If you are looking for a good creeper haunting type of scare, that might keep you up a few nights after, considering the nightmarish creations of the If you are looking for a good creeper haunting type of scare, that might keep you up a few nights after, considering the nightmarish creations of the author, than definitely this is the book for you. I didn't think it was that scary when I was reading it at first. I think its because of her disarming humor and very belevable characters in otherwise mundane seeming settings. But don't let those mundane and banal settings fool you. Like a great horror classic of old, it will f*ck you up and leave you messed up for days lol, precisely because she uses such banal and mundane settings which in themselves become horrific because of their realism. The author warps reality or does she expose the warping of reality? Exploring the occult and the edge of insanity this is a great artistic work with layers of metaphors. I haven't read anything this great in awhile in horror. She does this by building the dread slowly into the book. Also who can resist a tale of a woman braving all odds and eldritch beings to save her dog? Not I. I had nightmares for almost a week. Worth it!!!!!!...more
The action is well-paced in this thriller from Rebecca Hardy. I found the main heroine to be thoroughly annoying at first, but she became more well-roThe action is well-paced in this thriller from Rebecca Hardy. I found the main heroine to be thoroughly annoying at first, but she became more well-rounded. While I keep in mind she is fairly young in the book, and sheltered to an extent, her reactions seemed more like a self-centered type of person.
This made it difficlut to sit through the entire book if the character did not grow or be shown to be more than a petulant and whining solipsistic stereotype of "trying to be a strong outspoken young woman character who just comes of as rude and not able tot hink of anyone other than herself."
There was the fun of the whodunit ghost whisperer mystery aspect.
A quick read. If you like young adult thrillers with lots of melodrama and good pacing, this is for you.
However if this kind of heroine who has things fall into her lap because she is pretty despite her temper tantrums, which are chalked up to her youth, makes you grind your teeth and roll yoru eyes, probably skip it instead....more
This book focuses on the way the silk roads were used by Europe to become powerful and the wars that followed to modern times, including the last two This book focuses on the way the silk roads were used by Europe to become powerful and the wars that followed to modern times, including the last two world wars. Most books focused on Silk Road history don't bring it into contemporary context. This one does. I appreciate the dry and snarky humor. It does cover the intricate politics and complexity of different cultures interacting as well as religions. It does take more of a pluralistic approach. Some reviews have reduced this book to mere orientalism. However, they seem to not have read the same book as this book is clearly critical of orientalism and all the problems created therein. Another instance of I think if Edward Said we're alive and reviewed this book he would have a far different reaction then the knee jerk unimaginative reviews given by those using his words and ideas....more