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jessthanthree's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Classism
blewballoon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There is a lot of unpleasantness in this story. Most of the characters are terrible people, the atmosphere is bleak, and there's a sense of isolation for the main character as she deals with a lot of difficulties alone. I did like her, she's smart and she fights back as hard as she can when faced with any kind of attack, mental or physical. If it weren't for her strength of spirit, the book would have been rough to get through. I didn't care for the romance, though. Overall, not as appealing as Rebecca but it does build a strong sense of atmosphere and the prose is well done. Bit of unfortunate implication for the albino person to be evil, even with the main character trying to remind herself not to be creeped out by his appearance before he's revealed as the villain
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty
paperknotbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Atmospheric.
There was some predictability to evolution of the plot, but it doesn’t take away from the story at all. When we first met Joss, I was hoping Mary’s impressions of him would be a misunderstanding.
The loss of a star was mostly thanks to the over-the-top drawing Mary happens upon, along with the villain’s confession. I just found myself rolling my eyes by this point.
There was some predictability to evolution of the plot, but it doesn’t take away from the story at all. When we first met Joss, I was hoping Mary’s impressions of him would be a misunderstanding.
The loss of a star was mostly thanks to the over-the-top drawing Mary happens upon, along with the villain’s confession. I just found myself rolling my eyes by this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Blood
robynreads23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
phantomgecko's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Dark, mysterious, upsetting. The twist the albino being the kingpin was predictable, but that's not a criticism. All the paganism stuff seemed really rushed, though, so Francis's motivations weren't exactly fleshed out. Like, I knew he was behind things, but I still don't really know why.
My biggest complaint, tbh, was the narrator of the audiobook was a guy. I never felt connected to Mary because the voice he gave her was ridiculous. idk why a novel with a female protagonist was narrated thus, but oh well.
All in all, it's no Rebecca but still alright.
My biggest complaint, tbh, was the narrator of the audiobook was a guy. I never felt connected to Mary because the voice he gave her was ridiculous. idk why a novel with a female protagonist was narrated thus, but oh well.
All in all, it's no Rebecca but still alright.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Domestic abuse
yolanda_h's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
electrogrey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not as good as 'Rebecca' but definitely gets better as the story progresses. Last 5/10 chapters I was unable to put the book down, lots of plot twists as well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Minor: Alcoholism
below_average_baker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It managed to be a gripping story while also making me hate every single character. Quite impressive really
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Daphne Du Maurier knows how to write settings that leap off the page and stories that fill the reader with dread. I also learned so much, about the moors and landscape (like what tors are), along with some of the goings-on of the time that I knew nothing about prior to reading this book (like what wreckers are) . While I didn’t love this one as much as Rebecca, due to some problematic characterizations, it was still a page turner and very fitting within the du Maurier style that I have come to expect. Plus, it was neat to read a historical fiction book written by an author from a different era than both the time it’s set and our present time (written in the late 1930s, but book set in the 19th century).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Sexual harassment
mairaculi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
3.0
I didn't love it. It's a very atmospheric novel and I liked the setting on the moors. It was also engaging and never boring.
But it felt a bit staged. I got this 'story by recipe' feeling from this book: Take all your ingredients (strong female lead, rough nature setting, dark November night, a mysterious old house, bad guys, handsome stranger,...) mix them together and your sure to end up with a great story. But it didn't work out for me, it was too obvious.
What didn't help was that I didn't get Mary's character. Her 'I don't need a man' attitude didn't go well with her 'I can't because I'm a woman' mindset and what especially irked me was the 'he kissed me once therefore I now belong to him' logic - not romantic to me. The love story was not convincing. Her love interest didn't feel at all like the 'mysterious stranger' I was promised. The mystery itself also didn't feel very mysterious to me and while I didn't see it coming I was not surprised but rather disappointed with the twist at the end, especially with how stereotypical the character in question had been portrayed.
But it felt a bit staged. I got this 'story by recipe' feeling from this book: Take all your ingredients (strong female lead, rough nature setting, dark November night, a mysterious old house, bad guys, handsome stranger,...) mix them together and your sure to end up with a great story. But it didn't work out for me, it was too obvious.
What didn't help was that I didn't get Mary's character. Her 'I don't need a man' attitude didn't go well with her 'I can't because I'm a woman' mindset and what especially irked me was the 'he kissed me once therefore I now belong to him' logic - not romantic to me. The love story was not convincing. Her love interest didn't feel at all like the 'mysterious stranger' I was promised. The mystery itself also didn't feel very mysterious to me and while I didn't see it coming I was not surprised but rather disappointed with the twist at the end, especially with how stereotypical the character in question had been portrayed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder