Scan barcode
rikathestrange's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
elle_griffin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny and Car accident
petite_madeline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, Addy finds herself in a dark and horrifying reality.
This novella is not at all what I expected. I went into this book looking for a spooky story steeped in Mothman lore and horror. What I got was a spiraling dark and confusing trip through subterranean terror. I enjoyed it, but it's just not what I expected.
Initially, I was annoyed that all of Addy's internal dialog and advice was coming from the various men in her life. I kept thinking, "Why does she need these men to guide her? Why can't her character be strong on her own." But, without going into to much spoiling detail, by the end I realized that was the point of this story.
We love horror that has a deeper message!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Toxic relationship
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I heard about this book on instagram reels and I picked it up because it was a short. My expectations were that it'd be a mothman type creature feature but it was so different from what I expected. It's not a traditional creature feature in which our characters are plainly stalked by a cryptid - it's more complex than that.
The ambience in this book is excellent. It reminded me a lot of the movie Barbarian in the sense that our protagonist is travelling alone and doesn't know whether or not to trust this man who is being kind and accomodating to her obvious skepticism.
What this book delivers is a wild ride. For sucha short book, it delivered some excellent little twists. Totally subverted my expectations.
Something this book does well is creating characters you care about in a short period of time.
The writing and dialogue was good. There were times where I felt a little confused regarding the characters surroundings but its a dark night so I suppose it's meant to feel disorienting.
It is a scary book. I almost finished it in one sitting just because I was nervous to go to sleep part way through. It's also fast paced and exciting and I was investing it what the hell was going on.
The first three quarters of the book are the best. The ending isn't bad. I think in horror it's often best to be left not understanding what happened rather than getting a big exposition dump but also I HAVE QUESTIONS. I WANT TO KNOW MORE.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit
I don't recommend reading the spoilers because it'll take all the excitement out of the book and it's actually way cooler in the book than it sounds when I write it out. This is not an extreme horror novel.dogearedbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Vomit
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, Trafficking, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Stalking, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit and Medical content
gssll_lpz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Car accident
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
"Came outta nowhere, didn't it?"
There are four things that I love, all of which are present in this book: cryptids, feminist horror, Laurel Hightower's writing, and a story so action-packed I have to devour it in one sitting.
I love cryptid stories in general, and like many cryptid lovers, I have a soft spot for Mothman. (I'm a diehard member of the "Mothman isn't bad, actually, he's just trying to help" club, in case you were wondering.)
When I heard Laurel was writing a story involving him, I was immediately sold, though I did force myself to patiently wait a little while to read this because I knew one of my favorite bookish groups was planning to read it in October. It was so worth the wait!
I loved Addy's character and how angry and full of spite and pain she was over the misogyny she'd faced throughout her life, especially from her ex-husband. When we meet her, she's already jaded and mistrusting of men she meets, and honestly, it was very easy to relate to her concerns and wariness. But that element of the story takes a backseat pretty quickly because let me tell you, shit hits the fan fast in this novella, and once it does, it never lets up until the end.
I was totally captivated and loved every second of this. It would make such a fun horror movie adaptation (*cough cough, side-eyes streaming services*), and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes cryptids, creature features, and/or horror with badass, tough feminist heroines. I can't wait to see what Laurel comes out with next!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Domestic abuse