not a fan

it's a shame as I really wanted to like this book after some positive recommendations but just cpuldnt get into it sorry

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1 person found this helpful

Great story...intensely written

I found that reviews of this book were great or terrible, with little in between. Some felt it was badly organized into 2 stories. Some complained about length, philosophizing and droning on.

My take...the book is the thoughts of a highly intelligent, somewhat misanthropic non-conformist. The perception is how his mind digests and analyzes his world.

Instead of the typical story formula, of problem character introduction, drama, romance, couple drama, triumph. This story, which is really quite creative, is completely immersed in the thinking process of such an individual.

The long drawn out analyses of the relationships of the characters, their behaviors, conflicts and challenges are dissected by his mind.

If you want a simple storyline presentation, put this book back on the shelf.

I did NOT find that this was two separate books with a sudden shift in plotline at all. I found it was a long and intentionally painful descent into hell followed by the experience once the hero got to his destination.

Nice quality horror. Nordic mythology is present but not overly explained. I loved it.

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Terrifying

I wanted a scary listen at Halloween and this audiobook certainly delivered. It is a totally absorbing story, with excellent characterisation and a slowly developing creepiness that descends into total horror. Fully recommend if you fancy a bit of a fright!

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Gripping..odd narration

Kitchen things get tense, the narrator says "Chapter 10" in a "Here is Noddy voice "

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Unrelenting Horror

Full of horror and tension. A book I could not stop listening to, it grows and grows and grows into an incredible conclusion. Very different to the film, you will not be disappointed.

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Good

Overall a good horror. Very gripping. It got a bit odd for a while but still very entertaining.
Worth a credit

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Simply one of the best horror novels of all time.

I loved this book, read it twice. The film is OK too. This narration is truly excellent. David Thorpe is beyond good. His grasp of accents and very obvious love if the material make this a truly superb experience.
I genuinely hope Thorpe has narrated more of this and other authors.

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Started off well

Would you try another book written by Adam Nevill or narrated by David Thorpe?

The narration was good, the accents were smooth enough that they didn't distract from the story so would certainly listen to David again. As for Adam Nevill, I would have to give it a few years for him to mature I think.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Initially when they first come across the house I felt the scene was genuinely atmospheric and creepy.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

The book starts off well, the characters are reasonably well defined and the scene descriptions are good. However, the story completely changes half way through and you are left with a cross between monsters and sociopaths and frankly after all the trouble the sociopaths cause I was devasted when their fates were quick! It was almost like Neville started the book and then thought that he couldnt do a monster story justice and would take a page out of Lionel Striver's "We need to talk about Kevin". Was quite disappointed with this really.

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3 people found this helpful

Great first half. Got tiring durin the second.

I loved the first half. I got through it pretty quickly. But the second half seemed to drag on for me, which spoiled it overall.

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3 people found this helpful

Brilliant audiobook!

Right... this was such a hard book to rate for me. a book has to be truly exceptional to earn a 5 stars for me. I don't give them out often. so close this book was to a 4, but one factor swung it for me.

How quickly I went through it.

5 days, for a book of this size is quite a feet for me, the narration was probably what ultimately swung it to a 5 for me. the first half of the book is incredible. Tense, suspenseful and thrilling as the four friends go up against nature and the monster hunting them down. The second half changes tone quite a bit, not in a bad way but no where near as tense. it's a different kind of tension, more akin to Stephen King's Misery (those who have read this will understand the reference). The end returns to the thrills of the first half and ends really strongly. So, this stood between 4-5 stars for me. The second half, not being as strong as the first almost dragged it to a 4, but consider the brilliant narration and the speed in which I found myself wanting to read on and find out what happened next made the decision to give it a 5 a fair one. You'll not be dissaoointed.

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