evienics's review against another edition
2.0
I almost DNF this because it was such a slow start and by the time I got to the second half I was reading it because ‘I might as well just finish it’.
I chose this as my Halloween read but found its horror underwhelming. It’s marketed as a ‘ghost story’ but said ghost only appears a handful of times, and when it does it’s extremely short lived and also not especially terrifying. I found the ghost docile and this meant by the climax of the novel I really wasn’t threatened by it’s appearance at all. It probably would have been more effective as a story of how your mind can play tricks on you when you’re alone in the eternal darkness of the Arctic.
Jack is quite a boring narrator (also a little irritating) and the
I can appreciate that a lot of research went into this and the descriptions of the landscape were effective, but as a ghost story this fell flat for me.
I chose this as my Halloween read but found its horror underwhelming. It’s marketed as a ‘ghost story’ but said ghost only appears a handful of times, and when it does it’s extremely short lived and also not especially terrifying. I found the ghost docile and this meant by the climax of the novel I really wasn’t threatened by it’s appearance at all. It probably would have been more effective as a story of how your mind can play tricks on you when you’re alone in the eternal darkness of the Arctic.
Jack is quite a boring narrator (also a little irritating) and the
Spoiler
undeveloped gay relationship felt as though it was thrown in just for the sake of making Gus’ death more dramatic.I can appreciate that a lot of research went into this and the descriptions of the landscape were effective, but as a ghost story this fell flat for me.
loosealbluth's review against another edition
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stacys_book_nook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bantoinette's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
macbean221b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
mattmcguirk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
gorecki's review against another edition
3.0
Quite a spooky book, but I was hoping for something more complete in the sense of having stronger build up and culmination. While the suspense was strong and I did feel quite shaky a few times, it felt a bit flat - as if Paver was holding back from making it a really scary book. No actual horror or terror, not much interaction or threat as such, not much of a full circle around what happened kn Gruhuken and what happened after. A really enjoyable October read nevertheless.
polyphonic_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
nickthebooktoker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Vomit