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Lucy L (0 KP) rated The Essex Serpent in Books

Mar 9, 2018  
The Essex Serpent
The Essex Serpent
Sarah Perry | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.1 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Intriguing gothic drama
I’d wanted to read this for a while based purely on the glorious cover. It was a very pleasant gothic Victorian novel with the very intriguing mysetery of the Fabled Essex serpent weaving it’s way through. However it’s main focus is the interactions between the main characters and the enormous impact that each has on the others lives over the course of a year, predominantly for the worse.

It is a beautifully written novel and the detail is gorgeous, but at times it felt slow with little to hold my attention. I found myself skimming ahead sometimes. The characters weren’t always relatable and I didn’t feel any great connection to any of them. The promises of the Essex serpent itself is handled well and used expertly to draw out everyone’s heightened fears feeding off their own misdeeds.


I would still recommend this book. Just maybe not for anyone looking for a rousing novel. However a calm afternoon with a pot of tea to yourself it’s worth giving it a go.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala (Book Club Mystery, #3) in Books

Mar 9, 2018  
TR
The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala (Book Club Mystery, #3)
Laura DiSilverio | 2016
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Amy-Faye is coordinating a celebration of Gothic novels for the local bookstore, culminating in a dance that night. The night ends in tragedy when a dead body is found – the body of a stranger. Amy-Faye had seen the victim during the events earlier in the day. Who was he? Why would someone kill him? And can the Readaholics’s latest read, Rebecca, offer some clues to the modern crime?

It is wonderful to be back in the presents of this group of mystery lovers. All five of the women are great and contribute in their own ways to the plot. The mystery is strong with some good twists and surprises before we reach the logical and satisfying ending. I hadn’t read Rebecca before I picked up this book, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment at all.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-readaholics-and-gothic-gala.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Menna (1 KP) rated Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1) in Books

Jan 24, 2018  
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)
Christina Henry | 2016 | Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.0 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Really dark Alice in Wonderland retelling
So I may be slightly biased since I love anything Alice and Wonderland related. But this is by far the best retelling of the original Lewis Carol story.

Disturbing and dark this book doesn't pussyfoot around some controversial subjects. However, it is able to steer away from anything crude while still being adult and gory.


This isn't a book for the faint-hearted with some wonderful but graphic descriptions. However, if you like dark and gothic definitely give this a try.
  
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Ashleigh (4 KP) rated Jane Eyre in Books

Oct 8, 2018  
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë, Stevie Davies | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.1 (57 Ratings)
Book Rating
Two very strong leads (0 more)
Too wordy and tends to drag (0 more)
A beautiful masterpiece
Jane Eyre is a masterpiece because of its Gothic fairytale feel in the atmosphere of Thornfield and its strong, complex characters including the quiet, independent Jane and Rochester who was dark and moody yet longing for companionship. Even though I give it A+ it tends to be wordy and drag at the end espically the scenes with St. John Rivers. Despite all that Jane Eyre is a beautiful complex story worth reading.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Familiars in Books

Feb 16, 2020  
The Familiars
The Familiars
Stacey Halls | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Thriller
8
8.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm a little unsure what to say about this book. It's very well written and it's a great little gothic novel, with a great setting in Lancashire during the time of the Pendle witches. Fleetwood is an endearing if not slightly irrational protagonist and mostly likeable, although I do think some of the other characters were a little underdeveloped. This is just an all round very good and well written novel that I struggled to put down, even if the plot wasn't exactly unpredictable.