unsarahble's review against another edition
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
3.5
Good story but it ends so abruptly and unsatisfyingly I was shook lol
under_the_radiant_stars's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in two days for how much it keeps you reading until you know what happened and how. Since I loved this book and I have seen many people talk about it, I’ll start introducing the plot to those who have no idea what it’s about and then in another post I’ll share what I loved about it.
So, let’s get started!
The book is centred around the strange occurrences happening at The Bridge, a house built around the beginning of the 17th by the Bainbridge family. There are 3 timelines, one set in 1635 and written in diary form by Anne Bainbridge, the other two are both set during the 19th century but divided by a year or two, and set in two different places, one at The Bridge and the other at St Joseph’s Hospital. The intertwining of all three timelines is really gripping.
The characters are quite good, not all of them shine the same way. I found Elsie, the protagonist of the 19th century timeline, and Hetta, Anne’s daughter, to be the most interesting, given that both have their own inner demons (lol) and past traumas which they have decided to cope with in different but not so different ways (not gonna say more or spoileers).
So, if you want to get in the Halloween mood by reading something fresh and original, but still holding some of the spooky magic of gothic great classics, The Silent Companions will be the book for you!
So, let’s get started!
The book is centred around the strange occurrences happening at The Bridge, a house built around the beginning of the 17th by the Bainbridge family. There are 3 timelines, one set in 1635 and written in diary form by Anne Bainbridge, the other two are both set during the 19th century but divided by a year or two, and set in two different places, one at The Bridge and the other at St Joseph’s Hospital. The intertwining of all three timelines is really gripping.
The characters are quite good, not all of them shine the same way. I found Elsie, the protagonist of the 19th century timeline, and Hetta, Anne’s daughter, to be the most interesting, given that both have their own inner demons (lol) and past traumas which they have decided to cope with in different but not so different ways (not gonna say more or spoileers).
So, if you want to get in the Halloween mood by reading something fresh and original, but still holding some of the spooky magic of gothic great classics, The Silent Companions will be the book for you!
apichardo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.5
Someone ADAPT THIS NOVEL IMMEDIATELY 😭😭😭 I WILL NEVER GET OVER THAT ENDING !!!!
mina's review against another edition
While very well-written, I felt the story was a little undercooked. There were unanswered questions, plot holes, and I don't know... I couldn't get *immersed* in the magic of this book... imagining these 2d wooden objects shuffling up and down the stairs was funnier than frightening to me.
severinam's review against another edition
4.0
A good creepy read. I think the story is written well, even though I did not care about the characters as much as I wanted to. It felt like watching a horror movie and honestly this book could work like one very well. I have some mixed feelings, but I am giving this 4 stars.
promi7107's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
reemofbookingdom's review against another edition
5.0
Excuse the possibly incoherent review, I'm currently running on fear, chills and caffeine lol..
To say I'm mind-blown in an understatement. This is book gave me the absolute creeps. There was a lot of scary, creepy, intense stuff going on there. The pacing and gradual build up were so well done.
I don't think a book ever managed to get me this unsettled, especially without having any graphic or gory scenes. It purely depended on the plot creeping in on you and the creepy gothic atmosphere. There was never a dull moment, it felt really intense right from the get go, especially the last few pages, I couldn't put the book down without knowing what was really going on and how it was going to end.
At some point I just stopped trying to make theories about what might be going on because every time I was proven so wrong and I was shocked time and time again.
And that ending... the whole book was so chilling, but the last few pages when it finally dawned on me what's really happening.. c h i l l s.
To say I'm mind-blown in an understatement. This is book gave me the absolute creeps. There was a lot of scary, creepy, intense stuff going on there. The pacing and gradual build up were so well done.
I don't think a book ever managed to get me this unsettled, especially without having any graphic or gory scenes. It purely depended on the plot creeping in on you and the creepy gothic atmosphere. There was never a dull moment, it felt really intense right from the get go, especially the last few pages, I couldn't put the book down without knowing what was really going on and how it was going to end.
At some point I just stopped trying to make theories about what might be going on because every time I was proven so wrong and I was shocked time and time again.
And that ending... the whole book was so chilling, but the last few pages when it finally dawned on me what's really happening.. c h i l l s.
fithomson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
elt111's review against another edition
3.0
Ambientato in Inghilterra a metà 800, questo romanzo dalle tinte scure ci racconta la storia di una giovane vedova, Elsie, che è anche incinta del suo primo figlio.
La vediamo arrivare in un paesino, che sembra essere stato imprigionato dalla nebbia e che trasmette esso stesso un senso di ostilità, assieme al cugina del marito Sarah, una zitella che sembra inadeguata e fuori posto ovunque la si veda.
In questo piccolo paese è situata la dimora di campagna del marito che è morto proprio mentre stava organizzando i lavori di restauro.
Questa casa è sin dall'inizio spaventosa e decadente. Rumori inspiegabili, vecchi diari trovati, strani avvenimenti e soprattutto i ritratti dipinti su tavole di legno sagomate (gli amici silenziosi) sono gli ingredienti di questa storia.
Qualche brivido, un po' di tensione e una buona scrittura mi hanno fatto apprezzare molto questo libro anche se mi è rimasta qualche domanda senza risposta ed ho trovato il finale forse un po' troppo frettoloso, ma assolutamente non banale. Da leggere sotto le coperte!
"Sentì che il passato là sopra faceva, come un fiume che durante le piogge ingrossa sempre più dentro gli argini; piano piano era arrivato lambirle il mento, a riempirle la bocca."
"Provava l'impulso di confessare tutto (...) Ma parlare di quelle cose le rendeva farsesche. Non era possibile spiegare la paura, si poteva solo sentirla a ruggire nel silenzio e azzittire il cuore."
La vediamo arrivare in un paesino, che sembra essere stato imprigionato dalla nebbia e che trasmette esso stesso un senso di ostilità, assieme al cugina del marito Sarah, una zitella che sembra inadeguata e fuori posto ovunque la si veda.
In questo piccolo paese è situata la dimora di campagna del marito che è morto proprio mentre stava organizzando i lavori di restauro.
Questa casa è sin dall'inizio spaventosa e decadente. Rumori inspiegabili, vecchi diari trovati, strani avvenimenti e soprattutto i ritratti dipinti su tavole di legno sagomate (gli amici silenziosi) sono gli ingredienti di questa storia.
Qualche brivido, un po' di tensione e una buona scrittura mi hanno fatto apprezzare molto questo libro anche se mi è rimasta qualche domanda senza risposta ed ho trovato il finale forse un po' troppo frettoloso, ma assolutamente non banale. Da leggere sotto le coperte!
"Sentì che il passato là sopra faceva, come un fiume che durante le piogge ingrossa sempre più dentro gli argini; piano piano era arrivato lambirle il mento, a riempirle la bocca."
"Provava l'impulso di confessare tutto (...) Ma parlare di quelle cose le rendeva farsesche. Non era possibile spiegare la paura, si poteva solo sentirla a ruggire nel silenzio e azzittire il cuore."