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bookswithlydscl's Reviews (639)
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
took a little while to warm up, but when it did, I was all in. At 630 pages, it felt too short almost. There's a whole lot more story that feels like could be told and is waiting in the wings. Some great character stories with wonderful redemption arcs that ensure, despite how much more story there seems to be, that the ending closes in a satisfying way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the stronger installments. Really enjoyed this one.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
another enjoyable installment but sometimes Violet is just insufferable.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
a really lovely story about a young boy trying to find his place in the world, ultimately helped by getting a special silver saxophone.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Just didn't work for me at the moment. Will keep hardback and try in future
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is the kind of book that makes for a solid holiday read thriller - plenty of glitz, glam, secrets, twists and many many awful people. Disappointed by the ultimate who/why and it felt very convoluted, lots of missed opportunities for communication or miscommunication which got repetitive, but generally I enjoyed the ride to get there.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A complex and lyrical short story that packs a lot into its 29/30 pages. It was particularly effective and the best of the Into Shadow Collection so far (no. 3). There's something about the author's writing though that doesn't connect for me (having read Starling House) so whilst I can appreciate the beauty and horror on offer here I don't think I'll read further works.
DNF at 20%
Great premise but the characters and narrative voice didn't work for me. Really disliked the useless father trope for Ben and got tired of it and his agonising over his exwife very quickly.
Premise reminded me of The Silent Patient in several respects which I enjoyed but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
Great premise but the characters and narrative voice didn't work for me. Really disliked the useless father trope for Ben and got tired of it and his agonising over his exwife very quickly.
Premise reminded me of The Silent Patient in several respects which I enjoyed but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed overall.
Key thoughts and notes -
Classic KM structure - Family, secrets, dual timeline, historical mystery (it all works for me each time)
Nora just overall read as a terrible person
I figured out the who and how mainly thanks to being a Poirot fan
Didn't get a few other key plot points which was great - nice to get those revelations as a surprise
Communication really would have helped but Jess reads as a selfish person so not surprising even with her being a journalist
Unreliable narrators abound - a key trope in Kate Morton's books and it works again
Key thoughts and notes -
Classic KM structure - Family, secrets, dual timeline, historical mystery (it all works for me each time)
Nora just overall read as a terrible person
I figured out the who and how mainly thanks to being a Poirot fan
Didn't get a few other key plot points which was great - nice to get those revelations as a surprise
Communication really would have helped but Jess reads as a selfish person so not surprising even with her being a journalist
Unreliable narrators abound - a key trope in Kate Morton's books and it works again