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alienclans's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I knew I would just from the description because it’s right up my alley. It’s got a flawed, female main character, the reader is left wondering what’s real, and it uses horror/fairy tale to explore other topics. That’s about all I ever look for in this kind of novel.
Lauren gives birth to twin boys and fears that they may have been replaced by changelings. It’s a story about motherhood and the toll that it takes on new mothers. It really roped me in. I could relate to Lauren and I understood her mindset. I loved how she was written. The reader can clearly see her unraveling but still kind of roots for her (or at least I did). Even though most everyone else in the story sees it one way, the reader can’t help but wonder if Lauren’s perspective has some merit. Lauren was so captivating. Looking back on where the novel started after having finished it, it’s surprising to me how well executed her character development felt, considering the book is just barely over 300 pages.
The characters in general were well executed. Patrick was so frustrating! He seemed so real. At the beginning, he was so selfish and I disliked him immensely but I understood him. By the end, I had stopped hating Patrick. As for Harper, the detective, she grew on me too. My complaint early on was that I found Harper much less interesting and wanted to get back to Lauren’s point of view. However, her sections became more interesting as the story went on.
This was the kind of book that I wanted to rush home from work to read. It even gave me the true creeps once or twice, which I rarely get from books. I found myself avoiding the windows while reading and glancing around my apartment at the dark corners. You know, just to check.
All that being said, I found the ending somewhat disappointing. I can’t explain why without spoilers but one specific thing that Joanna finds bothered me because it felt unnecessary. Other than that though, I liked how Lauren’s story concluded. Had that last bit with Joanna been left out, I’d probably be giving this 5 stars. Probably.
I’m kind of sad I finished it. I enjoyed it so much that I want to dive back in.
Lauren gives birth to twin boys and fears that they may have been replaced by changelings. It’s a story about motherhood and the toll that it takes on new mothers. It really roped me in. I could relate to Lauren and I understood her mindset. I loved how she was written. The reader can clearly see her unraveling but still kind of roots for her (or at least I did). Even though most everyone else in the story sees it one way, the reader can’t help but wonder if Lauren’s perspective has some merit. Lauren was so captivating. Looking back on where the novel started after having finished it, it’s surprising to me how well executed her character development felt, considering the book is just barely over 300 pages.
The characters in general were well executed. Patrick was so frustrating! He seemed so real. At the beginning, he was so selfish and I disliked him immensely but I understood him. By the end, I had stopped hating Patrick. As for Harper, the detective, she grew on me too. My complaint early on was that I found Harper much less interesting and wanted to get back to Lauren’s point of view. However, her sections became more interesting as the story went on.
This was the kind of book that I wanted to rush home from work to read. It even gave me the true creeps once or twice, which I rarely get from books. I found myself avoiding the windows while reading and glancing around my apartment at the dark corners. You know, just to check.
All that being said, I found the ending somewhat disappointing. I can’t explain why without spoilers but one specific thing that Joanna finds bothered me because it felt unnecessary. Other than that though, I liked how Lauren’s story concluded. Had that last bit with Joanna been left out, I’d probably be giving this 5 stars. Probably.
I’m kind of sad I finished it. I enjoyed it so much that I want to dive back in.
princess_marie's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Blood, Dementia, Stalking, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
sargasso_c's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
33tbird's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy folklore (that prompted a deep dive into changeling stories/history) intermixed with the story of a mother losing her mind. Some parts felt unnecessary, but considering I just picked up this book randomly, I liked it!!
books_unraveling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s been a bit since a book totally captured my attention to the point I couldn’t put it down. This book was nothing like I expected and had spookiness, creepiness, drama, and psychological thrills. First Melanie Golding book I’ve read, but certainly not the last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Child death
blueshadow80's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
buchweiser's review against another edition
4.0
„Kalte Wasser“ ist der Debütroman von Melanie Golding, die in Bath Kreatives Schreiben studierte und ihre Fähigkeiten in ihrem Erstlingswerk seh rgut zur Geltung bringt.
Den Einstieg in die Geschichte fand ich zunächst ein wenig langatmig und im Nachhinein mit all den Details zur Geburt der Zwillinge auch ein wenig überflüssig, doch hat man diese Szene hinter sich gebracht, nimmt die Erzählung deutlich an Fahrt auf.
