Reviews

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

Only show reviews with written explanations

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

A year ago, Alex went through a horrific friend breakup under bloody, mysterious circumstances. Since then, Wren's star has been on the rise, reaching influencer status, while Alex's humdrum publishing job has continued, much the same. She hasn't written a single word since the fight that ended everything. The two were once not only best friends but also in the same writing group. And when their friend from that group, the only one who's made it as a writer, gets both Alex and Wren accepted at an exclusive writing retreat at the home of their favorite author, the feminist icon Roza Vallo, it's too good an opportunity to pass up. Alex needs to get past her writer's block, ignore Wren, and impress her hero.

Blackbriar Estate, a haunted murder house, is the perfect creepy setting for this tense, eerie thriller. The estate's history hinges on the story of a spiritualist/artist and a demoness that ended in two violent deaths. That very saga becomes the topic of Alex's book, and she's consumed by creative inspiration just when she thought she wouldn't find it again. Blackbriar is remote enough to affect cell service and wintry enough for the threat of a snow-in to loom. No wifi and no nearby neighbors mean this isolated locale is only too perfect for some really fucked up stuff to go down with no one outside the wiser.

From the start, Roza's mercurial moods, exacting demands, and fascination with her guests' darker truths make the retreat a tense, high-pressure experience. While Alex was expecting to do battle with Wren, she wasn't prepared for anything more serious or life-threatening from another quarter. Alex isn't the only one with a shady secret, and hers is far from the worst hiding among the house's current residents. With a book deal on the line and a chance to earn her hero's admiration, the stakes are only too high... and that's before one invitee goes missing in the snow. Maybe she was sleepwalking, maybe she was drugged, and maybe the scene is misleading. She issued Alex a warning just before she vanished, and there was a secret she was ready to share.

While the combination of dark, queer elements and feminine fury make for great thriller fodder, I found some of the mystery elements a bit predictable. I also think that where the author shone in her examination of how women might suppress their queerness or struggle to reconcile with their sexuality, the discussion of race, though present, is less carefully considered. It feels a bit rote and lost in the trying, where the conversations around queerness and womanhood are living, nuanced things. One writer at the retreat is Black, and so most conversations come up as reactions to how she's treated or things she calls out. Alex is a bit clueless, and Keira's experiences are an awakening for her. For readers who might be annoyed to read about a white protagonist "discovering" institutional racism, be forewarned.

Readers who want to see more queer women shine in the thriller space should definitely pick this one up. It's got unhinged ladies to spare, feminine longing and obsession, and survival instincts that become strength rather than victimhood. Thanks to Atria for my copy to read and review!

teahead1228's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

Entertaining for the most bit except in a few parts I wish things would just hurry along. Definitely enjoyed the kind of gothic/psychological horror vibe going on!

uutopicaa's review

Go to review page

emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.5

4.5

Aclaro desde un inicio que mi opinión sobre este libro es enteramente subjetiva, mucho más que de costumbre. Me es imposible decir si es excelente, bueno, medriocre o malo. Lo único que puedo decir con certeza es que es el libro que necesitaba leer.

Esta es una historia de misterio New Adult sobre el mundillo literario, la escritura, la fama y las dificultades para poder publicar un primer manuscrito, sin importar qué tan bueno sea. La historia habla sobre obsesiones, sobre egocentrismo, soble el bloqueo de escritura y sobre la inspiración.

La trama en sí es interesante, algunos giros son sorpresivos y otros pueden deducirse de antemano. Los personajes no son la gran cosa en cuanto a construcción, pero tampoco resultan tediosos.

Mi puntaje alto en este caso está relacionado con lo que la novela me causó. El primer tercio de la historia me llevó a encontrarme con una protagonista con la que pude empatizar muchísimo, no solo en cuanto a su personalidad, sino a que está sumergida en un pozo depresivo personal que no le permite escribir. Y los motivos que la han llevado a ese pozo, así como también las emociones que la atraviesan en lo que respecta al asunto, son MUY similares a algo que yo atravesé hace algunos años y que también me dejó sin poder escribir. No quiero ahondar mucho en esto porque es un tema personal, pero leer a Alex fue leerme a mí misma por gran parte de la novela. Y eso, de alguna forma, me dio el impulso que necesitaba para volver a escribir.

Le debo mucho al libro. Me tendió una mano y me ayudó a reconciliarme conmigo misma y con esa situación que tanto daño me hizo a nivel mental y literario. Gracias a este libro, siento que puedo volver a escribir con fluidez y constancia. Y por eso le doy un puntaje alto.

tamtamslibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Thriller with a borderline creepy setting. There’s a wide range of side characters, even though it’s from a single POV. The pacing is a bit slower at points, but that’s purposeful and helps keep the tension flowing throughout—makes you guess when the tip over will happen.

Fun as a buddy read!!

eriinmaureenn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

I'm somewhere around a 3.75-4 star rating. This book was unhinged and crazy and truthfully I was shocked but something just seemed to be missing for me.

Also really none of the characters were that likeable... I wasn't rooting for any of our main characters and the side characters were the only ones I cheered on.

Content Warnings