apolar94

Whoa! This book is just dripping with atmosphere! The words created send a tingle down your spine and a constant peering over your shoulder to make sure no one is trying to scare you witless. The village of Near is beautifully built and I found this world reminded me of the one set in The Village by M. Night. Shyamalan. It has a dark and gothic feel to it that really gives you the creeps. You can almost feel yourself standing in the mist, watching it whirl around you. This book will leave a chill in your heart and soul. As the children begin to disappear without trace or struggle, fear grips you tightly and won't let you go. You will find yourself recalling the tales of your childhood, always told to you in the darkness and guaranteed to find you wanting to sleep with the light on. The whole story is told in first person from the main protagonist's point of view. You find yourself experiencing everything that happens at the same time Lexi does. Lexi is a very strong character, never once does she crumble, even when she is faced with such danger. She is so much stronger than the older women in her village. She is adamant that the stranger is innocent and will not stop fighting his corner until the rest of the town believes her. There was a little bit of instantly falling in love going on between Cole and Lexi, but they were both so well written causing me to love them so much, that I overlooked my pet hate for once. This book is filled with strong imagery and settings. The descriptions bring the world to life like a 3D pop up book. I just wanted to step into the page and absorb the world of Near. I couldn't figure out the time period in which the book was set, but I am having a guessing at the 1800's but with a touch of an alternative reality. I could be wrong though. I thought the plot was extremely well written. I panicked as I reached the last few chapters, worrying that everything would not be solved. Obviously the author was just playing with me, as she easily had time to tie up all the loose ends. This book shows how paranoia and speculation can create added drama often leading to disastrous consequences. A word, a rumour, can turn into the so called truth in a matter of moments, causing an innocent person's life to be in jeopardy. Victora Shwab is definitely a welcome new member to the debut author ranks. She writes with breathtaking beauty whilst masking the fact that she is quietly stealing your soul. A spine chilling thriller, not to be read at bedtime! May just need to leave the light on tonight.

2022-09-27 04:37