mrspudd2020's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
At first, this book seemed like it was heading towards a DNF. Then, as I kept going, it seemed almost like I couldn't get enough! At times, I myself get like I needed to be in the phsyc ward. And when I found out there were two more books in the series! "When is hell run." Run, I will straight to the sequel.
rashmitha_books's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
moooonchild_'s review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zoes_human's review
2.0
I feel like there's some genuine talent here that just needs more experience and polish.
What I liked . . . The characters are quite distinct from one another, which is hard to pull off with a multicast book. I knew immediately who each character was and had no problems switching gears as the story flowed from one perspective to another. Even better, the characters were all credible. I never found myself doubting their behavior, and their reactions felt natural. Lastly, S.E. England has a talent for description. The imagery is fantastic. I could completely visualize every scene and individual. It was so well done that, when her writing was at its best, it felt almost like watching a show.
What I didn't like . . . There's an issue with repetitiveness as characters recap what has happened to other characters or to themselves. Doubtless these conversations would happen in real life, but it just doesn't read well when you are already familiar with the events. Last, and most critical, there was nothing truly original happening. I've no problem with tropes, but every tale should bring something new to the table. There just wasn't anything in Father of Lies that I've not encountered previously.
I fully plan to read the next book. I'd like to see this author mature in their work. I see a lot of potential here in terms of the areas that are difficult to master, and all of the flaws seem like technical issues that time and practice will readily erase.
What I liked . . . The characters are quite distinct from one another, which is hard to pull off with a multicast book. I knew immediately who each character was and had no problems switching gears as the story flowed from one perspective to another. Even better, the characters were all credible. I never found myself doubting their behavior, and their reactions felt natural. Lastly, S.E. England has a talent for description. The imagery is fantastic. I could completely visualize every scene and individual. It was so well done that, when her writing was at its best, it felt almost like watching a show.
What I didn't like . . . There's an issue with repetitiveness as characters recap what has happened to other characters or to themselves. Doubtless these conversations would happen in real life, but it just doesn't read well when you are already familiar with the events. Last, and most critical, there was nothing truly original happening. I've no problem with tropes, but every tale should bring something new to the table. There just wasn't anything in Father of Lies that I've not encountered previously.
I fully plan to read the next book. I'd like to see this author mature in their work. I see a lot of potential here in terms of the areas that are difficult to master, and all of the flaws seem like technical issues that time and practice will readily erase.
mangosunscreen's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Sexual violence
rmdavies92's review
dark
tense
medium-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
4.0
luminous's review
3.0
Really good possession tale. Scary. Great narration. It may have been due to listening to an audiobook, but I found it difficult keeping characters separated in my mind. The people working at the asylum, in particular, were hard to differentiate. I also found it difficult to relate to their hardships at first, because the only thing you learn about their character is said by the possessing entity and, of course, the entity focuses on what the person has done that is bad.
The dual timeliness worked well.
There was one place where I got reader's blue balls. The author has put a sympathetic character (later in the book some do become more likeable) into grave, immediate danger, and the chapter ends. Oh cool! I think. Can't wait to see her get out of this, if she does!
The next chapter starts with the same character somewhere else entirely, somewhere calm. This being audio, I'm thinking, 'how deliciously cruel of the author to go to a flashback at this exact moment!'
But no. It was a forward time skip. The character was already out of trouble, and spends time (I think they're relaxing in bed), recalling it for the reader. WTF m8. That's the WORST way to go about it!
When I began listening, it was night time. About a minute in I stopped it, because I realized it would keep me awake, it was that scary. I know that level of intensity is impossible to maintain throughout a book, but still, I only felt that level of dread a few other times. I would have appreciated some longer passages of our protagonists trying to get out of dire situations, or some more atmospheric passages.
The author does have a good grip on psychology and I appreciated that. She did her homework and it shows so brava for that.
Don't get me wrong. If you enjoy horror and possession stories, this is still a great read. I know many parts of it will stick with me. And I did like the multi-character focus. I will be eagerly continuing the trilogy.
The dual timeliness worked well.
There was one place where I got reader's blue balls. The author has put a sympathetic character (later in the book some do become more likeable) into grave, immediate danger, and the chapter ends. Oh cool! I think. Can't wait to see her get out of this, if she does!
The next chapter starts with the same character somewhere else entirely, somewhere calm. This being audio, I'm thinking, 'how deliciously cruel of the author to go to a flashback at this exact moment!'
But no. It was a forward time skip. The character was already out of trouble, and spends time (I think they're relaxing in bed), recalling it for the reader. WTF m8. That's the WORST way to go about it!
When I began listening, it was night time. About a minute in I stopped it, because I realized it would keep me awake, it was that scary. I know that level of intensity is impossible to maintain throughout a book, but still, I only felt that level of dread a few other times. I would have appreciated some longer passages of our protagonists trying to get out of dire situations, or some more atmospheric passages.
