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connie29's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Kidnapping, Gore, Body horror, Death of parent, Vomit, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death of parent, and Suicide
abbie_'s review
4.0
Super grateful to David for sending me his debut horror novel to review! It’s a homage to 80s horror, lots of guts and gore, but BETTER. Because what puts me off 80s horror, despite the crazy stories & monsters, is the misogyny. The Forgotten Island is all of the 80s horror fun and none of the misogyny - what more could you want?!
.
Our protagonist is Ana, a hilarious, foul-mouthed Scot who takes absolutely NO SHIT. After a tough year, she agrees to go on holiday with her sister after they drifted apart in an effort to renew their relationship, but their Thai paradise quickly becomes a nightmare as they get marooned on an island that houses terrors you wouldn’t want to dream of...
.
I loved Ana and her sister Rachel. I did NOT love any of the male characters, and that’s okay. When I said there’s no misogyny, okay there is but it’s not brushed off or accepted as true or funny, it is dealt with in THE most brutal ways. If only I had a way of sending the next guy who told me I’d be prettier if I smiled into a Lovecraftian pit of horror.
.
If you’ve followed David for any amount of time you’ll know that he’s a super funny guy, and his humour translates so well to his book! Yah it’s horror but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a few laughs along the way!
.
ALSO: There is a dog and *spoiler alert* IT DOESN’T DIE. Isn’t that a refreshing first for a horror novel?
.
I took off a star because admittedly, a lot of gore is not my favourite thing in the world, but this book doesn’t just rely on splatterpunk for its scares. It played on some of my worst fears, like things with tentacles and things on ceilings...But it is HELLA gruesome!
.
Our protagonist is Ana, a hilarious, foul-mouthed Scot who takes absolutely NO SHIT. After a tough year, she agrees to go on holiday with her sister after they drifted apart in an effort to renew their relationship, but their Thai paradise quickly becomes a nightmare as they get marooned on an island that houses terrors you wouldn’t want to dream of...
.
I loved Ana and her sister Rachel. I did NOT love any of the male characters, and that’s okay. When I said there’s no misogyny, okay there is but it’s not brushed off or accepted as true or funny, it is dealt with in THE most brutal ways. If only I had a way of sending the next guy who told me I’d be prettier if I smiled into a Lovecraftian pit of horror.
.
If you’ve followed David for any amount of time you’ll know that he’s a super funny guy, and his humour translates so well to his book! Yah it’s horror but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a few laughs along the way!
.
ALSO: There is a dog and *spoiler alert* IT DOESN’T DIE. Isn’t that a refreshing first for a horror novel?
.
I took off a star because admittedly, a lot of gore is not my favourite thing in the world, but this book doesn’t just rely on splatterpunk for its scares. It played on some of my worst fears, like things with tentacles and things on ceilings...But it is HELLA gruesome!
jobis89's review
5.0
"From out of the shadows it came."
Two sisters, Ana and Rachel, view their trip to Thailand as way to mend their relationship. However, after becoming stranded on an island with no food or supplies, it quickly becomes a fight for survival.
Holy hell, this book was GREAT. It has all the components needed for a fantastic horror novel: great writing, likeable characters (and not so likeable ones too), some well-executed humour, and most important of all... parts that left my skin crawling!!
The start, in particular, was hilarious. Our protagonist, Ana, reminds me a little of myself - her self-deprecating sense of humour and her general attitudes towards life. But, like a lot of old-school horror movies/books, the humour dwindles out to make way for the SHEER TERROR (but don’t fret, there’s still some laughs along the way) And the ending itself was PERFECTION!
Sodergren really brings the scares here, one scene in particular left me feeling quite unnerved 👀 The actual inhabitants of the island (trying to be really vague here) are so fucking awesome in their creepiness. The descriptions were VERY Lovecraftian - almost to the point where I wished I could just google imagery for the “monsters” like I do with Lovecraft, as my mind tried to comprehend the biology of these things!! I just LOVED this book!
I truly felt so honoured to receive a review copy of David's debut novel, and I’m already looking forward to its release so that I can see everyone else freaking out over it too!! Please add this to your Halloween reading list, especially if you’re a fan of proper old-school horror. You won’t be disappointed! Out 1st October!
4.5 stars.
Two sisters, Ana and Rachel, view their trip to Thailand as way to mend their relationship. However, after becoming stranded on an island with no food or supplies, it quickly becomes a fight for survival.
Holy hell, this book was GREAT. It has all the components needed for a fantastic horror novel: great writing, likeable characters (and not so likeable ones too), some well-executed humour, and most important of all... parts that left my skin crawling!!
The start, in particular, was hilarious. Our protagonist, Ana, reminds me a little of myself - her self-deprecating sense of humour and her general attitudes towards life. But, like a lot of old-school horror movies/books, the humour dwindles out to make way for the SHEER TERROR (but don’t fret, there’s still some laughs along the way) And the ending itself was PERFECTION!
Sodergren really brings the scares here, one scene in particular left me feeling quite unnerved 👀 The actual inhabitants of the island (trying to be really vague here) are so fucking awesome in their creepiness. The descriptions were VERY Lovecraftian - almost to the point where I wished I could just google imagery for the “monsters” like I do with Lovecraft, as my mind tried to comprehend the biology of these things!! I just LOVED this book!
I truly felt so honoured to receive a review copy of David's debut novel, and I’m already looking forward to its release so that I can see everyone else freaking out over it too!! Please add this to your Halloween reading list, especially if you’re a fan of proper old-school horror. You won’t be disappointed! Out 1st October!
4.5 stars.
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