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bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
This book was mind-blowingly good.
Alternating between past and present events, it weaves the story of Helena's upbringing in the marsh and the events that follow her father's escape from prison, and both parts are equally compelling. I won't get spoiler-y because I want everyone to read this for themselves.
This isn't a light thriller. Obviously, whenever a book is dealing with murder as a plotline, I wouldn't call the book light, but this isn't an action-packed car chase of a novel. Instead, it is a deeply compelling psychological ride, one that is profoundly disturbing and dark. I didn't think anything about the book was superfluous or included for shock value, but there is some serious brutality inherent to this book. I felt myself flinching multiple times.
For me, the most compelling part was how matter-of-fact the author is about the characters. Despite everything her father has done, Helena can't help but love him, and as you read, you can understand why. Yet she doesn't view her love for her father the same way she views her love for her family. She knows what she feels for her father is twisted and ugly, but the book provides ample reason for why this is. Even as I was horrified at some of the things Helena did or the way she behaved, part of me understood what drove her actions. This isn't a book where her upbringing is window dressing, it's deeply thought out and gradually revealed in a way that's pretty mind boggling to imagine. There is a whole world here, not just a detail or two meant to illustrate how Helena is "unconventional".
To say this book is atmospheric is the understatement of the year. This book lives and breathes. I felt like I was plunging into a pool every time I read it, I was so deeply immersed in the story and what was happening with the characters. Even now that I've finished it, I'm still disturbed by some of what I read, and that tells me that this one is going to stick with me for a long time.
I don't mind thrillers that are meant to be more entertaining, that are fast-paced and plot driven, but this book is one that elevates the genre to something more. There are many, many pulse-pounding moments in this narrative, but they are always deeply grounded in real-life drama. Jacob is a complex characters whose nature unspools slowly, giving the reader ever deeper glimpses into who he was and what motivated him, and how his actions had far-reaching consequences for both Helena and her mother. At all times, this book is concerned with this psychology, never resorting to cheap tricks to propel the narrative or to shock the reader. It's truly masterful, exactly the kind of gem I look for when I read this genre. More than anything, I want a thriller that makes me think, that twists my mind down paths it wouldn't otherwise follow, and this book more than delivered. It's utterly phenomenal, and I highly recommend it.
Alternating between past and present events, it weaves the story of Helena's upbringing in the marsh and the events that follow her father's escape from prison, and both parts are equally compelling. I won't get spoiler-y because I want everyone to read this for themselves.
This isn't a light thriller. Obviously, whenever a book is dealing with murder as a plotline, I wouldn't call the book light, but this isn't an action-packed car chase of a novel. Instead, it is a deeply compelling psychological ride, one that is profoundly disturbing and dark. I didn't think anything about the book was superfluous or included for shock value, but there is some serious brutality inherent to this book. I felt myself flinching multiple times.
For me, the most compelling part was how matter-of-fact the author is about the characters. Despite everything her father has done, Helena can't help but love him, and as you read, you can understand why. Yet she doesn't view her love for her father the same way she views her love for her family. She knows what she feels for her father is twisted and ugly, but the book provides ample reason for why this is. Even as I was horrified at some of the things Helena did or the way she behaved, part of me understood what drove her actions. This isn't a book where her upbringing is window dressing, it's deeply thought out and gradually revealed in a way that's pretty mind boggling to imagine. There is a whole world here, not just a detail or two meant to illustrate how Helena is "unconventional".
To say this book is atmospheric is the understatement of the year. This book lives and breathes. I felt like I was plunging into a pool every time I read it, I was so deeply immersed in the story and what was happening with the characters. Even now that I've finished it, I'm still disturbed by some of what I read, and that tells me that this one is going to stick with me for a long time.
I don't mind thrillers that are meant to be more entertaining, that are fast-paced and plot driven, but this book is one that elevates the genre to something more. There are many, many pulse-pounding moments in this narrative, but they are always deeply grounded in real-life drama. Jacob is a complex characters whose nature unspools slowly, giving the reader ever deeper glimpses into who he was and what motivated him, and how his actions had far-reaching consequences for both Helena and her mother. At all times, this book is concerned with this psychology, never resorting to cheap tricks to propel the narrative or to shock the reader. It's truly masterful, exactly the kind of gem I look for when I read this genre. More than anything, I want a thriller that makes me think, that twists my mind down paths it wouldn't otherwise follow, and this book more than delivered. It's utterly phenomenal, and I highly recommend it.
airron's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
devonadelle's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kat_0013's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really quick read! I finished it in one day and haven’t done that in a long time.
As other reviews stated, some of the hunting scenes are disgusting and I skimmed past them because animals :(
As other reviews stated, some of the hunting scenes are disgusting and I skimmed past them because animals :(
kpeerman1's review against another edition
2.0
Y'all,
This book was boring.
The story line had a chance to be interesting but the author just missed the mark with her writing. It also seemed like the author kept repeating things she had already said and it wasn't anything that needed extra emphasis added to it. It was as if she were trying to fill space to reach her page quota or something.
I don't know. Maybe it was too soon for me to read another marsh story after reading Where the Crawdads Sing. They were completely unrelated story lines but similar enough that it matters that this author just can't write as well as Delia Owens (at least in this particular instance). I feel hateful saying it was boring because, I mean, what have I written? Nothing.
Anyways, you may enjoy this book if you're into stories about kidnappings, some suspense or deluded half-Native American, narcissistic antagonists.
This book was boring.
The story line had a chance to be interesting but the author just missed the mark with her writing. It also seemed like the author kept repeating things she had already said and it wasn't anything that needed extra emphasis added to it. It was as if she were trying to fill space to reach her page quota or something.
I don't know. Maybe it was too soon for me to read another marsh story after reading Where the Crawdads Sing. They were completely unrelated story lines but similar enough that it matters that this author just can't write as well as Delia Owens (at least in this particular instance). I feel hateful saying it was boring because, I mean, what have I written? Nothing.
Anyways, you may enjoy this book if you're into stories about kidnappings, some suspense or deluded half-Native American, narcissistic antagonists.
mollyjordan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a hard read for me and kept me up at night. I doubt I could stomach another book by this author.
Solid writing, but too much brutality on every level for me.
Solid writing, but too much brutality on every level for me.
creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
If you like psychological thrillers and Michigander allusions, this is your book! It was a perfect jump-into-fall season. I loved the POV of a woman who is the product of an abducted mother and a narcissist father. The flashbacks show how she grew up not knowing of her situation and only knowing isolation in the U.P. Present time shows her father has escaped from prison, a place she put him in, and she goes out to find him, knowing the methods to track him from his own teaching. It is all tied to a gothic fairytale, the Marsh King’s Daughter, by Hans Christian Andersen.
rachaeldamms's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0