hmf5089's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
alirya's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
flyingswiftly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Queer, paranormal and women-centred, I thought this book would be right up my street.
I liked this book, I didn’t love it. I always enjoy multiple narratives, in this case, one set in 1902 and one set in the modern day. However, there wasn’t really an overlap or “point”.
The writing style of the book was really enjoyable and different, but I think it was unnecessarily rambly at times where it didn’t add anything to the plot.
I really enjoyed it at first but didn’t really find there to be a clear point or ending to the story. I know some people found the book scary but I never got quite in the headspace of the fear the characters were feeling, I didn’t feel pulled in enough.
I loved the semi-spooky scenes and the uncertainty of whether it was a prank or reality, and the scene where they trip was just disturbing enough.
However, I did overall enjoy it and I loved the world building and the ideas of the story, I just think it could have been executed slightly better. However, as a debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing how the author develops in future as she clearly has a great imagination and ideas for stories.
Queer, paranormal and women-centred, I thought this book would be right up my street.
I liked this book, I didn’t love it. I always enjoy multiple narratives, in this case, one set in 1902 and one set in the modern day. However, there wasn’t really an overlap or “point”.
The writing style of the book was really enjoyable and different, but I think it was unnecessarily rambly at times where it didn’t add anything to the plot.
I really enjoyed it at first but didn’t really find there to be a clear point or ending to the story. I know some people found the book scary but I never got quite in the headspace of the fear the characters were feeling, I didn’t feel pulled in enough.
I loved the semi-spooky scenes and the uncertainty of whether it was a prank or reality, and the scene where they trip was just disturbing enough.
However, I did overall enjoy it and I loved the world building and the ideas of the story, I just think it could have been executed slightly better. However, as a debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing how the author develops in future as she clearly has a great imagination and ideas for stories.
eshiltonn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
rhensie's review
4.0
This tome of a novel.... Where to begin?
I think that, if I'm being 100% honest, I would rather the book was just written in the singular (1900s) timeline, without the modern-day wrapping. More time is spent in the modern day, but I found myself just wishing to get back to Alex and Libbie.
The ending... especially of the modern-day story, is... not great. I was expecting another modern-day section after that one, expecting an actual climax/tense ending, but it didn't happen. I also never really bought the whole stuff, so I guess that made the modern-day 'big event' not very convincing too, because it revolved about that. The pacing is also off - at page 300 or so I was like 'when is something gonna happen?', and then at page 580, I was like 'well, there's no where near enough time now to wrap this up properly'.
But this is not to say I did not enjoy this book, because I did. It was a long read, atmany times it felt it should have been cut down to maybe 400 pages or so, but it was fun and creepy and sapphic. With the maybe exception of Merritt, I enjoyed spending hours with these ladies. It is also clearly ambitious and took a lot of skill to pull off as much as it did, even with its flaws, and for that it edges up into the 4-star category for me.
I think that, if I'm being 100% honest, I would rather the book was just written in the singular (1900s) timeline, without the modern-day wrapping. More time is spent in the modern day, but I found myself just wishing to get back to Alex and Libbie.
The ending... especially of the modern-day story, is... not great. I was expecting another modern-day section after that one, expecting an actual climax/tense ending, but it didn't happen. I also never really bought the whole
Spoiler
'filming all of your candid moments without everyone being aware of it'But this is not to say I did not enjoy this book, because I did. It was a long read, at
kasper_au's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars. Readers, I expected more from the 600+ pages, and while it wasn't all plain bad (there were maybe 2 chapters that stood out), it was for the most part pretty average imo. I think you will find you either love or dislike the style of narration - Readers, I was the latter.
antivancrowe's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, what do I say about this book?
Firstly, I love how out of the first page this book hits you with the Queer and doesn't let it go. Almost all of the characters are on the LGBT spectrum and it's so good.
This story gives such suspense because it goes between present day and to the past 1904. Danforth paints such a good picture of all the storylines intersecting and how wonderful it is when all these loose ends ending up being tied together.
I hate Yellow-Jackets and this book has made new significance to them. Blech. Wonderful job it making that horror feel incredibly real to me.
Danforth takes such real horrific elements and make you feel them to your core. I haven't read a horror novel since HS and even then it wasn't that great. This book makes me want to go find so many more like it, even though I know it won't be quite like the masterpiece this is.
Easily this is the Best book I've read this year.
"I wish someone would write a book about a plain, bad heroine so that I might feel in real sympathy with her."
Well, Mary McLane I think we have seen more than enough in this book and all of these heroine's characters were amazing. I enjoyed the story building with Merritt, Harper, and Audrey. They were so real and the processes they went through were amazing. Libby and Alex, I wasn't sure at first how I truly felt about them but it was tragic what they went through. The characters from the present and the past were tangible and I feel in love with them. For each of their flaws and their virtues.
Thank you, Plain Bad Heroines.
Firstly, I love how out of the first page this book hits you with the Queer and doesn't let it go. Almost all of the characters are on the LGBT spectrum and it's so good.
This story gives such suspense because it goes between present day and to the past 1904. Danforth paints such a good picture of all the storylines intersecting and how wonderful it is when all these loose ends ending up being tied together.
I hate Yellow-Jackets and this book has made new significance to them. Blech. Wonderful job it making that horror feel incredibly real to me.
Danforth takes such real horrific elements and make you feel them to your core. I haven't read a horror novel since HS and even then it wasn't that great. This book makes me want to go find so many more like it, even though I know it won't be quite like the masterpiece this is.
Easily this is the Best book I've read this year.
"I wish someone would write a book about a plain, bad heroine so that I might feel in real sympathy with her."
Well, Mary McLane I think we have seen more than enough in this book and all of these heroine's characters were amazing. I enjoyed the story building with Merritt, Harper, and Audrey. They were so real and the processes they went through were amazing. Libby and Alex, I wasn't sure at first how I truly felt about them but it was tragic what they went through. The characters from the present and the past were tangible and I feel in love with them. For each of their flaws and their virtues.
Thank you, Plain Bad Heroines.
andloveistoolong's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.75
laurenbookwitchbitch's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of “The Gemma Doyle Trilogy,” only creeper and with a lot more bees. This is the story of the happenings at Brookhaunts, a boarding school for elite society girls in Rhode Island. It begins with the gruesome death of two young lovers Clara and Flo who are stung to death by Yellowjackets in the woods. Following their demise other strange accidents and deaths befall more students until the school is forced to close. Many years later a Hollywood film crew sets out to make a movie about the infamous school and it doesn’t take long before they realize the hauntings of Brookhaunts are real. Sapphic, scary, and superb Emily Danforth combines humor, gothic horror, queer longing and power of weird teenage girls into this beautifully illustrated tale.