Es ist schwierig, etwas über das Geschehen zu schreiben, ohne zu viel zu verraten, aber – was man vielleicht vorher wissen sollte – es gibt ein phantastisches Element, das diesen Roman eher bei „Magischer Realismus“ als bei „Psychothriller“ ansiedelt.
Mir hat genau das ausgesprochen gut gefallen, aber ich bin auch ohne jegliche Erwartung an dieses Buch herangegangen und war deshalb sehr überrascht, wie gut der Autorin dieser Spagat gelungen ist.
Auch die Hauptcharaktere waren sehr recht gut ausgearbeitet, insbesondere Lauren, doch auch Harper ist eine Figur mit Tiefe.
Lediglich Laurens Mann blieb für mich ein wenig widersprüchlich. Sah es anfangs so aus, als wolle er seine Frau mit den Kinderns am liebsten allein lassen, so kümmerte er sich später jedoch aufopferungsvoll um seine Familie. Diesen Wandel konnte ich nicht ganz nachvollziehen, war aber für mich eher nebensächlich.
„Kalte Wasser“ ist ein gelungenes Debüt, das Lust auf mehr von dieser Autorin macht.
Den Einstieg in die Geschichte fand ich zunächst ein wenig langatmig und im Nachhinein mit all den Details zur Geburt der Zwillinge auch ein wenig überflüssig, doch hat man diese Szene hinter sich gebracht, nimmt die Erzählung deutlich an Fahrt auf.
Es ist schwierig, etwas über das Geschehen zu schreiben, ohne zu viel zu verraten, aber – was man vielleicht vorher wissen sollte – es gibt ein phantastisches Element, das diesen Roman eher bei „Magischer Realismus“ als bei „Psychothriller“ ansiedelt.
Mir hat genau das ausgesprochen gut gefallen, aber ich bin auch ohne jegliche Erwartung an dieses Buch herangegangen und war deshalb sehr überrascht, wie gut der Autorin dieser Spagat gelungen ist.
Auch die Hauptcharaktere waren sehr recht gut ausgearbeitet, insbesondere Lauren, doch auch Harper ist eine Figur mit Tiefe.
Lediglich Laurens Mann blieb für mich ein wenig widersprüchlich. Sah es anfangs so aus, als wolle er seine Frau mit den Kinderns am liebsten allein lassen, so kümmerte er sich später jedoch aufopferungsvoll um seine Familie. Diesen Wandel konnte ich nicht ganz nachvollziehen, war aber für mich eher nebensächlich.
„Kalte Wasser“ ist ein gelungenes Debüt, das Lust auf mehr von dieser Autorin macht.
helgamharb's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
During her stay at the hospital after giving birth to twins, Lauren is visited by a creepy woman in the middle of the night. She tells Lauren she wants one of her babies or else she would take them both and replace them with her own.
A frantic 999 call by Lauren brings the police and the security guard to her room. But no one has seen or heard anything. Everybody, including her husband believes she is imagining things due to exhaustion and lack of sleep.
Is the menacing woman just a vision? Or is she real? Does someone really want to take Lauren's children?
Little Darlings is a well-written, chilling and hair-raising story. You may say it is a combination of horror, mystery and fairy tale. However for me, it fell short. The beginning was suspenseful and engaging and I was waiting for a big twist at the end, which never came.
During her stay at the hospital after giving birth to twins, Lauren is visited by a creepy woman in the middle of the night. She tells Lauren she wants one of her babies or else she would take them both and replace them with her own.
A frantic 999 call by Lauren brings the police and the security guard to her room. But no one has seen or heard anything. Everybody, including her husband believes she is imagining things due to exhaustion and lack of sleep.
Is the menacing woman just a vision? Or is she real? Does someone really want to take Lauren's children?
Little Darlings is a well-written, chilling and hair-raising story. You may say it is a combination of horror, mystery and fairy tale. However for me, it fell short. The beginning was suspenseful and engaging and I was waiting for a big twist at the end, which never came.
annalg0514's review against another edition
5.0
Strange but addictive story
Overall I liked this book. It was predictable but it was written well enough that I kept reading anyways. I’d recommend it if you’re into dark psychological thrillers with a little magical twist.
Overall I liked this book. It was predictable but it was written well enough that I kept reading anyways. I’d recommend it if you’re into dark psychological thrillers with a little magical twist.