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deathmetalheron's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Postmodern Scream-esque take on the gothic horror genre. Does really well with the mystery and multiple POV at the beginning, but as the information gets slowly revealed it's harder to stick the landing. The ending as a result feels very anticlimactic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
jayinbee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was really in the mood for something different to dive into and this fit the bill quite nicely. A gothic novel, murder mystery, family drama, on a remote little island? Sounds good to me. And it was. I liked getting both sisters points of view. I hated the tragedy of them never getting to meet. I enjoyed the pace and the writing style. Some of the plots were a bit predictable but the suspense in how they unfolded definitely made up for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
theresa_ac's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Daughters of Block Island started slower than I usually prefer, but once I got into it I could not put it down. Every time I thought I had something figured out, Carmen threw another loop into the mix, keeping me hooked. It's made even better by the afterword, in which Carmen details how the book got here. Her writing process was relatable, and her dogged dedication to seeing this book through only added to the value of it. I hope it will one day be considered a contemporary gothic horror classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Self harm, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading: November 24th 2023
"Something clicks behind her, and Thalia turns, but it's just the room. Settling. Or, not settling. Waiting. Persisting in its energy. And angry she's discovered one of its secrets."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I do love a good gothic thriller, so it's easy to understand why The Daughters Of Block Island caught my attention immediately. There was just something about the blurb that made it impossible to resist this story, and the promise of an island setting, old mansion and bad weather was just the icing on the cake. And I have to say, I was very impressed by this story! While the pace was a tad slow in points, it was also an extremely atmospheric read and I had an excellent time reading it.
There is no doubt that this story has a proper gothic vibe, and both the Block Island setting and the mansion itself play such an important role in the plot. I always love a small town setting, and this island sure has its share of secrets and intriguing characters. White Hall is the star of the show of course, and it was fascinating to learn more about the mansion and its history. The weather itself also made for such a perfect backdrop for this story; the constant rain and storm really enhancing the already there gothic atmosphere.
The Daughters Of Block Island is divided into two different parts, which I could personally appreciate as we get to know both sisters a little better this way. The many references/comparisons to other gothic stories I could also really appreciate, but even if you haven't read any of the classics yet it's still easy to get the gist of what this book is referring to. The story starts out with Blake, who can be a bit frustrating as she keeps making those typical mistakes that make you want to shake her. Her story is important to the plot though, and it gave you an idea of what was going on while also providing more questions than answers. That said, I did prefer the story once the other sister Thalia came into play, as it was more of a murder mystery at that point and the pace was faster.
As with most gothic thrillers there is also a hint at the paranormal and the possible existence of ghosts. I wouldn't call it a proper paranormal read though, and I thought the execution of this element was both subtle and well incorporated. There were a lot of secrets, twists and turns to unravel, and while I did guess some of the truth early on, I never did see the full picture. The last third of the story or so is especially suspenseful and engaging, and I liked how everything was wrapped up in the end.
In short, if you enjoy a well written and atmospheric gothic thriller with a small island setting, lots of secrets and don't mind a slower start, The Daughters Of Block Island is an excellent choice. There are quite a few heavy topics incorporated into the plot, so make sure to brace yourself for an emotional ride though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
brittanylee0302's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!
The Daughters of Block Island is a horror novel following two sisters who were strangers from birth. This book was so good! Lots of things in this are very relevant to your classic horror novel but with some twists! The setting of the book being on Block Island, RI in the middle of winter gives it the perfect eerie feel and the characters seem so typical of islanders in the middle of winter. While this book seemed predictable in the beginning, I was extremely surprised with the ending. The last 35% of this book, I flew through. Christa Carmen does a great job connecting every single dot in the story and leaves everything well answered (and there was quite a lot going on in this book)! Written very well and I loved the added tidbits from all the horror classics that were mentioned in this book. A little clunky in some places and a bit repetitive but other than that, this book was great!
The Daughters of Block Island is a horror novel following two sisters who were strangers from birth. This book was so good! Lots of things in this are very relevant to your classic horror novel but with some twists! The setting of the book being on Block Island, RI in the middle of winter gives it the perfect eerie feel and the characters seem so typical of islanders in the middle of winter. While this book seemed predictable in the beginning, I was extremely surprised with the ending. The last 35% of this book, I flew through. Christa Carmen does a great job connecting every single dot in the story and leaves everything well answered (and there was quite a lot going on in this book)! Written very well and I loved the added tidbits from all the horror classics that were mentioned in this book. A little clunky in some places and a bit repetitive but other than that, this book was great!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment