gareindeedreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is the novel that was made for bloggers.Why do I say that? It's simple. When you read something like this, it is the kind of novel that you don't want to shut up about. It's brilliant, scandalous, and one of the best gothic novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. When you read a book like this, it's like you don't want to go back to reality. I was actually scolding myself for reading this one during the week because I didn't want to go to work, I didn't want to sleep, and I didn't want to even put it down for the simplest tasks, like eating. Who needs food when you have a novel like this to devour?
The plot to this one is amazing. It's dark, violent, and brilliantly cinematic. Not only does it feature alternate perspectives, but the perspectives are in different timelines so you know something awful is brewing in the earlier timeframe and I had no idea what to expect or a clue as to how we got from the lives of the characters years ago to present time. The difference in present time versus the years ago were so beautifully done. The present time chapters are terrifying and violent and so creepy...the detail in them just worms its way into your brain and sends shivers down your spine. The contrast to the chapters of the past is fantastically effective as those chapters are also dark, but a little bit lighter on the suspense. What I loved about this was that there was something ominous and creepy brewing in the background and you can just feel it and you know something terrible is going to happen as you're falling down the rabbit hole with no escape whatsoever. Her ability to take this plot and combine it with such a ravishing atmosphere gave me butterflies in my stomach with excitement.
The characters in this novel are just purely illuminating. You don't even have to think as to who you're reading about because they are so well-written. Not only is this novel greatly character driven, but the prose that Kirk includes in her writing, especially for a suspense novel is just a step above the rest. Her writing is poetic and dazzling. My mind was on complete literary overload as I am reading this beautiful writing that features such a gothic plot with characters that just make every word explode off the pages. Even the smallest details in this novel shimmer and the plot twists in the second half are not only brilliant, but reading dynamite in my eyes.
Now, I could talk forever about the ending to this novel. I mean, everything leading up to it was purely amazing, but this ending just took it one step further. Yes, it's great to read a book that wraps up everything and gives you all of the explanation that you need, but I had high expectations with this one and was a little nervous to get to the ending as everything up to the ending was creepy, effective, and just the type of novel you can tell took a ton of time and effort to plot and keep creative. Kirk really thought outside of the box with this one and its imminent in every word, action, and character. The ending to this one just completely blew me away. Every expectation was exceeded and I couldn't believe the words I was reading as this one came to a bittersweet ending that left me dropping a few "f bombs" as I was reading...and yes, I said them out loud. There are some details in this ending that just completely made me uncomfortable in the best way possible with their vivid descriptions. I need to keep this review spoiler-free, but lets just say there is a character that is so crazy, she is shooting nails out of a nail gun into the air in anger and it was just the best thing I have read in a long time and my jaw dropped at that moment.
I can't say enough about this one. Every single aspect of it was brilliant. Kirk took an extraordinary plot, phenomenal characters, and a sparkling prose and completely blew my mind with this novel. I even had the pleasure of speaking with her as I added this novel to my Instagram story and I am so thankful that she let me unleash my feelings about what I was going through as I was reading it because the pacing with this novel was intense and I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. So, if you're looking for a gothic suspense novel that will take you in so many different directions and you're sick of these other thrillers that are a lot alike, get this book and lose yourself in it because that's what I did and I will never regret it. Shannon Kirk, I am ready for more of your work and I am so thankful for not only this novel, but the messages we exchanges as I was freaking out on Instagram.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
The plot to this one is amazing. It's dark, violent, and brilliantly cinematic. Not only does it feature alternate perspectives, but the perspectives are in different timelines so you know something awful is brewing in the earlier timeframe and I had no idea what to expect or a clue as to how we got from the lives of the characters years ago to present time. The difference in present time versus the years ago were so beautifully done. The present time chapters are terrifying and violent and so creepy...the detail in them just worms its way into your brain and sends shivers down your spine. The contrast to the chapters of the past is fantastically effective as those chapters are also dark, but a little bit lighter on the suspense. What I loved about this was that there was something ominous and creepy brewing in the background and you can just feel it and you know something terrible is going to happen as you're falling down the rabbit hole with no escape whatsoever. Her ability to take this plot and combine it with such a ravishing atmosphere gave me butterflies in my stomach with excitement.
