Scan barcode
downtown_kb's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
arrrgh...the first 50% of this book was freaking fantastic.
I loved the set up, Ben's return to his home town where spooky things start happening almost immediately. This was Stephen King-esque horror in the best way with similarities to part II of IT.
I loved the pacing of the romance, there was some great communication between these two and a really hot, long steamy scene.
Yes, the dialogue was a little clunky - no one says someone's name that much when they are talking. And the metaphors were way too plentiful. But it was all setting up so nicely, I was all in.
And then it just fell apart. The twist of what was happening in the woods was a weird choice, but fine I can live with it. Suddenly Ben seemed like a different person, Nic became a complete asshole - dare I say abusive in the way he got aggressive when Ben didn't do what he told him to do (there were hints these personality changes were due to supernatural reasons but then nothing became of that). The relationship dynamics went from really mature and sweet to a total hot mess and it didn't seem consistent with the characters.
The overall plot got a bit drawn out but it was, in general, a decent concept and an exciting climax. But then we were left with over 100 pages of just day to day fluff and tying to wrap up plot threads. I was skimming because the pacing got way out of whack, and by then I just didn't care because the mending of the relationship was not satisfactory at all after all that angsty drama. There was so much hot and cold between these two I couldn't keep up.
Basically, this really needed an editor. I was riding such a high because I thought I had finally found another good old fashion horror romance but it turned out to be just meh and now I am sad.
This would have been 2 stars without the strong start :(
I loved the set up, Ben's return to his home town where spooky things start happening almost immediately. This was Stephen King-esque horror in the best way with similarities to part II of IT.
I loved the pacing of the romance, there was some great communication between these two and a really hot, long steamy scene.
Yes, the dialogue was a little clunky - no one says someone's name that much when they are talking. And the metaphors were way too plentiful. But it was all setting up so nicely, I was all in.
And then it just fell apart. The twist of what was happening in the woods was a weird choice, but fine I can live with it. Suddenly Ben seemed like a different person, Nic became a complete asshole - dare I say abusive in the way he got aggressive when Ben didn't do what he told him to do (there were hints these personality changes were due to supernatural reasons but then nothing became of that). The relationship dynamics went from really mature and sweet to a total hot mess and it didn't seem consistent with the characters.
The overall plot got a bit drawn out but it was, in general, a decent concept and an exciting climax. But then we were left with over 100 pages of just day to day fluff and tying to wrap up plot threads. I was skimming because the pacing got way out of whack, and by then I just didn't care because the mending of the relationship was not satisfactory at all after all that angsty drama. There was so much hot and cold between these two I couldn't keep up.
Basically, this really needed an editor. I was riding such a high because I thought I had finally found another good old fashion horror romance but it turned out to be just meh and now I am sad.
This would have been 2 stars without the strong start :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
More...