Perhaps not surprisingly for a first novel, it was a little choppy and started slow; a little rough around the edges you might say. But once it gets going in has a pretty good pace and there is a flurry of activity and resolution at the end.
Tag - Horror
It builds the tension quite well and hooks the reader's interest a burst of intensity and then has a sort of melancholy tragic ending. If you are looking for a creepy unsettling read with a literary touch, this would be a good choice.
A fantastical novella about a young girl’s journey into a dark netherworld to find her missing best friend. But is it a "dazzlingly imaginative adventure story and moving exploration of the power of friendship and the terror of loss" as the publisher claims?
Bradbury skillfully weaves Tracy's teenage angst amidst a psychological thriller - who attacked Tracy and what he wants. The psychological thriller element adds a dark and brooding undertone throughout the book - even in the more lighthearted moments.
The set up is excellent and Connolly really builds the atmosphere and tension. There is an interesting cast of characters and enough mystery to keep you reading and guessing. It often seems like a traditional type mystery only to take a weird and horrifying turn. But as many reviewers have noted, the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. This has the potential to ruin the enjoyment of the rest of the story.
