emperorcupcake's review
4.0
A great collection of spooky, interconnected tales from the aptly-named Ghost Lake. I enjoyed all 13 stories. There's something about Indigenous horror stories that really appeal to (i.e., scare) me. Maybe it's the often-remote locations, where it seems like anything could happen. Maybe it's because they're based on actual legends so they feel like they could be real - maybe they are. They feel so present, they're in the land itself. They've always been there. That's the kind of story I like. Ancient, unknowable, yet weirdly familiar; the thing you see out of the corner of your eye when you get lost in the woods. That blur of movement, and then it's gone, and you wonder if it was really there or just your mind playing tricks. I like to think the woods and lakes and mountains are full of such things, even now. It makes our endless, homogenous suburban landscape a little more bearable, thinking of the hidden, magic corners of the world that will outlive every Starbucks and Babies-r-Us.
And shoutout to my absolute fave character, Euwen! It really would be cool to be a crow.
And shoutout to my absolute fave character, Euwen! It really would be cool to be a crow.
bhagestedt's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
melancholymegs's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Moderate: Racial slurs, Animal death, Racism, Vomit, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug use
mags13's review
5.0
Wow. What an incredible collection of stories.
I was hooked within a few pages of the first story and my attention never wavered after that point. “Incendiaries”, the first story in the collection may be one of my favourites, but honestly, they were all so good! I hardly ever give short story collections five stars because there’s usually one or two, I don’t connect with, but that was not the case here.
Each story was so engaging in its own way. Adler’s writing style is intense and atmospheric. He’s able to create a vivid setting within a few pages. The world was rich, and deep. I felt like I was there, on a canoe in Ghost Lake, or exploring the burial ground, or trekking through the woods. I grew connected to the area as each story went on, which leaves me missing Ghost Lake now that I'm done reading.
The author's character writing is incredible too. He creates believable and relatable characters again within just a few pages. I found I was immediately drawn to his characters. I cared about them and their stories and always wanted to know more. I was rooting for their success, and shaking my head at their mistakes. I was worried for them when they got into danger!
Many of the stories are fast-paced, and action packed, while being incredibly deep as well. They cover a range of themes and experiences and in every case have a connection to the spirit world. I loved reading/learning about some of the Ojibwe cosmology. I honestly will be recommending this book to everyone I can. I’m also so excited to go back and read the author’s other book, as well as anything else he releases.
I was hooked within a few pages of the first story and my attention never wavered after that point. “Incendiaries”, the first story in the collection may be one of my favourites, but honestly, they were all so good! I hardly ever give short story collections five stars because there’s usually one or two, I don’t connect with, but that was not the case here.
Each story was so engaging in its own way. Adler’s writing style is intense and atmospheric. He’s able to create a vivid setting within a few pages. The world was rich, and deep. I felt like I was there, on a canoe in Ghost Lake, or exploring the burial ground, or trekking through the woods. I grew connected to the area as each story went on, which leaves me missing Ghost Lake now that I'm done reading.
The author's character writing is incredible too. He creates believable and relatable characters again within just a few pages. I found I was immediately drawn to his characters. I cared about them and their stories and always wanted to know more. I was rooting for their success, and shaking my head at their mistakes. I was worried for them when they got into danger!
Many of the stories are fast-paced, and action packed, while being incredibly deep as well. They cover a range of themes and experiences and in every case have a connection to the spirit world. I loved reading/learning about some of the Ojibwe cosmology. I honestly will be recommending this book to everyone I can. I’m also so excited to go back and read the author’s other book, as well as anything else he releases.
yeli_reads's review
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Racial slurs
lleullawgyffes's review
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
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