This would have got 2 stars, except in the last couple of chapters I re-imagined it as a love story with supernatural elements, rather than a ghost story, which added an extra star. It wasn't haunting or spooky in the slightest - once I gave up on reading a ghost story, I enjoyed it a lot more.
An interesting if predictable (and sometimes forced) plot, characters that had potential that wasn't realised, but an altogether engaging read.
The set-up took about two thirds of the book; more once I'd realised the sheer amount of reading group notes at the back. The book was very descriptive, but still seemed to fall short; I knew everything there was to know about the scenery, and the weather, and Freddie (the main character's) past; and yet I feel like I never knew how he felt, or what he was thinking beyond the superficial, which is the kind of stuff that is vital to know in a ghost story. Although it was made clear early on that he has struggled with depression and suicide, I felt like this had no influence on the character at all. All of the actual plot felt rushed, which is odd, as you only need to look at Kate Mosse's other books to know that she's not afraid to write massive, long tomes. I do wonder why this is so short, because the love story itself is just about believable, but could have done with a lot more substance. The photographs interspersed throughout added nothing to the story; one of them was utterly unrelated to the text around it, and another interrupted the story mid-sentence, halfway down a page.
I felt like this book had so much potential, but just failed to deliver with any subtlety.

Woah, that was intense!

I absolutely could not put this book down. I constantly wanted to know what had happened, what would happen, and whether or not it had actually happened. The balance between the two characters was perfect; Nick, the nice if useless guy who has the potential to be awful, rude and callous; and Amy, the psychotic, manipulative woman, who is just human enough for everything she does to be believable. The first half of the book was Amy manipulating Nick; the second half Nick manipulating Amy; and the epilogue section, them each manipulating each other into who they wanted them to be. By the end, I felt that they each actually wanted a 'perfect' spouse, but didn't know how to get that without coercing the other into that role.

This was one of the most imaginative takes on the time-travel and parallel universes genres that I've ever read, and managed to make a fairly quick, gripping read convincingly feel like a story that spanned over hundreds of years. Harry is such a brilliant character - with that combination of determination and apathy that any human would have if they had the possibility of living forever - and the story, though very complex, is relatively easy to follow. Would highly recommend!

This book was so deeply atmospheric, I was immediately drawn straight into the story and its world. While the ghost-story aspect was extremely chilling and at points terrifying, what made this book for me was how at its core, it was about humanity; how we deal with being alone, how we choose to live our lives, and what we do for those we love.

I read all of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness when they first came out, when I was about 11/12 ish, but have never got round to reading this until now. I have to say it did not disappoint; the worlds that Michelle Paver creates are so strong and vivid, you feel like you are right there with the characters. It was completely unputdownable, and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

This little book is, I think, one of the most important and affecting things I've ever read - it almost feels like 5 stars aren't enough. JK Rowling's insight into humanity and what it means to live 'very good lives' is so incredibly moving and real, paired with illustrations that brilliantly fit her words. I will definitely cherish this - and, I'm sure, read it again on my own graduation day.