Book Review
Tropes : Translated, Cult, Societal Horror, Haunted Town
Triggers : Suicide, Mental Health, Death, Rape
My Recommendation: Skip reading the synopsis.. GO IN BLIND!!
Synopsis:
“The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar in this brilliantly disturbing thriller from Camilla Sten, an electrifying new voice in suspense.
Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left—a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn—have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened.
But there will be no turning back.
Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice:
They are not alone.
They’re looking for the truth…
But what if it finds them first?”
Quick Review:
This is definitely a book you need to stick through, and the ending is worth it.
Going into this, I was hoping to get the spooky vibes, amongst a foggy, eerie reading experience. And for the most part, it did deliver!
If you like the slow-building stories, I think this would be a great Halloween read. But if you’re into the more fast-paced, constant scares, this may not be a plot for you.
It instantly gave off a cultish vibe within an abandoned town, with a rich history just waiting for the main characters to uncover. We do get to slowly unravel the mystery behind the letters as the film crew starts to find themselves deeper in a lore they may not have hoped for.
There is also a focus on women’s historic prejudices and the mental health and stigmas that corresponds from it. It was an interesting take that I don’t think gets explored enough and was surprised to find in the novel.
As the story progresses, the suspense does build up with an increase in paranormal activity, leaving you slowing becoming more and more engaged. It did eventually hook me even though I was extremely close to DNFing. I do think the conclusion does make up it, BUT it was a predictable ending once I got around the 75% mark.
Overall, if you are looking for a more vibey book, this may be a great addition to your Fall TBR!
Would I Recommend?: For Select Readers
How I Read It: Library eBook
Pros
- Catchy Prologue
- Intermittent Spooky Vibes
- Picked up in 2nd Half
- Paranormal
Cons
- Almost was a DNF
- Slow-paced
- Kinda Boring.. (at first)
- Predictable
- Overall : Meh
Final Rating:
More Book Information:
Published: April 4, 2019
Publisher: Minotaur
Genre: Adult Horror
Pages: 340
Bones n Coffee Books 