The characters in this novel are just purely illuminating. You don't even have to think as to who you're reading about because they are so well-written. Not only is this novel greatly character driven, but the prose that Kirk includes in her writing, especially for a suspense novel is just a step above the rest. Her writing is poetic and dazzling. My mind was on complete literary overload as I am reading this beautiful writing that features such a gothic plot with characters that just make every word explode off the pages. Even the smallest details in this novel shimmer and the plot twists in the second half are not only brilliant, but reading dynamite in my eyes.
Now, I could talk forever about the ending to this novel. I mean, everything leading up to it was purely amazing, but this ending just took it one step further. Yes, it's great to read a book that wraps up everything and gives you all of the explanation that you need, but I had high expectations with this one and was a little nervous to get to the ending as everything up to the ending was creepy, effective, and just the type of novel you can tell took a ton of time and effort to plot and keep creative. Kirk really thought outside of the box with this one and its imminent in every word, action, and character. The ending to this one just completely blew me away. Every expectation was exceeded and I couldn't believe the words I was reading as this one came to a bittersweet ending that left me dropping a few "f bombs" as I was reading...and yes, I said them out loud. There are some details in this ending that just completely made me uncomfortable in the best way possible with their vivid descriptions. I need to keep this review spoiler-free, but lets just say there is a character that is so crazy, she is shooting nails out of a nail gun into the air in anger and it was just the best thing I have read in a long time and my jaw dropped at that moment.
I can't say enough about this one. Every single aspect of it was brilliant. Kirk took an extraordinary plot, phenomenal characters, and a sparkling prose and completely blew my mind with this novel. I even had the pleasure of speaking with her as I added this novel to my Instagram story and I am so thankful that she let me unleash my feelings about what I was going through as I was reading it because the pacing with this novel was intense and I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. So, if you're looking for a gothic suspense novel that will take you in so many different directions and you're sick of these other thrillers that are a lot alike, get this book and lose yourself in it because that's what I did and I will never regret it. Shannon Kirk, I am ready for more of your work and I am so thankful for not only this novel, but the messages we exchanges as I was freaking out on Instagram.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
zeldasayre's review against another edition
4.0
This has got to be the most insane story I’ve ever read and it was GOOD. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, the author throws in another shocking discovery. I loved this!
iblyth's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
kristy_k's review against another edition
3.0
This story is bananas.
It’s like every Poe story smushed into one. And I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
The timeline is a bit all over the place, present and two weeks ago (Mop) and two years ago (Aunty Liv) with many past memories interspersed. Surprisingly this works and the story feels cohesive even if it is jumping around. The writing is very atmospheric albeit a bit wordy. In fact, I think it would have made a great novella or short story as I felt a lot of scenes were too descriptive, the information over abundant.
Family secrets are revealed and psychopathy shines through in this crazy thriller with a touch of horror.
It’s like every Poe story smushed into one. And I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
The timeline is a bit all over the place, present and two weeks ago (Mop) and two years ago (Aunty Liv) with many past memories interspersed. Surprisingly this works and the story feels cohesive even if it is jumping around. The writing is very atmospheric albeit a bit wordy. In fact, I think it would have made a great novella or short story as I felt a lot of scenes were too descriptive, the information over abundant.
Family secrets are revealed and psychopathy shines through in this crazy thriller with a touch of horror.
b00knerd's review against another edition
4.0
What in the looney toons just happened. Hold on while I pick my brain up off the floor. I admit this was super odd yet awesome. Now at times you will be like “WHAT…THE...EFF?” and you might think to yourself I should just stop but DON’T. This book is worth reading till the end.
Let’s meet the characters, shall we?
Mary Olivia Pentecost AKA Mop- Johanna’s daughter
Johanna- the sister of Aunty Liv
Aunty Liv-Sister to Johanna and Aunt to Mop
This novel is told in Mop’s point of view and her Aunty Liv’s, mainly jumping around all over the place from past and present within a two-year time frame. The story mainly revolves around that two years ago Mop’s mother died at Liv’s estate. Apparently, a fire broke out and she jumped off a cliff into the water, but her body has ever been found. HMMM…?
Since this tragedy Aunty Liv has shut herself away from the world. To help her fully grieve, Mop decides it is time to reunite with Aunty Liv but what she finds is more disturbing than she can handle. What secrets lie in this family, what is hidden in the barn, in the rooms?
Wellllll this stirred the pot of crazy for me. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and who was the real crazy was of the bunch.
