Reviews

Pine by Francine Toon

caelmcwilliam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-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

4.0

ekarptatham's review

3.0

Quite a slow burner book but otherwise nicely written.

borneagainbooks's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

jessica_reading_writing's review

2.0

2.5 stars

Sorry. This one wasn't for me at all. Started out promising and super creepy but then it got weird and confusing...and not in a good way!

bookb1itch's review

challenging 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? Yes

4.0

Slow but deliciously creepy.  I love that I wasn't sure what was real.

elvaira_ludina's review against another edition

3.0

I'm sorry but where was the thriller and the horror supposed to be??? And how useless was the police of this town if when Christine disappeared ten years ago they were unable to find her, and when Anne-Marie goes missing they suddenly find Christine's bones by chance? I would have loved an explanation to that. And also, Lauren behaves like a much younger child, maybe a 8 year old rather than an 11 sixth grade preteen.

That being said, the setting was amazing (I'm partial to Scotland), the descriptions were really sensory and the way Lauren reacts to the kids that messed with her, the mix between hatred and envy and wanting to fit felt very realistic

emziexjayne's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

biorg's review

2.0

Pine is a mystery novel and cozy horror clumsily put together. Honestly, supernatural elements are shoehorned, and they are so alien to the narrative in the grand scheme of things. I'd even say, half way through the book, the author gave up on writing a horror novel (which is fair because they were not good at that) and switched to a lackluster thriller (not the best move). The protagonists' thoughts and actions are repetitive and redundant and get old fast. The ending is such a cop out, too. I wish the author had bitten the bullet and

Spoiler

made the dad the culprit

abbiemeldrum's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

lbwritesdrivel's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5