Scan barcode
jessielevans18's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
catofbones's review against another edition
1.0
This book wants to be a horror novel, but it has thriller pacing and plot structure. It keeps throwing in new elements for the TWIST, rather than dealing with the emotional impact or ramifications of the last TWIST.
Once the dogs showed up, the entire plot stopped making sense. If you're very familiar with the horror genre a lot of the twists will feel predictable. That's not always a dealbreaker, but I just didn't enjoy the writing style.
Once the dogs showed up, the entire plot stopped making sense. If you're very familiar with the horror genre a lot of the twists will feel predictable. That's not always a dealbreaker, but I just didn't enjoy the writing style.
romes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Domestic abuse
connectedwings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
ashliesydel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Frieda WHO???
Catriona Ward has officially become the GOAT in my eyes. The twist turns, and suspense in this book is unmatched. And the ending! Like what?
I cried, I snatched my pearls, the true crime and cult nerd in me was eating this up. The dog lover in me found some parts difficult but I pushed through, and it was soo worth it.
** A longer review will be posted once I'm able to collect myself **
Catriona Ward has officially become the GOAT in my eyes. The twist turns, and suspense in this book is unmatched. And the ending! Like what?
I cried, I snatched my pearls, the true crime and cult nerd in me was eating this up. The dog lover in me found some parts difficult but I pushed through, and it was soo worth it.
** A longer review will be posted once I'm able to collect myself **
ing_sik's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
2.0
The writing felt a bit off to me, maybe because the narrator (Rob, the mother) was clearly 'unreliable' and had her own skeletons in her closet. You end up feeling for Rob, who is dealing with the infidelity, abuse and child who doesn't seem to like her - but I kept wondering if there was more. I found the imageries of the bones and maggots a bit disturbing but it didn't add to the story.
The ending had a good twist, props to the author for that.
The ending had a good twist, props to the author for that.
tikismash's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Nature versus nurture, Sundial is very much a grim, nightmarish expression of that statement; even though I don't think it is as tightly woven as Catriona Ward's previous effort, The Last House on Needless Street, it remains an immersive experience filled with taut tension, ultra-violence, and silent dread.
Catriona cherishes deception in her narrative, Sundial starts as a very disturbing, but quite mainstream domestic thriller, but around its 40% point the story evolves into something not as classically identifiable: a little sci-fi, a lot of human drama, and tiptoeing into body horror — think Blake Crouch and David Cronenberg. Sundial is guaranteed to be divisive, especially if you were fooled by its conventional genre setup, and would've preferred it to stay on the familiar track, rather than going into crazy town.
As much as I love its vivid storytelling (the California desert setting is PERFECT for this story), and the ability to thread all the seemingly unrelated concepts into one, Sundial is borderline excessive for its own good. Between the atypical characterization (no one is 'normal' and relatable), gender-bending naming convention, time jump, and toying with fact vs. fiction, it may comes across as obnoxious, and after the first read through I'm still at loss at how some of its pieces fit together (or do they?). If you're looking for a story that can be casually enjoyed with your brain half shut off, you'll be annoyed by how much effort is needed to 'get' Sundial.
I've now grouped Catriona Ward in the same category as Stephen Graham Jones: talented fringe authors who accidentally wrote a novel that strikes mainstream appeal. The Last House on Needless Street and The Only Good Indians might be the outlier rather than the norm, because clearly these authors doesn't play by the rules, and their immediate post-success effort is intentionally niche and not at all watered-down just to be another bestseller — and I applaud them for it. Will definitely keep my eyes out for the next effort from Catriona Ward.
Nature versus nurture, Sundial is very much a grim, nightmarish expression of that statement; even though I don't think it is as tightly woven as Catriona Ward's previous effort, The Last House on Needless Street, it remains an immersive experience filled with taut tension, ultra-violence, and silent dread.
Catriona cherishes deception in her narrative, Sundial starts as a very disturbing, but quite mainstream domestic thriller, but around its 40% point the story evolves into something not as classically identifiable: a little sci-fi, a lot of human drama, and tiptoeing into body horror — think Blake Crouch and David Cronenberg. Sundial is guaranteed to be divisive, especially if you were fooled by its conventional genre setup, and would've preferred it to stay on the familiar track, rather than going into crazy town.
As much as I love its vivid storytelling (the California desert setting is PERFECT for this story), and the ability to thread all the seemingly unrelated concepts into one, Sundial is borderline excessive for its own good. Between the atypical characterization (no one is 'normal' and relatable), gender-bending naming convention, time jump, and toying with fact vs. fiction, it may comes across as obnoxious, and after the first read through I'm still at loss at how some of its pieces fit together (or do they?). If you're looking for a story that can be casually enjoyed with your brain half shut off, you'll be annoyed by how much effort is needed to 'get' Sundial.
I've now grouped Catriona Ward in the same category as Stephen Graham Jones: talented fringe authors who accidentally wrote a novel that strikes mainstream appeal. The Last House on Needless Street and The Only Good Indians might be the outlier rather than the norm, because clearly these authors doesn't play by the rules, and their immediate post-success effort is intentionally niche and not at all watered-down just to be another bestseller — and I applaud them for it. Will definitely keep my eyes out for the next effort from Catriona Ward.