After reading "A Head Full of Ghosts", Temblay's "The Cabin at the End of the World" called to me from my e-book shelf. Without restraint, I dove head first into this novel hoping and expecting to love it as much as I enjoyed A Head Full of Ghosts. 

While this novel doesn't quite reach the heights of that for me, it was still an enjoyable, compelling read. There are several flaws and criticisms, much of which I have seen is

directed at the ambiguous nature of the ending

, alongside complaints it's a bit too meandering in places. 

I think you could chop this down into a tighter story, and it isn't perfectly executed, but the idea is so compelling I think if you find the premise interesting you'll get something out of it. 

The dads were affable and relatable. Wen was sweet and pensive for such a young child. The 'horsemen' who visit were both under and overcooked. Leonard made for a compelling 'villain'

and his utter despair at killing Wen

as well as his general arguments made him believable and empathetic. 

I was a bit disappointed by

the ambiguous nature of the ending

, though I suppose I should've expected it. Like with "A Head Full of Ghosts", I have my own conclusion, but I think it's possible to justify the 'horsemen' as either cultist fanatics or genuine messengers from a spiteful God. I think

the horsemen were telling the truth the entire time. The rational explanations of the first couple of 'signs' shown to the family kept me happy, until the seven aeroplanes fell out of the sky. The number seven is significant in Revalation, and features throughout the book. Seven grasshoppers. Seven knocks at the door. Seven point something for the first earthquake. To me, alongside the timing, this felt a little too serendipitous, but you could absolutely argue the other way, with these events as coincidence.

So, while I think it wasn't as good as AHFoG, I do think it's a fun read, if you don't mind an ambiguous ending.