sooky's review against another edition
3.0
What a wild ride this book was! This story feels like getting lost in the house of mirrors at a creepy carnival; your head is spinning, you frequently exclaim “What the shit?”, but carry on anyway because it’s sort of fun and you are kind of curious what else they can throw at you in an attempt to scare the hell out of you.
Hekla’s Children is not your average horror novel. I mean, sure, you have a healthy dose of blood and guts flying around, it’s spooky, has a great amount of mystery surrounding the bog mummy, but it also reads as a fantasy story, heavily seasoned with mythology, ancient rituals and folklore. Set in present day England and a sort of in-between world, called Un resembling what it must have been like in the Bronze Age, the story alternates between reality and the spirit world, keeping you on your toes all the time.
Hekla’s Children is a truly unique horror story, an enjoyable, quick read for fans of the genre.
Full review on Reading Under the Blankie
Hekla’s Children is not your average horror novel. I mean, sure, you have a healthy dose of blood and guts flying around, it’s spooky, has a great amount of mystery surrounding the bog mummy, but it also reads as a fantasy story, heavily seasoned with mythology, ancient rituals and folklore. Set in present day England and a sort of in-between world, called Un resembling what it must have been like in the Bronze Age, the story alternates between reality and the spirit world, keeping you on your toes all the time.
Hekla’s Children is a truly unique horror story, an enjoyable, quick read for fans of the genre.
Full review on Reading Under the Blankie
zhy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
maryleong's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those novels where I'm going to need a re-read just to fully parse any details I might have missed the first time round. A deeply unsettling novel which merges ancient folklore, history, and mythology, where time and reality are distorted and bent.
Nathan Brookes is deeply tormented by the mistakes and regrets of his past. As a teacher on a field trip, four of his students go missing, with three never to return. The one who re-emerges is traumatized, distressed, and never speaks of what happens. When an ancient body, dubbed the “Rowton Man”, is unearthed at the site of the disappearance, it is initially believed to be one of the students. Strange and sinister incidents start to happen and Nathan must delve into the world of Un, a shadowy world which mirrors our own, spanning millennia and cultures.
While the story is framed as one between cosmic good and evil, it is really a story about the darkness that festers within each of us when we refuse to confront our own past. The cyclical nature of that darkness, and how we pass it on to others around us. Overall, a really intriguing page-turner which I'll definitely need to return to.
Nathan Brookes is deeply tormented by the mistakes and regrets of his past. As a teacher on a field trip, four of his students go missing, with three never to return. The one who re-emerges is traumatized, distressed, and never speaks of what happens. When an ancient body, dubbed the “Rowton Man”, is unearthed at the site of the disappearance, it is initially believed to be one of the students. Strange and sinister incidents start to happen and Nathan must delve into the world of Un, a shadowy world which mirrors our own, spanning millennia and cultures.
While the story is framed as one between cosmic good and evil, it is really a story about the darkness that festers within each of us when we refuse to confront our own past. The cyclical nature of that darkness, and how we pass it on to others around us. Overall, a really intriguing page-turner which I'll definitely need to return to.
aparker89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Are you ready for a supernatural horror story with a twist that is beautifully shocking? This book had me hooked and staying up all hours just to complete it.
While some bits of the ending felt a little rushed and the epilogue left me wanting, the last hundred pages were completely immersive and teased nicely the other worldy possibilities.
Overall the story was well written, the plot has a spectacular twist, the characters are relatable and the antagonist(s) are fantastically repulsive.
While some bits of the ending felt a little rushed and the epilogue left me wanting, the last hundred pages were completely immersive and teased nicely the other worldy possibilities.
Overall the story was well written, the plot has a spectacular twist, the characters are relatable and the antagonist(s) are fantastically repulsive.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Death, Suicide, and Cursing
the_us3rname_i5_always_tak3n's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
lsmith36's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story really picked up about the halfway point and was really strong in the second half, but then fell flat a bit for me in the final 20 pages. I think it would have been a stronger story if the author had focused more on the fantasy aspects and the interdeminsional travel over the monster coming into the real world.
refr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Slavery, Rape, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Medical content, Vomit, Infidelity, Death, Cannibalism, Blood, and Sexual violence
kara_oak's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cchir's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
Some good twists. Last 1/4 was quite good.