angielisle's review
4.0
Horror that's hard to classify - new age elements come up against old folklore, modern agrarian problems oppose old farm custom, modern medicine and technology vie with old home remedies, and all of it is entwined with age-old issues such as child abuse, poverty, homosexuality, retirement, and the paparazzi. This book comes to America from across the pond - some of the issues, like BSE (Mad Cow Disease), are more prevalent in the UK than in the US.
At times, the story feels cluttered, especially when you take into account the number of characters and plot threads. I kept telling myself, this is horror - there are so many people because Mr. Smith has to kill some of them off. And he did.
In the end, the plot threads come together to signify the transitional state of our world (our reality). I was asked to read this book in exchange for a review and I'm glad I accepted because, at times, the story was vaguely reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series - albeit, designed for an older audience not turned off by gore. I adore Tiffany Aching and I love gore so, win-win.
At times, the story feels cluttered, especially when you take into account the number of characters and plot threads. I kept telling myself, this is horror - there are so many people because Mr. Smith has to kill some of them off. And he did.
In the end, the plot threads come together to signify the transitional state of our world (our reality). I was asked to read this book in exchange for a review and I'm glad I accepted because, at times, the story was vaguely reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series - albeit, designed for an older audience not turned off by gore. I adore Tiffany Aching and I love gore so, win-win.
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