in Brian's castle has a view. It's a bit much, really. All that landscape.
"Ultan will be able to drive a tractor," Catlin says, as though this is an extremely desirable quality in a man.
Which it may well be. We're in the country. There are different rules.
"My one will have ROAD FRONTAGE," I tell her, "and feed abandoned baby lambs by the hearth. With his big Galway hands." I think I've won.
"Ah. Mountain sounds like a sweetheart," she says. "Ultan will have a shock of bright red curls."
"Mountain will have straw instead of hair. Like a thatched cottage."
"That is incredibly Galway of him," she says, and I can tell that she's impressed.
An atmospheric, slightly terrifying read. The language is amazing, lyrical sentences that lull you into thinking nothing bad can possibly happen – usually immediately followed by something bad happening. The increasing fear as things start to go wrong will ensure you can't put this one down. Deirdre has captured perfectly the relationship between siblings, sometimes prickly, sometimes supportive, always there for each other. I'd love to meet Mamó for real, assuming I could get her to answer my questions!
A great, chilling read.
Receiving a proof did not affect my review in any way.
"What will your Galway boyfriend be called?" I ask.
"Something pure Galway like Peadar or Ultan," she says.
"Mine will be called Fenian," I tell her. "Or maybe Mountain. Mountain Boyfriend O'Galway."
"That's good," she says.
I tell her that I know. We make her bed and then we go into my room and make mine. I quite like making beds. When you're putting the duvet cover on you can pretend to be a ghost. Our rooms are almost identical, mirror images, only with different tapestries and views. Every room in Brian's castle has a view. It's a bit much, really. All that landscape.
"Ultan will be able to drive a tractor," Catlin says, as though this is an extremely desirable quality in a man.
Which it may well be. We're in the country. There are different rules.
"My one will have ROAD FRONTAGE," I tell her, "and feed abandoned baby lambs by the hearth. With his big Galway hands." I think I've won.
"Ah. Mountain sounds like a sweetheart," she says. "Ultan will have a shock of bright red curls."
"Mountain will have straw instead of hair. Like a thatched cottage."
"That is incredibly Galway of him," she says, and I can tell that she's impressed.