howlinglibraries's reviews
1739 reviews

slow-paced

3.5

Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

I'll read other books by both of these authors, but this one wasn't for me. As someone who reads a lot of smut in romance and horror, this book definitely suffered from 'Sex Scenes Written By Men' lol (IYKYK).

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"It's a dangerous thing, to try and give someone everything. One day, you might find you've given away things you should've kept."

This was one of the most beautifully haunting books I've read in quite a while and has easily, instantly found its way onto the 'best books of 2024' list in my mind. My Darling Dreadful Thing is precisely what I want from a gothic horror novel: dark, romantic, claustrophobic, and downright chilling. Scenes of horrific imagery and even worse traumas take place against an immersive and poetic backdrop filled with forbidden love, and I adored it. It broke my heart more than once. I can't wait to read more of Johanna's works. ♥