The author does have a good grip on psychology and I appreciated that. She did her homework and it shows so brava for that.
Don't get me wrong. If you enjoy horror and possession stories, this is still a great read. I know many parts of it will stick with me. And I did like the multi-character focus. I will be eagerly continuing the trilogy.
bookworm71387's review
4.0
Father of Lies: A Darkly Disturbing Occult Horror Trilogy
In hopes to get my best friend to read more I let him pick a read for us to read. I finished it and my thoughts are below. He however has about three chapters left. Such a shame he has been so busy this is a great disturbing read.
A tale of madness and horror combined with social problems such as drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and minorities (travelers), as well as crimes such as child abuse, pedophilia and satanic rituals. It’s disturbing because the spine-chilling events are believable and horrific.
Almost the whole team of doctors and staff looking after Ruby, an unidentified and complex patient, who seems to have a multiple personality disorder, suffer unexplained accidents, disappearances, death or mental breakdowns, in a rural English setting. In the lonely and atmospheric moors of northern England.
At first the explanation seems to lie in the field of medicine, but in the second half of the novel, especially the final third, the plot becomes more complex, with constant flashbacks, new characters and events which turn the story towards to a more Satanical and supernatural focus. Being a fan of Stephen King and loving a good creepy story this was right up my alley,
It is book one in a trilogy, so the end is not final. On the other hand, it is mostly satisfactory, but distressing due to the people involved in the crimes and their nature. There are however plenty of unanswered questions and threads to be continued in book two...
The action takes place in winter and the final scenes occur at Christmas time, so it's a chilling seasonal read, too.
The shocking crimes and rituals are not gorily or explicitly described, but they’re still disquieting.
It is well written and I'm interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. I hope to have a friend to read them with if not I will continue alone.
In hopes to get my best friend to read more I let him pick a read for us to read. I finished it and my thoughts are below. He however has about three chapters left. Such a shame he has been so busy this is a great disturbing read.
A tale of madness and horror combined with social problems such as drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and minorities (travelers), as well as crimes such as child abuse, pedophilia and satanic rituals. It’s disturbing because the spine-chilling events are believable and horrific.
Almost the whole team of doctors and staff looking after Ruby, an unidentified and complex patient, who seems to have a multiple personality disorder, suffer unexplained accidents, disappearances, death or mental breakdowns, in a rural English setting. In the lonely and atmospheric moors of northern England.
At first the explanation seems to lie in the field of medicine, but in the second half of the novel, especially the final third, the plot becomes more complex, with constant flashbacks, new characters and events which turn the story towards to a more Satanical and supernatural focus. Being a fan of Stephen King and loving a good creepy story this was right up my alley,
It is book one in a trilogy, so the end is not final. On the other hand, it is mostly satisfactory, but distressing due to the people involved in the crimes and their nature. There are however plenty of unanswered questions and threads to be continued in book two...
The action takes place in winter and the final scenes occur at Christmas time, so it's a chilling seasonal read, too.
The shocking crimes and rituals are not gorily or explicitly described, but they’re still disquieting.
It is well written and I'm interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. I hope to have a friend to read them with if not I will continue alone.
splatterelli's review
2.0
Unpopular opinion it seems, but I just found this one to be kind of disappointing.
So we have a psychiatric patient and a bunch of skeptic atheist doctors trying to help her. The old question, psychosis or possession? At the same time, there are some secrets unraveling; buried horrific pasts, terrible people doing terrible things.
I was so sucked in at the beginning, it was pretty creepy! Her writing style is really fluid and descriptive. There are quite a few characters involved, different time periods, and POVs per chapter, but she made it quite easy to keep up with everything.
Then it just declined for me. I was bored. Too much taken from the traditional world of The Exorcist. I can imagine if you are Christian, and scared of the boogyman Satanists in the woods with their spooky altars doing all kinds of nightmarish things, this might be scary for you. But, I found the old-fashioned satanic panic boring, overdone, and uninspired. Also, there was a little Christian propaganda feel to it, only the atheists (non-Christians) are evil and doooooomed!
Also, I am not a fan of first books of a series with no resolution.
So we have a psychiatric patient and a bunch of skeptic atheist doctors trying to help her. The old question, psychosis or possession? At the same time, there are some secrets unraveling; buried horrific pasts, terrible people doing terrible things.
I was so sucked in at the beginning, it was pretty creepy! Her writing style is really fluid and descriptive. There are quite a few characters involved, different time periods, and POVs per chapter, but she made it quite easy to keep up with everything.
Then it just declined for me. I was bored. Too much taken from the traditional world of The Exorcist. I can imagine if you are Christian, and scared of the boogyman Satanists in the woods with their spooky altars doing all kinds of nightmarish things, this might be scary for you. But, I found the old-fashioned satanic panic boring, overdone, and uninspired. Also, there was a little Christian propaganda feel to it, only the atheists (non-Christians) are evil and doooooomed!
Also, I am not a fan of first books of a series with no resolution.