redlikeroses's review
4.0
4 stars
*My thanks to Dzanc Books for the copy of the Snow Collectors.
The Snow Collectors is an enthralling whimsical mystery that sweeps you through a landscape of grief and hidden histories. I truly had a blast with this book, though it did drag in places.
The magic of this book's prose stems from the breathtaking descriptions.
"Sailors, cartographers and escaped slaves all held onto her tail because she never dipped below the horizon, though she came close enough in autumn to stain the trees with her blood." Pg. 42
This is just one example of many from this book, though some readers may find it distracting for that very reason. The book jumps between the 1800's and present day, to intertwine two narratives of loss and regret into a single thread that unravels a centuries old secret.
This book would have gotten five stars if not for some places where it dragged on a bit too much and the mystery being pretty obvious.
Still, this book is amazing despite that fact and I'd recommend anyone who loves unique settings and strange atmospheric writing to pick this up.
*My thanks to Dzanc Books for the copy of the Snow Collectors.
The Snow Collectors is an enthralling whimsical mystery that sweeps you through a landscape of grief and hidden histories. I truly had a blast with this book, though it did drag in places.
The magic of this book's prose stems from the breathtaking descriptions.
"Sailors, cartographers and escaped slaves all held onto her tail because she never dipped below the horizon, though she came close enough in autumn to stain the trees with her blood." Pg. 42
This is just one example of many from this book, though some readers may find it distracting for that very reason. The book jumps between the 1800's and present day, to intertwine two narratives of loss and regret into a single thread that unravels a centuries old secret.
This book would have gotten five stars if not for some places where it dragged on a bit too much and the mystery being pretty obvious.
Still, this book is amazing despite that fact and I'd recommend anyone who loves unique settings and strange atmospheric writing to pick this up.
kiramke's review
4.0
I love a gothic mystery in a creepy old house, but not as much as I love weather-related magical realism and winter bleakness. The atmosphere and lovely silences are very compelling. The modern mystery storyline is a bit off, it feels like an overlay to just get the people in place, but I don't mind as I enjoyed the rest so very much.
riverdogbookco's review
2.0
Well-written, gothic, with elements of magical realism. But it felt like a good third draft that needed a little bit more editing and a few stronger connections between plot points to actually hold it up.
kirstenfindlay's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bibliokyra's review
4.0
After losing her parents and twin sister to the raging sea, Henna moves to an isolated, snow-laden Arctic village. Still grieving, Henna retreats inward with her sister’s basset hound as her only companion. She spends her time writing ice and water-related encyclopedia entries for a publisher. Henna’s quietude comes to an end when a dead woman’s body shows up on her property.
The woman is clutching the fragment of an ancient letter written by Lady Jane, the wife of famous Arctic-explorer, Captain John Franklin. Consumed by the mystery of the woman’s death and the contents of the letter, Henna is thrust into the enigma surrounding snow collectors and the doomed Franklin expedition which vanished in 1845. On her quest for answers, Henna is introduced to an eccentric cast of characters and led through crumbling mansions and towers throughout the icy village.
The story is set in a near-future Alaskan setting where birds and bees are endangered and glaciers have disappeared. The passages are short, alternating between Henna’s past, Jane Franklin’s search for her husband and the mystery of the dead body. Henna is an unreliable narrator which contributes to the eerie feel of the story. With gorgeous prose, Hall weaves together a vivid, icy landscape, magical elements and nineteenth-century history to transport you into this atmospheric, gothic mystery.
The woman is clutching the fragment of an ancient letter written by Lady Jane, the wife of famous Arctic-explorer, Captain John Franklin. Consumed by the mystery of the woman’s death and the contents of the letter, Henna is thrust into the enigma surrounding snow collectors and the doomed Franklin expedition which vanished in 1845. On her quest for answers, Henna is introduced to an eccentric cast of characters and led through crumbling mansions and towers throughout the icy village.
The story is set in a near-future Alaskan setting where birds and bees are endangered and glaciers have disappeared. The passages are short, alternating between Henna’s past, Jane Franklin’s search for her husband and the mystery of the dead body. Henna is an unreliable narrator which contributes to the eerie feel of the story. With gorgeous prose, Hall weaves together a vivid, icy landscape, magical elements and nineteenth-century history to transport you into this atmospheric, gothic mystery.
bookalong's review
5.0
I loved this book! Very atmospheric, and full of mystery.
Henna lives a remote existence in an Alaskan village where it never stops snowing. Her only companion her Dog. She is still haunted by the loss of her family. One day she discovers the dead body of a young woman in the forest and decends into an ghostly investigation of how she died. I dont want to say too much here and spoil the mystery, but it was very engrossing.
I loved Henna! She was a well developed and realistic heroine. The way the author interlinked past and present in the storyline was brilliant! This story has a very gothic feel to it, and the wintry landscape added so much feel to this story.
Hall's prose were beautiful and poetic. I hadn't heard of this author before but will definitely be reading more of her after this book. What a gem!
•
Thank You so much to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
Henna lives a remote existence in an Alaskan village where it never stops snowing. Her only companion her Dog. She is still haunted by the loss of her family. One day she discovers the dead body of a young woman in the forest and decends into an ghostly investigation of how she died. I dont want to say too much here and spoil the mystery, but it was very engrossing.
I loved Henna! She was a well developed and realistic heroine. The way the author interlinked past and present in the storyline was brilliant! This story has a very gothic feel to it, and the wintry landscape added so much feel to this story.
Hall's prose were beautiful and poetic. I hadn't heard of this author before but will definitely be reading more of her after this book. What a gem!
•
Thank You so much to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong