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musicspoon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As I worked my way through this book, I occasionally found it confusing, and unusual. I finished it this morning after I woke up early, and the ending just caught me by surprise.
I'm sure that many people would see the ending coming. I'm a person that just really becomes involved in the story and follow along engrossed. The ending here surprised me, it definitely helped that some information was kept back until the final chapters of the book.
Really well executed. Great read. I'd recommend it.
I'm sure that many people would see the ending coming. I'm a person that just really becomes involved in the story and follow along engrossed. The ending here surprised me, it definitely helped that some information was kept back until the final chapters of the book.
Really well executed. Great read. I'd recommend it.
causearuckus's review against another edition
3.0
The themes were good in the book but the narrative was a bit confusing.
chloe_dancing's review against another edition
5.0
Surprise book mail is the best kind. I must have ordered this half-asleep one morning and forgotten about it, but it felt like past me had gotten future me a nice gift. Two sisters with unusual talents on the lam? Family secrets and complicated relationships? Yes please. A book that keeps its darkest secret right up til the end, dropping little hints on the way to a stunning twist and reveal that answers... most of the questions. Hopefully we get to read more about the Waite sisters and their family someday, because the unanswered questions are haunting.
ghoulnextdoor's review
4.0
Recommended as a “best of 2019….so far” by Jack over at Bad Books For Bad People, A Hawk In The Woods was described as a “Lovecraftian sister road trip,” and OK, yes please–sign me up! Abby and Martha are twins from a weird family with weird powers and are desperately headed to the family cabin after Abby breaks Martha out of prison. Are Abby’s reasons for rescuing her sister entirely unselfish? Absolutely not. As we follow the trajectory of their journey, the timelines slips from past to present and we get a glimpse of the reasons they each wound up where they did in life, and where that path will ultimately lead them. There was so much about this story to love: the sister’s relationship, the creepy family backstory, the powers that the twins possess (Abby uses people’s energies to bend those individuals to her will, and Martha can fold time) and the only complaint I have sort of spoils an important aspect of the story, so I’ll keep mum on that point. Just…pay attention to who the characters are, and what you think you know about them. Things can get a little confusing.
ashleykayejournals's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Terminal illness
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Incest
counterfeitchocolatecoin's review against another edition
4.0
The novel’s plot in a nutshell: twin sisters Abihail (not a typo) and Martha come from a family of what I would describe as Lovecraftian necromancers. One sister has the ability to psychically “push” people’s brains, influencing them to do her whim, and the other can fold time to go forward or back or make it pass faster or more slowly. In the present, the two sisters make their way to their family cabin for reasons you’ll find out over the course of the book that involve one sister’s terminal cancer and a spell I’m not going to ruin for you. Each chapter also unfolds some of the story of their childhood, where we learn about their abusive grandfather and mother, both of whom liked to take over Martha’s body (they perceived her as the weaker sister) and do what they wished with it. It’s a truly chilling representation of abuse, especially when you find out why Martha starts the novel in prison for murder.
The sisters’ dynamic is realistically frustrating (I especially like Abby’s utterly realistic annoyance at Martha’s nervous twitch of folding time forward when she’s anxious) and the plot moves along quickly. I also like the way the book uses social media; Abby psychically feeds off the attention she receives on Twitter.
Sometimes the jump between the past and the present felt like it was drawing things out more than it had to (you don’t find out why Martha was in prison until almost the end of the book, for example), but for the most part that structure worked well to tell two separate but related stories simultaneously.
The sisters’ dynamic is realistically frustrating (I especially like Abby’s utterly realistic annoyance at Martha’s nervous twitch of folding time forward when she’s anxious) and the plot moves along quickly. I also like the way the book uses social media; Abby psychically feeds off the attention she receives on Twitter.
Sometimes the jump between the past and the present felt like it was drawing things out more than it had to (you don’t find out why Martha was in prison until almost the end of the book, for example), but for the most part that structure worked well to tell two separate but related stories simultaneously.
motherhorror's review against another edition
Working on this review today. I have to get my opinions and feelings sorted.
exorcismofemilyreed's review against another edition
4.0
"Things always worked out for her, didn't they?"
3.5⭐
This is a difficult review to write. I absolutely loved the idea of this book. It sounded so fascinating, and I read it as soon as I got my hands on it. However, I struggled to connect to the story as a whole, and I wound up feeling like something was missing.
The story jumps back and forth between past and present. I enjoyed the scenes in the past much more than the present ones, and at times, it was a little confusing. Some characters were introduced that felt sort of unimportant to the overall narrative, yet some characters that I had brushed off came up again later.
I never felt connected to the main characters. The third person voice may have had something to do with this, but I never really got to know them. I felt like I was supposed to connect with them and feel for them based on what was going on, but that never happened for me.
Although I had issues, this was still an entertaining and intriguing story. I just feel like it could have used a little more tightening between the alternating storylines, and that I got a bit lost between the gaps. It was a creative setup, and I would try another book from this author.
3.5⭐
This is a difficult review to write. I absolutely loved the idea of this book. It sounded so fascinating, and I read it as soon as I got my hands on it. However, I struggled to connect to the story as a whole, and I wound up feeling like something was missing.
The story jumps back and forth between past and present. I enjoyed the scenes in the past much more than the present ones, and at times, it was a little confusing. Some characters were introduced that felt sort of unimportant to the overall narrative, yet some characters that I had brushed off came up again later.
I never felt connected to the main characters. The third person voice may have had something to do with this, but I never really got to know them. I felt like I was supposed to connect with them and feel for them based on what was going on, but that never happened for me.
Although I had issues, this was still an entertaining and intriguing story. I just feel like it could have used a little more tightening between the alternating storylines, and that I got a bit lost between the gaps. It was a creative setup, and I would try another book from this author.
ennouise's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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