avagracie003's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
marie101's review
3.0
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc*
This story follows Laurel Early who decides to drop out of college and move back home. Home as it turns out is haunted. And her and her three friends gotta figure out what the hell is happening.
Now I will say this is set in a small southern town. So the kids all grew up tending the Tabasco fields and Laurel Early enjoys being a taxidermist in her free time. But because of this setting I say it’s a little hard to classify the book- I think this book is more YA Horror than it is fantasy.
There is some magic but it’s just a little. And it’s really loosely explained.
I think the only thing I was disappointed in is that we do get a pretty interesting character who sees visions, etc. and I felt like we didn’t get enough of her!!
There is of course lots of teenage angst, lots of “I don’t want to stay in this small town” versus “the world outside the small town is scary you should stay” arguments.
Overall though - this book is creepy. Some of the decisions they make don’t always make sense. And I wish the magic was maybe more fleshed out.
It is though refreshingly different! I feel like you don’t see too many books in the YA genre like this (or at least I haven’t come upon them yet). It’s got a toned down Stephen King feel to it.
This story follows Laurel Early who decides to drop out of college and move back home. Home as it turns out is haunted. And her and her three friends gotta figure out what the hell is happening.
Now I will say this is set in a small southern town. So the kids all grew up tending the Tabasco fields and Laurel Early enjoys being a taxidermist in her free time. But because of this setting I say it’s a little hard to classify the book- I think this book is more YA Horror than it is fantasy.
There is some magic but it’s just a little. And it’s really loosely explained.
I think the only thing I was disappointed in is that we do get a pretty interesting character who sees visions, etc. and I felt like we didn’t get enough of her!!
There is of course lots of teenage angst, lots of “I don’t want to stay in this small town” versus “the world outside the small town is scary you should stay” arguments.
Overall though - this book is creepy. Some of the decisions they make don’t always make sense. And I wish the magic was maybe more fleshed out.
It is though refreshingly different! I feel like you don’t see too many books in the YA genre like this (or at least I haven’t come upon them yet). It’s got a toned down Stephen King feel to it.
mountainzombie's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A beautiful little folk horror. It’s a good read when the leaves start to fall and the world is getting colder.
makthewyrm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
growplantsreadbooks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Such a cool concept, it's a shame that all of the characters were one dimensional and annoying.
The friendship dynamic was very flat. They didn't feel like they knew each other. The romantic relationships were even worse.
I should have stopped reading but the villain and the magic were really cool.
The friendship dynamic was very flat. They didn't feel like they knew each other. The romantic relationships were even worse.
I should have stopped reading but the villain and the magic were really cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
aubrea27h's review
3.0
I had to listen to this book on audio in order to finish, it wasn’t able to keep my attention otherwise.
I feel like I am missing something about this book. Either I didn’t fully understand the symbolism in it, or there was a LOT of flowery (pun-intended) language and descriptions for things that were unnecessary. Instead of describing Ricky’s eyes for the 13th time I would have loved fleshing out the magic a bit more. Or more character development of Christine?
Love the death-rot-life theme in it for sure!
Anyway, either something was missing from the book, or I missed something. Not sure which. The good news is that I’m pretty sure this book did manage to pass the Bechtel Test with only 2 living female characters, so good on the author for that one
I feel like I am missing something about this book. Either I didn’t fully understand the symbolism in it, or there was a LOT of flowery (pun-intended) language and descriptions for things that were unnecessary. Instead of describing Ricky’s eyes for the 13th time I would have loved fleshing out the magic a bit more. Or more character development of Christine?
Love the death-rot-life theme in it for sure!
Anyway, either something was missing from the book, or I missed something. Not sure which. The good news is that I’m pretty sure this book did manage to pass the Bechtel Test with only 2 living female characters, so good on the author for that one
mickellann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No