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delicateki's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
carol1963's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
guardtristan's review against another edition
2.0
I'm finally done, and I mean FINALLY. The way the story is constructed, the way it is written is good so much is true and I have read books that made me actually put it down and never finish at all that had way less pages but:
BIG but.
I really cannot deal with the amount of cliches that are put in the storyline, be it stuff like the constant "typically male" on the first half (Starting from mentioning that the guys in this TINY LITTLE village actually try to help her catch those snakes, my god it's a TINY VILLAGE and guess what? Sometimes people just like to help other people. Sometimes without it having to do with genitals. Sometimes in TINY VILLAGES there are men that LIKE TO HELP WOMEN. She even does write the sentence "typically guys" OUT) or the even worse logical mess ups that make me cringe all few chapters (no a thin polyester rope is NOT suitable for getting someone - a grown man that weights more than the the person acting as anchor - down several feet. ESPECIALLY NOT WHEN ITS WRAPPED AROUND THE ANCHORS MIDDLE. Mother of god that would have been deathly to BOTH of them!). It also does not help that it's spiked with unnecessary page fillers, how does "Like many women I cry when I'm upset" even fit in the story? A simple "I cried out of rage" would have done the job as well and not felt as a poor attempt to connect the reader with the character... (surprise not all women cry when they are upset either). And why is it that she got not ONE but TWO love interests? I thought this story was about the snakes and the mystery behind it not "how Clara found her religious side and two hot men as side dish" but for that there is too much weight on her and those two (cliched) guys.
This book would have been more enjoyable if the story had been about the mystery and not the characters love life (it's not even "character growth" it really feels like it's ONLY about that ONE aspect).
BIG but.
I really cannot deal with the amount of cliches that are put in the storyline, be it stuff like the constant "typically male" on the first half (Starting from mentioning that the guys in this TINY LITTLE village actually try to help her catch those snakes, my god it's a TINY VILLAGE and guess what? Sometimes people just like to help other people. Sometimes without it having to do with genitals. Sometimes in TINY VILLAGES there are men that LIKE TO HELP WOMEN. She even does write the sentence "typically guys" OUT) or the even worse logical mess ups that make me cringe all few chapters (no a thin polyester rope is NOT suitable for getting someone - a grown man that weights more than the the person acting as anchor - down several feet. ESPECIALLY NOT WHEN ITS WRAPPED AROUND THE ANCHORS MIDDLE. Mother of god that would have been deathly to BOTH of them!). It also does not help that it's spiked with unnecessary page fillers, how does "Like many women I cry when I'm upset" even fit in the story? A simple "I cried out of rage" would have done the job as well and not felt as a poor attempt to connect the reader with the character... (surprise not all women cry when they are upset either). And why is it that she got not ONE but TWO love interests? I thought this story was about the snakes and the mystery behind it not "how Clara found her religious side and two hot men as side dish" but for that there is too much weight on her and those two (cliched) guys.
This book would have been more enjoyable if the story had been about the mystery and not the characters love life (it's not even "character growth" it really feels like it's ONLY about that ONE aspect).
lilbittybritty1's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second book I have read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoy her writing style. The descriptions of the settings are especially exquisite. This book was very interesting, and I enjoyed the character of Clara and her evolution throughout the book. I do wish there was some more romance. I was not a fan of how things were just left hanging with Matt and Sean. Seriously, was Matt flirting or not? I guess I will never know, and can only imagine that Clara ended up happy with one of the two. Overall, this book was solid, perhaps a tad bit long-winded, but I will definitely be reading more from this writer.
romysvx's review against another edition
4.0
Moje ostatnie spotkanie z Sharon Bolton - tak bardzo wyczekiwana przeze mnie Stokrotka w kajdanach, okazało się jednym z największych czytelniczych rozczarowań. Nie ukrywam, więc, że po kolejną powieść autorki sięgnęłam z dużym oporem i rezerwą. Na szczęście "Blizną" Bolton w stu procentach zrehabilitowała się w moich oczach. Fabuła zaintrygowała i wciągnęła mnie już od pierwszych stron. Za sprawą plastycznych opisów bez problemu wczułam się w klimat powieści - niepokojący, tajemniczy i lekko mroczny. Autorce udało się wykreować ciekawe, nieszablonowe postacie - zarówno te pierwszo- jak i drugoplanowe. Jak na porządny kryminał przystało, tak i w "Bliźnie" intryga jest zawiła, jednak jej wyjaśnienie jest absolutnie logiczne i satysfakcjonujące. Po drodze autorka zręcznie myli tropy, podsuwa coraz to kolejnych podejrzanych. W pewnym momencie czytelnik nawet nie może być stuprocentowo przekonany co do niewinności głównej bohaterki. Wplecenie wątku fanatycznej sekty religijnej sprawiło, że w czasie lektury niejednokrotnie przechodziły mnie dreszcze strachu. Jednak największym atutem kryminału Bolton są wężę. Węże wypełzają z niemal każdej strony tej powieści. Autorka w przystępny dla laika sposób bombarduje nas informacjami o tych nieczęsto spotykanych w książkach gadach.
Jestem zachwycona "Blizną" - jest to bardzo sprawnie napisany, niebanalny kryminał, który pochłania się błyskawicznie zapominając o upływie czasu. Właśnie taką Bolton chcę czytać!
Jestem zachwycona "Blizną" - jest to bardzo sprawnie napisany, niebanalny kryminał, który pochłania się błyskawicznie zapominając o upływie czasu. Właśnie taką Bolton chcę czytać!
Jestem zachwycona "Blizną" - jest to bardzo sprawnie napisany, niebanalny kryminał, który pochłania się błyskawicznie zapominając o upływie czasu. Właśnie taką Bolton chcę czytać!
Jestem zachwycona "Blizną" - jest to bardzo sprawnie napisany, niebanalny kryminał, który pochłania się błyskawicznie zapominając o upływie czasu. Właśnie taką Bolton chcę czytać!
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be an enjoyably creepy read though thought it was a bit too long. The small English village setting along with the snake lore were quite interesting and I liked the heroine even when I was wondering about the smartness of some of her actions.
emgwh's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy Ms. Bolton's writing and this book did not disappoint. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five was because it seemed like the closer I got to the end, the slower the book seemed to go. Other than that though, it was a great book and I actually learned a lot about snakes and religion. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Bolton.
mamacrow's review against another edition
4.0
This is what I think anyone who can make me actually really like a book about snakes, is a pretty fascinating author!! I did tend to get a little annoyed in the beginning with the amount of self-hate clara expressed, but I got over it because I wanted to know why she was scarred, and it was worth it! Most of the time it is pretty easy to figure out suspense novels or if not, it's because they don't really make sense anyways but I never would have ever guessed the ending of this book! I was pleasantly surprised and I love that along the way I learned so many interesting facts! Also I think this would be a really fantastic movie that i would be way too creeped out to ever watch!
smderitis's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. This book surprised me. I had read Bolton before and enjoyed that book, but this one was proportionately better. Great mystery (which kept me guessing— always a plus), with elements of religious practices and family dysfunction tied in.