This book is described as a gothic horror and I had high expectations for it.
It’s starts with an introduction to Richard and Juillete who are trying to get back to normal life following the death of their son. They had moved to Starve Acre in the countryside to give him a better way of life via the slow pace of life, fresh air and space in the countryside. However, following his death, Juliette in particular is finding it very difficult to cope so Richard brings in “The Beacons” - a spiritual/occult group to help give her piece of mind, but things don’t quite go to plan.
From the synopsis I was thinking this would be a really atmospheric story giving me chills and goosebumps. It is certainly atmospheric but it never rises to actual chills. First of all it’s a slow build up. We learn about Ewan and how he was troubled but it’s never deep enough for me to engage or care about him. Juliette is very annoying. As much as her grief is heartbreaking - she’s much too self centred and annoying. Richard is the typical stiff upper lipped Englishman that makes for a quiet, passive, doddering (and seemingly old husband) who shrinks away from making any decisive actions or facing what is in front of him.
As for the ending ... I get what the author was try8ng to do but then it just creates a lot of plot holes in my opinion. Is the hare Ewan? Did Ewan become Jack Grey? Did Juliette kill Ewan? What did the Beacons actually do? Who invited Jack Grey in - Richard, Juliette, The Beacons, or was he always there from when Ewan died? So many questions but at the same time not super burning questions. The book ended with a meh for me.
It’s starts with an introduction to Richard and Juillete who are trying to get back to normal life following the death of their son. They had moved to Starve Acre in the countryside to give him a better way of life via the slow pace of life, fresh air and space in the countryside. However, following his death, Juliette in particular is finding it very difficult to cope so Richard brings in “The Beacons” - a spiritual/occult group to help give her piece of mind, but things don’t quite go to plan.
From the synopsis I was thinking this would be a really atmospheric story giving me chills and goosebumps. It is certainly atmospheric but it never rises to actual chills. First of all it’s a slow build up. We learn about Ewan and how he was troubled but it’s never deep enough for me to engage or care about him. Juliette is very annoying. As much as her grief is heartbreaking - she’s much too self centred and annoying. Richard is the typical stiff upper lipped Englishman that makes for a quiet, passive, doddering (and seemingly old husband) who shrinks away from making any decisive actions or facing what is in front of him.
As for the ending ... I get what the author was try8ng to do but then it just creates a lot of plot holes in my opinion. Is the hare Ewan? Did Ewan become Jack Grey? Did Juliette kill Ewan? What did the Beacons actually do? Who invited Jack Grey in - Richard, Juliette, The Beacons, or was he always there from when Ewan died? So many questions but at the same time not super burning questions. The book ended with a meh for me.