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A review by st_ender
Figurehead by Carly Holmes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Figurehead is an impressive collection. I am sure that everyone can find something for themselves here, no matter what length, voices, or themes they are looking for.
I would not necessarily call this collection a horror collection. The themes can get heavy, but it was not particularly terrifying, and very rarely the emotional impact of the stories originated in gory scenes or plot twists. For me, the strength lies in the short stories dealing with loneliness and loss. The nostalgic, melancholic tone really fits the more traditional haunted house stories, family stories, and folk tales. Out of the entire collection, the slower stories that were more sad than scary will certainly stay with me.
I think the collection could benefit from mixing up the order a bit. The first story didn't convince me at all, and I felt like all the best was packed into the second half. My recommendation for people considering reading would be to just skip it if it doesn't catch you- there is enough in the book that not connecting with one story really shouldn't ruin your experience. I would also recommend getting a physical copy - I only wish I could read it one by one, in the evening, rather than running through my pdf. I will certainly come back to it in the autumn, when I can properly enjoy my favourites.
I would not necessarily call this collection a horror collection. The themes can get heavy, but it was not particularly terrifying, and very rarely the emotional impact of the stories originated in gory scenes or plot twists. For me, the strength lies in the short stories dealing with loneliness and loss. The nostalgic, melancholic tone really fits the more traditional haunted house stories, family stories, and folk tales. Out of the entire collection, the slower stories that were more sad than scary will certainly stay with me.
I think the collection could benefit from mixing up the order a bit. The first story didn't convince me at all, and I felt like all the best was packed into the second half. My recommendation for people considering reading would be to just skip it if it doesn't catch you- there is enough in the book that not connecting with one story really shouldn't ruin your experience. I would also recommend getting a physical copy - I only wish I could read it one by one, in the evening, rather than running through my pdf. I will certainly come back to it in the autumn, when I can properly enjoy my favourites.