Reviews

Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib

stoutla19's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gsroney's review against another edition

2.0

An intriguing premise that unfortunately fell flat with characters making unrealistic choices and a plot that goes no where.

lucasgarner's review against another edition

5.0

I may be a bit biased as this book checks a lot of boxes for me (LGBTQ+, disturbing, a bit surreal, etc.), but this one of the best debuts I’ve ever read. Usually when reading a debut there is a lot of potential in the writing and the plotting, but this reads more like an author further along in their career. I love a polarizing, complex, unlikeable main character (check off another box), and this story really benefits from a protagonist (used loosely) who doesn’t always make decisions you would want or expect, but when boiling down the narrative, metaphors, and mindset, they are completely well thought-out. I will also say this is one for those with a stronger stomach.

My only negatives are that I think it might have benefited a bit from being told in first person instead of third, but that’s more of a preference than an actual issue. Secondly, there are a few character arcs that aren’t really neatly tied up in the end. Not to be confused with ambiguous endings, it was more that these characters felt a bit left out and irrelevant, which begged the question as to why they needed to be involved in the story in the first place (the ex-wife and parents, namely), but these are minor complaints.

I truly urge everyone to help support an emerging, queer author who has every potential to be a big name in the horror/literary world, as long as you don’t mind a bit of gristle and bone with your books.

emmaisfast's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

kmmi_booklover's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

byejohn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dog_eared_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

aundreaspencer's review against another edition

4.0

4.5! I wish I remembered from where or who I heard about this book so I can send them the bill from my therapist. This book was A. LOT. It grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the last. While it’s holding both your shoulders so you can’t move, it’s simultaneously punching you in the gut. It’s gory and filled with dread. It’s thrilling, and my anxiety was through the roof throughout. It’s beautifully written and excruciatingly sad. At times there were a few metaphors that were perhaps superfluous, but that’s me nitpicking. Conner Habib is definitely on my radar now. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

reneetaillon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

maddyrr's review

dark tense fast-paced

4.5