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bettyhayter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read Alex Bell before, but I read Point Horror and Christopher Pike when they were cool, I read Charlie Higson's zombie series and Micheal Grant's Gone, I read Stephen King now. This'll be fine, right? Nothing can be as bad as those!
Oh, how I envy two days ago me's innocence.
To be fair, it starts out merely creepy, with a spooky setting and strange birds. That's like a lot of books. Then Alex starts to pile on the tension. And then...I don't want to spoil it, but it is up there in the blurb...Rosie vanishes, not just physically but from everyone's memories as well. Jess's panic and horror are painful to read, especially as she realises she's starting to forget her sister too.
When I was reading the scene in the cellar, I had to sit up and turn on some extra lights.
And it doesn't even end there! Alex drops a huge sequel hook right near the end, and I very much hope it gets picked up. Although some of the mysteries have been solved, there's still plenty left to find out about the lighthouse and its strange inhabitants.
Alex has a gift for capturing emotions both good and bad, and I felt everything her characters did. I'll be going to look for some more of her writing. But...maybe in the sunshine?
Oh, how I envy two days ago me's innocence.
To be fair, it starts out merely creepy, with a spooky setting and strange birds. That's like a lot of books. Then Alex starts to pile on the tension. And then...I don't want to spoil it, but it is up there in the blurb...Rosie vanishes, not just physically but from everyone's memories as well. Jess's panic and horror are painful to read, especially as she realises she's starting to forget her sister too.
When I was reading the scene in the cellar, I had to sit up and turn on some extra lights.
And it doesn't even end there! Alex drops a huge sequel hook right near the end, and I very much hope it gets picked up. Although some of the mysteries have been solved, there's still plenty left to find out about the lighthouse and its strange inhabitants.
Alex has a gift for capturing emotions both good and bad, and I felt everything her characters did. I'll be going to look for some more of her writing. But...maybe in the sunshine?
theslothofthesea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death
preetam's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ellenjanemck's review against another edition
mysterious
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
2.0
thelifetimemuse's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My first (scary) book. And I was scared.
troll_emoji_irl's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
IN THE END LIKE LIKE YA KNOW
rachellizzi's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
tartle_frogster's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
quillnqueer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
This story is creepy, claustrophobic and chilling, really nailing the horror elements. However I did find myself thinking that this book was a little overstuffed at times, adding in extra unneeded characters and red herring stories before finally revealing the true reason for Rosie's disappearance.
I wasn't sure about Will being a love interest. While Jess's family are visiting the island and lighthouse for scientific reasons, Will's family is there to... murder a couple of thousand baby birds. Which after some initial ick Jess never questions Will on.
Because of choices made in the final chapter, I did leave this story feeling like it wasn't quite finished, and it was yet another thing added to the story that felt unnecessary. I can't tell this wasn't intended for a sequel either.
I wasn't sure about Will being a love interest. While Jess's family are visiting the island and lighthouse for scientific reasons, Will's family is there to... murder a couple of thousand baby birds. Which after some initial ick Jess never questions Will on.
Because of choices made in the final chapter, I did leave this story feeling like it wasn't quite finished, and it was yet another thing added to the story that felt unnecessary. I can't tell this wasn't intended for a sequel either.