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chrissie_385's review
3.0
This one took a little longer to really pick up but now I'm invested in how the rest of this series plays out!
greatgoodfineok's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Slow and unfulfilling. The romance is flat, as are the characters.
you think it’s about the apocalypse, but it’s about your mother-in-law being a bitch.
mac_daydreams's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The romance in this is absolutely cringeworthy and flat. Made me rate the book low because of it. But the main "world ending" plot is good. Super intriguing on that front. Can' wait to read more.
themysterymaven's review
3.0
This novel is a different kind of genre-twist from the other Darcy Coates’ stories I’ve read thus far. Coates is extremely adept at eerie atmospheric writing, and this book is no different. Think mysterious mansion in a wintry woods, sheltering two strange companions amidst a terrible turn in the weather, where shadows and strange bumps-in-the-night abound.
However, rather than haunted, this story unfolds in a mysterious apocalyptic world, where neither we or the main characters has any real idea as to the state of humanity. It’s reminiscent of Cloverfield / The Happening. As you read, you’re trying to draw the same conclusions as the characters: what is amiss? Is it aliens, ghosts, disease, or some altogether insidious invasion by things our minds have yet to comprehend?!
The thing is, you have to continue the series for which this book begins if you want the full truths. We do get a glaring glimpse of the chaos at hand in the end of this novel - and whoa, wasn’t expecting it at all - and all I’ll say is that it takes on a very sci-fi surprise. This is not my normal genre of choice, so I’m still TBD as to whether I venture on. But, if you’re really into Coates and want to experience another dimension of her beautiful, gothic writing, then this may be just the thing!
However, rather than haunted, this story unfolds in a mysterious apocalyptic world, where neither we or the main characters has any real idea as to the state of humanity. It’s reminiscent of Cloverfield / The Happening. As you read, you’re trying to draw the same conclusions as the characters: what is amiss? Is it aliens, ghosts, disease, or some altogether insidious invasion by things our minds have yet to comprehend?!
The thing is, you have to continue the series for which this book begins if you want the full truths. We do get a glaring glimpse of the chaos at hand in the end of this novel - and whoa, wasn’t expecting it at all - and all I’ll say is that it takes on a very sci-fi surprise. This is not my normal genre of choice, so I’m still TBD as to whether I venture on. But, if you’re really into Coates and want to experience another dimension of her beautiful, gothic writing, then this may be just the thing!
crzyarrow's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
burningupasun's review
5.0
This book hits so many checkmarks I didn't even realize could be found in one book: a creepy and opulent hidden manor in the woods, a tall, dark, and handsome man who is kind but mysterious, some 'oh no we have to share a room/bed' tropes, but also an apocalyptic event, and... zombies? Mutants?
Seriously... if you like romance books and apocalyptic books and zombies this is a great combo of all three. Excited to read the next in the series.
Seriously... if you like romance books and apocalyptic books and zombies this is a great combo of all three. Excited to read the next in the series.
anniebookks's review
4.0
I gave this book a 4.5/5 ⭐️. I know it wasn’t supposed to be a romance book, but I loved the romance in it. This book didn’t scare me at all, but I couldn’t stop reading it. Definitely worth the read, it’s a bit slow , but keeps you entertained to keep reading! It was something very different than what I’m used to reading! Loved it!
katiescho741's review
3.0
More like a 2.5 star.
This book felt a bit odd action/pacing-wise. The first third of the book is basically two people making soup and building fires. Then things kick off around the 50% mark, then it slows back down to soup and fire, then some crazy shit happens in the final quarter.
I liked the way that we get a glimpse at the end of the world in the opening chapter but we don't have all the info. And then the sudden switch to Clare being in a house with a stranger and not remembering anything about the previous day meant the reader was in the dark, which I thought kept things pretty tense. When her memories come back to her and we learn what the apocalypse was about, it's intense and the descriptions of the monsters is creepy as hell.
But the final act was a bit laughable to be honest. I liked the OTT gothic storyline about Dorran's crazy family but things took a turn for the nutty for the climax of the book and it was just really silly.
I think if things had been tied toegther a bit more of if the reveals had been different. The book could have bee, about 100 pages shorter.
This book felt a bit odd action/pacing-wise. The first third of the book is basically two people making soup and building fires. Then things kick off around the 50% mark, then it slows back down to soup and fire, then some crazy shit happens in the final quarter.
I liked the way that we get a glimpse at the end of the world in the opening chapter but we don't have all the info. And then the sudden switch to Clare being in a house with a stranger and not remembering anything about the previous day meant the reader was in the dark, which I thought kept things pretty tense. When her memories come back to her and we learn what the apocalypse was about, it's intense and the descriptions of the monsters is creepy as hell.
But the final act was a bit laughable to be honest. I liked the OTT gothic storyline about Dorran's crazy family but things took a turn for the nutty for the climax of the book and it was just really silly.
Spoiler
I saw the romance plot coming a mile off, and I was hoping they wouldn't because it felt so cornyI think if things had been tied toegther a bit more of if the reveals had been different. The book could have bee, about 100 pages shorter.