Let’s meet the characters, shall we?
Mary Olivia Pentecost AKA Mop- Johanna’s daughter
Johanna- the sister of Aunty Liv
Aunty Liv-Sister to Johanna and Aunt to Mop
This novel is told in Mop’s point of view and her Aunty Liv’s, mainly jumping around all over the place from past and present within a two-year time frame. The story mainly revolves around that two years ago Mop’s mother died at Liv’s estate. Apparently, a fire broke out and she jumped off a cliff into the water, but her body has ever been found. HMMM…?
Since this tragedy Aunty Liv has shut herself away from the world. To help her fully grieve, Mop decides it is time to reunite with Aunty Liv but what she finds is more disturbing than she can handle. What secrets lie in this family, what is hidden in the barn, in the rooms?
Wellllll this stirred the pot of crazy for me. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and who was the real crazy was of the bunch.
gareindeedreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is the novel that was made for bloggers.Why do I say that? It's simple. When you read something like this, it is the kind of novel that you don't want to shut up about. It's brilliant, scandalous, and one of the best gothic novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. When you read a book like this, it's like you don't want to go back to reality. I was actually scolding myself for reading this one during the week because I didn't want to go to work, I didn't want to sleep, and I didn't want to even put it down for the simplest tasks, like eating. Who needs food when you have a novel like this to devour?
The plot to this one is amazing. It's dark, violent, and brilliantly cinematic. Not only does it feature alternate perspectives, but the perspectives are in different timelines so you know something awful is brewing in the earlier timeframe and I had no idea what to expect or a clue as to how we got from the lives of the characters years ago to present time. The difference in present time versus the years ago were so beautifully done. The present time chapters are terrifying and violent and so creepy...the detail in them just worms its way into your brain and sends shivers down your spine. The contrast to the chapters of the past is fantastically effective as those chapters are also dark, but a little bit lighter on the suspense. What I loved about this was that there was something ominous and creepy brewing in the background and you can just feel it and you know something terrible is going to happen as you're falling down the rabbit hole with no escape whatsoever. Her ability to take this plot and combine it with such a ravishing atmosphere gave me butterflies in my stomach with excitement.
The characters in this novel are just purely illuminating. You don't even have to think as to who you're reading about because they are so well-written. Not only is this novel greatly character driven, but the prose that Kirk includes in her writing, especially for a suspense novel is just a step above the rest. Her writing is poetic and dazzling. My mind was on complete literary overload as I am reading this beautiful writing that features such a gothic plot with characters that just make every word explode off the pages. Even the smallest details in this novel shimmer and the plot twists in the second half are not only brilliant, but reading dynamite in my eyes.
Now, I could talk forever about the ending to this novel. I mean, everything leading up to it was purely amazing, but this ending just took it one step further. Yes, it's great to read a book that wraps up everything and gives you all of the explanation that you need, but I had high expectations with this one and was a little nervous to get to the ending as everything up to the ending was creepy, effective, and just the type of novel you can tell took a ton of time and effort to plot and keep creative. Kirk really thought outside of the box with this one and its imminent in every word, action, and character. The ending to this one just completely blew me away. Every expectation was exceeded and I couldn't believe the words I was reading as this one came to a bittersweet ending that left me dropping a few "f bombs" as I was reading...and yes, I said them out loud. There are some details in this ending that just completely made me uncomfortable in the best way possible with their vivid descriptions. I need to keep this review spoiler-free, but lets just say there is a character that is so crazy, she is shooting nails out of a nail gun into the air in anger and it was just the best thing I have read in a long time and my jaw dropped at that moment.
