Kyra
As with most collections of stories some are better than others. This one did a pretty good job across the board. Little lights and Flower Crown being my favourites. My least favourite being The glass window. The stories were cute and sweet, and the characters are fun. I look forward to seeing more from this author. Would really give it a 4.5.
I really really wanted to like this book being from Alberta myself. However I found the description of the book to be very misleading, it's not really a spooky ghost story more similar to like a Christmas carol like story. It was little all over the place and end though sweet a bit odd. Overall a weird read not terrible but weird.
This was my first trip into sci-fi horror and I loved it! I loved the spooky atmosphere. One of my fears was that it would tip so far into supernatural that it wouldn't be very sci-if or vice versa, but I found it was perfect mix of a classic ghost like story and sci-fi. I really think that we stayed with one character really suited the whole story. And though the character felt a bit like “tropes” I thought it was done so well that it didn't bother me in the slightest. I cannot wait for S.A. Barnes to write more.
I think that this had really great potential, such an interesting idea, however it didn't quite follow through. There wasn't enough world building and the relationship between Lady Mae the community was very confusing. The characters also felt pretty one dimensional and the theme of forgiveness wasn't really fleshed out. I also had a hard time with some of the internal monologues that felt super repetitive. I think an idea like this works best in a series of books so it can really stretch its legs and breath. And last the writing felt very YA, which isn't bad in itself but just felt weird when reading and adult horror novel.
I had high expectations this book and it didn't really disappoint, it was a great story on exorcisms, I didn't find it very scary personally but I am a pretty avid horror fan so for someone less use to horror I could see it being quite creepy. More than scary for me it had some more disturbing parts, and in general was paced pretty well you could feel the building tension of the possession. I loved almost all the characters who seemed very real, and overall had a wonderful reading experience!
Well written, an interesting take on a historical event. It was a little slow in
some places, and there are some POVs I probably could have done without . I also found the end a bit abrupt, especially for such a slow burn book. Over all a pretty good book though and the characters I did like were enjoyable to read. I think anyone who loves horror and historical retellings would greatly enjoy it.
What a fantastic book, the way the religion in this book worked felt like a mirror to a lot of the way the church has does act. It was magical and yet felt really grounded in problems we have in the real world. If you love books that have a deeper meaning behind the fantastical elements than I highly recommend this book for you!
Once again pure magic from this author! Couldn't put it down all I wanted was to find out the truth at the end! A powerful story for anyone with past troubles with religion and talks about the dichotomy of love the church family atmosphere while hating what it can do. Even though the dial is like all the way up to 11 I found the characters to have relatable problems and flaws. Overall a wonderful experience , super creepy and atmospheric that keeps you guessing all the way through! Must must read!
Good book, I loved the over arching story, was a little slow in some spots but pretty dang good for a debut novel and I really do hope she writes more. If you love horror or suspense themed around the cultural stories of POC this book delivers! The characters are super relatable and the story is while being horror is also a beautiful story about grief and love.
Kept me guessing up until the last minute! I can now see why everyone speak so highly of his writing and this book. Jade is wonderfully complex character and telling her story through slashers is beautiful and chilling!
Merged review:
Kept me guessing up until the last minute! I can now see why everyone speak so highly of his writing and this book. Jade is wonderfully complex character and telling her story through slashers is beautiful and chilling!
This book is beautiful written, it tells complex stories that explore a range or difficult topics like poverty, domestic violence, isolation in way that only horror can do. However I wouldn't say this is a book for the faint of heart all of it feels very very real and can be very graphic so make sure you read the content warnings before you dive in. Some stories I contected to more than others and the last one that the book is named after “The Things We Lost In The Fire” was absolutely beautifully heart breaking and I very much contected to it.
I really liked things fall apart by this author, and I did like Arrow of God but I did find it a bit hard to get through at some point, and I also prefer the voice of the first book over this one, I didn't enjoy reading from the white perspective as much but overall still beautiful written, and still very excited to read the final book.
Took me a bit to getting into the rhythm of the writing but once I did, I fell in love with the characters and the world. Beautiful story, and I love stories that talk about folklore or cultural tales from other places so this was a perfect read. It's a perfect mix of the supernatural/spiritual and the real world.
Love Josh Malerman's books! Was super excited after bored box to read more from him and wasn't disappointed. Very atmospheric and captures the feeling of falling in love at such a young age. As well as being super creepy in many parts. Very quick read, felt the last little bit need a little bit something more but overall and amazing read.
Overall I would say this was a good book, though the details are sometimes graphic they are written very well. It starts out super interesting pulling you in, unsure what is real and what is possibly the characters mind cracking. However once it gets to the end a lot of that great build up feels a bit anticlimactic, and over all disappointing. Really like his writing but this one just wasn't what I was expecting.
Though some of things that happen in this book are quite terrible it is an amazing read. and even though it is fictional the story tells from a perspective that I haven't read before and it was enjoyable. The use of Ibo words throughout the story really helped to bring the world alive. And the description of tribal life, culture and belief was probably my favourite part. I also think that this story shares a piece of the history of colonization that is hunting and makes you reflective. Definitely will be reading more of his work.
I loved most of the Rob sections, and didn't mind the Callie sections especially towards the end the arrowod sections however I could do without. It's definitely one of those books that keeps you guessing until the end, and has lots of cool twists. I did however find Callie a little too annoying which I think I understand why but still made some her parts hard to get through. I also found the end a bit abrupt. Definitely one to read the warnings on. But overall an enjoyable experience.
A beautiful story, great for those of us out there that have a strained relationship or no relationship with our mothers especially us daughters. But a great read for anyone who wants to gain more empathy and understanding for children of abusive mothers. Also a horrifying look into how easy it can be for children in the film and tv industry to be abused. So glad I read it and definitely hope she writes more.
Loved this for the most part, the end was definitely a bit out of blue but still interesting and enjoyable to read. I could have done without endless amount of fatphobia but otherwise a really great read. I found the characters flawed in a very real feeling way and it talks about growing up and what happens to friendships when life's expectations catch up to you.
i really enjoyed John Greens looking for Alaska, his writing style is enjoyable and I love reading from a male perspective but I didn't like the character Margo and it made the end of the book kind of not very enjoyable. I love Q overall isn't a bad character, but near the end I find him to be quite selfish, though he does end up redeeming himself a little in the end. it was okay for a one time read but definitely won't be reading again
So much fatphobia it stupid, it is a big problem in the horror genre especially. Always talking about how “fat and disgusting” a character is, making fatness some time of character flaw. It's horrible and I hate reading it. On top of that the only female characters is incredibly sexualized, and was also a stereotype on “angry” feminists it was painful to read.
And finally holy cow was it slow 50% through and like nothing is happening. Had to DNF it ,very disappointing read.