vanquishingvolumes's review
2.0
Sorry…but when a book leans into one of my least favorite tropes and it is very obvious within the first two chapters I’m not a reader who is going to have a good time. The plot felt stale, all over the place, and frankly not very exciting. I didn’t care what happened to any of the characters, and I kept waiting for “something” to happen.
swampmouth's review
4.0
Four stars for scaring the absolute shit out of me. Maybe it's growing up surrounded by bush, and spending so much time in it as a kid, but nothing stresses me out quite like settings like this.
While I found Hank pretty unlikable, and Charlie and Scott's reveal as figments of Hank's identity not a huge shock, I felt that this added to the narrative rather than taking away from it. It turned Hank's perspective into one that was clearly unreliable which added a layer of agitation as I read it.
I feel like on top of that, while Hank is clearly unstable and unable to manage his life or feelings, that allows a level of "well maybe the witch was real and did get them". Yes, the "darkness" can be a straightforward allegory for Hank's internal anguish and violence, I think it could *also* be read as Hank being an easy scapegoat for a larger evil.
All in all, a very engaging read that kept me second guessing and searching for clues and answers the whole way through.
My only critiques would be that the pacing is a little awkward, and the characters could have used a little more personality. Otherwise I thought it was a fun salute to the witch in the forest trope, a la the Blair Witch, The Ritual, The VVitch etc.
While I found Hank pretty unlikable, and Charlie and Scott's reveal as figments of Hank's identity not a huge shock, I felt that this added to the narrative rather than taking away from it. It turned Hank's perspective into one that was clearly unreliable which added a layer of agitation as I read it.
I feel like on top of that, while Hank is clearly unstable and unable to manage his life or feelings, that allows a level of "well maybe the witch was real and did get them". Yes, the "darkness" can be a straightforward allegory for Hank's internal anguish and violence, I think it could *also* be read as Hank being an easy scapegoat for a larger evil.
All in all, a very engaging read that kept me second guessing and searching for clues and answers the whole way through.
My only critiques would be that the pacing is a little awkward, and the characters could have used a little more personality. Otherwise I thought it was a fun salute to the witch in the forest trope, a la the Blair Witch, The Ritual, The VVitch etc.
interfectrix's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
thepaperbackchick's review
5.0
What!?!?!?
Okay I just finished this and went to go on to the next page, and there wasn’t anymore pages. I finished it. And I am absolutely bewildered.
Our newly widowed main character, Hank, decides to go on a hiking trip in the Adirondack Mountains. And you guessed it, creepy shit starts happening. But once you think you know what’s happening, the story takes a sharp left turn. Everything is completely unexpected, but there was one twist that I caught onto from the beginning that ended up being true in the end. It wasn’t too scary in my opinion, more thrilling than anything.
All in all, this was great! The ending was superb and you’re just left with your mouth hanging open in shock. So so so good.
beckyremillard's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Hank is grieving the loss of his wife and decides to go on a hiking trip because that’s something they said they would do together. It starts out as a normal hike but starts getting weird after a bit.
I had mixed emotions about this book throughout. I thought the flashbacks in the beginning were very confusing as I tried to understand the setting and know what’s going on. It was easier to understand flashbacks as the story progressed though.
It reads very similar to a horror movie and I could picture certain cutaways or different scenes just like they were in a movie. Also similar to a lot of horrors, there isn’t a nice tidy ending.
I had mixed emotions about this book throughout. I thought the flashbacks in the beginning were very confusing as I tried to understand the setting and know what’s going on. It was easier to understand flashbacks as the story progressed though.
It reads very similar to a horror movie and I could picture certain cutaways or different scenes just like they were in a movie. Also similar to a lot of horrors, there isn’t a nice tidy ending.
Spoiler
I had suspicions about Hank’s unreliability as a narrator when the liquor store owner didn’t see his friends and the friends refused to check into the motel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Cancer
Minor: Cannibalism
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