I can't say enough about this one. Every single aspect of it was brilliant. Kirk took an extraordinary plot, phenomenal characters, and a sparkling prose and completely blew my mind with this novel. I even had the pleasure of speaking with her as I added this novel to my Instagram story and I am so thankful that she let me unleash my feelings about what I was going through as I was reading it because the pacing with this novel was intense and I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. So, if you're looking for a gothic suspense novel that will take you in so many different directions and you're sick of these other thrillers that are a lot alike, get this book and lose yourself in it because that's what I did and I will never regret it. Shannon Kirk, I am ready for more of your work and I am so thankful for not only this novel, but the messages we exchanges as I was freaking out on Instagram.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
The plot to this one is amazing. It's dark, violent, and brilliantly cinematic. Not only does it feature alternate perspectives, but the perspectives are in different timelines so you know something awful is brewing in the earlier timeframe and I had no idea what to expect or a clue as to how we got from the lives of the characters years ago to present time. The difference in present time versus the years ago were so beautifully done. The present time chapters are terrifying and violent and so creepy...the detail in them just worms its way into your brain and sends shivers down your spine. The contrast to the chapters of the past is fantastically effective as those chapters are also dark, but a little bit lighter on the suspense. What I loved about this was that there was something ominous and creepy brewing in the background and you can just feel it and you know something terrible is going to happen as you're falling down the rabbit hole with no escape whatsoever. Her ability to take this plot and combine it with such a ravishing atmosphere gave me butterflies in my stomach with excitement.
The characters in this novel are just purely illuminating. You don't even have to think as to who you're reading about because they are so well-written. Not only is this novel greatly character driven, but the prose that Kirk includes in her writing, especially for a suspense novel is just a step above the rest. Her writing is poetic and dazzling. My mind was on complete literary overload as I am reading this beautiful writing that features such a gothic plot with characters that just make every word explode off the pages. Even the smallest details in this novel shimmer and the plot twists in the second half are not only brilliant, but reading dynamite in my eyes.
Now, I could talk forever about the ending to this novel. I mean, everything leading up to it was purely amazing, but this ending just took it one step further. Yes, it's great to read a book that wraps up everything and gives you all of the explanation that you need, but I had high expectations with this one and was a little nervous to get to the ending as everything up to the ending was creepy, effective, and just the type of novel you can tell took a ton of time and effort to plot and keep creative. Kirk really thought outside of the box with this one and its imminent in every word, action, and character. The ending to this one just completely blew me away. Every expectation was exceeded and I couldn't believe the words I was reading as this one came to a bittersweet ending that left me dropping a few "f bombs" as I was reading...and yes, I said them out loud. There are some details in this ending that just completely made me uncomfortable in the best way possible with their vivid descriptions. I need to keep this review spoiler-free, but lets just say there is a character that is so crazy, she is shooting nails out of a nail gun into the air in anger and it was just the best thing I have read in a long time and my jaw dropped at that moment.
I can't say enough about this one. Every single aspect of it was brilliant. Kirk took an extraordinary plot, phenomenal characters, and a sparkling prose and completely blew my mind with this novel. I even had the pleasure of speaking with her as I added this novel to my Instagram story and I am so thankful that she let me unleash my feelings about what I was going through as I was reading it because the pacing with this novel was intense and I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. So, if you're looking for a gothic suspense novel that will take you in so many different directions and you're sick of these other thrillers that are a lot alike, get this book and lose yourself in it because that's what I did and I will never regret it. Shannon Kirk, I am ready for more of your work and I am so thankful for not only this novel, but the messages we exchanges as I was freaking out on Instagram.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Wow wow wow what did I just read??? This book is as odd as they come but still pulled me in! This book centers around Mary Olivia Pentecost or as Mop to her loved ones and the mysterious death of her mother two years prior. The big question is what happened the night her mother threw her burning body into the waves below? The chapters alternate between Mop and her Aunty Liv past and present and they both are telling a deep dark and disturbing story that will lead us to the dark night. The first chapter pulls you right in with Mop in present time hiding in the cellar while a hatchet wielding mad woman is screaming and trying to break in! This book had me in the middle at times either loving or hating it or completely confused. I kept turning every dark page to figure out what really happened and for a 277 page book felt more like 500 pages at times and I don’t know why ? This was a horrifyingly beautifully written book. I want to thank Thomas and Mercer for my copy!
slicee99's review against another edition
2.0
Just couldn't get into
I just couldn't get into the story. The constant switching back and forth was more distracting than helpful to the story. I have to finish a book once I start and this one took me five months.
I just couldn't get into the story. The constant switching back and forth was more distracting than helpful to the story. I have to finish a book once I start and this one took me five months.
izmirlimelike's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very scary psychological thriller/horror that had my heart pounding at times. I am sure I will be having nightmares about it for days to come. I borrowed it on Kindle Unlimited as a read and listen and did both. Start by reading it first, otherwise it can get confusing, then you can start listening. I thought the narrator was really good, especially the chapters with Aunty Liv.