McCormick Templeman

“Mankind is inherently good. Never forget that. But we are impressionable, and can be influenced to do horrific things to one another and even ourselves.” Templeman weaves together a psychological nightmare that transforms itself into chilling actuality.
With nods to ancient mythologies, the occult, rituals, sacrifice, folklore creatures, monsters, science and technology, this novel takes you on a wild ride seeped in reality, which makes it all the more chilling. Templeman doesn't just show more create fiction; she grounds his horror in the real capacity for human darkness, making every twist feel disturbingly possible.
Templeman’s intelligent use of the English language can be a bit intimidating at first, but you get the feel of it quickly. This is not a light read that you can breeze through. The story builds on its threads and layers skillfully, requiring your attention and analysis as you piece together its complexities.
I loved the quotes introducing each chapter. Drawing from historical texts and referencing actual government atrocities, these weren't just atmospheric flourishes, they served as harbingers of things to come while being genuinely interesting and enlightening in their own right. They add a layer of authenticity that makes the horror hit even harder.

I'm not entirely satisfied with the conclusion, as I felt it didn't answer all of my questions. However, it did tie up a few loose ends, even if some mysteries remain unresolved. Depending on how ambiguous you like your horror mysteries, this may work for you.

If you're into psychologically and scientifically based books that challenge you intellectually while disturbing you emotionally, this one should definitely do it for you!
*I was invited to read by the publisher, through NetGalley, for an honest review (St. Martin’s Press) show less

Weird mish-mash of fairytales (Rose Red and Snow White?) and fantasy story elements mixed up into...well, I finished it, so it was readable and the characters were, for the most part, relatable. It didn't break any new ground, but it tried, and it tried so hard, it broke strange instead. The bad kind of strange, where you reread a bit a go "Huh. Wtf?"

Slowly he walked to her, and gazing at her with all the love of a broken man, he said, "You can enchant me all you want. You can confuse me, and exhaust me, and drive me half mad, but I'm still a man, and I know what you are."

Ooh what a delightful little spook this was. I was originally drawn in last year by this cover, and when I accidentally stumbled upon it in the library I grabbed it immediately like I'd been searching for the thing my whole life. And I'm really glad I did - ! (and show more stuck it out for longer than I usually do with library books, because don't get me wrong, this thing felt longggggg)

(also considering my rating I don't think I have, like, too much to say?? for some reason?)

More than anything, it's a slow, quiet, creepy little story, set in a village that feels eternally dark and cold. It has a pretty solid mystery in there and some nice character dynamics, but its atmosphere was the best part for me. The place just exudes frigidity and loneliness, effortlessly. It's vaguely magical on the edges without seeming like it's in the wrong place or time. It's snowy, which is my favourite in media and least favourite irl. And I could just hear that monster coming. I would like to listen to all the playlists inspired by this book.

It also read a bit like a fairy tale, what with the infinite perspectives and familiar themes that it didn't shy away from. So the characters didn't exaaactly speak or interact like people, yet somehow I was still genuinely invested in them all and they tugged me this way and that as paranoia and madness started to infect the little village. Everyone was a suspect for some crime I couldn't exactly put a finger on (and maybe I'm a bad detective, or maybe I just like to let books shove me around with all their twists and turns, but the ending blindsided me and it was wonderfullll). I'm not walking away with any favourites but this was a Very Cherished Time with every little villager.

I have a soft spot for haunted little towns with their fairy myths, and for girls that are fearsome because of how beautiful they are. I'm glad you finally came to me, book. you and your weird beautiful cover and misleading title show less

Suspend all belief before you open this book and fall down the rabbit hole that will attempt to consume you, your sense of reasoning and perhaps any intellect that you may have convinced yourself you possess. I was having a love-hate relationship with this book until I let everything go and just moved along with the story. It was all a terrific mind-f***that I never saw coming.

Reading this from a deductive, reasoning perspective only annoyed me and it wasn’t until I was three quarters show more through that I realized my reasoning wasn’t working. Priding myself on my ability to usually figure things out, well, not only did my pride come crashing down but any ability to get ahead of this storied fractured. Admitting my frustration with the protagonist, the story, the detail and extraneous matter thrown in for good measure, as the end approached, I can only say “ What the *****” . Never, not in a million years did I see it coming.

When I finished the book I was thinking maybe a three star read, but the more I let it percolate I realized that any downside was my inability to capture and hold the direction and distance of the writing and plot. My only criticism was the sometimes abruptness, which did not feel like part of the story but more the writing. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy. show less