April 2022 Group Read #2 - Winterset Hollow

[Alan]

Our second Group Read for April is Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham. Please remember to use chapters/page numbers/percentage and spoiler tags when discussing. Happy reading!

[Justin]

I had the pleasure of being gifted a copy of this by Jon himself last holiday season. I’ve been looking for a special occasion to start it. This will be it!

[WendyB]

I just ordered my copy. I'll join in on this one.

[Michelle]

I read this a few months ago and loved it. Anyone taking part in this group read is in for a real treat!

[Kasia]

I bought a copy a few weeks ago, hope to join this one :) love the gif Alan, so cute!

[Kasia]

Michelle wrote: "I read this a few months ago and loved it. Anyone taking part in this group read is in for a real treat!"

Ooohh nice! :D

[Brandy]

Sounds good! I will be joining on this one!

[Mona]

Ok, this was not even on my radar but it sounds great. Cannot wait to join.

[Kimberly]

I just ordered a copy!!

[Latasha]

I’ll be joining in for this one! I hear it’s awesome!

[Sally]

I'm excited for this one too!

[Rachel]

hope i can join in with this one! it sounds soooo good.

[JasonA]

My library doesn't have this one, so might wait on the early reviews to see if I want to buy it or not.

[Krystal]

This was one of my top reads last year! Absolutely loved it! Can't wait to compare notes with others!

[Badseedgirl]

I will be joining this group read.

[Tara]

Just downloaded it, excited to start!

[Trista]

This book is on kindle unlimited if anyone has that. I downloaded it a couple weeks ago and now I have the perfect excuse to dig in!

[Kimberly]

My copy came in today, but I'll wait until April to actually start. (Several reads I'm currently in the middle of...)

[LTJ]

Grabbing my copy now and looking forward to discussing this with you all in April :-)

[Kasia]

That's high praise Melanie. Impressed.

[Jade]

I suggested this one, and I’m so glad it was a popular pick! Ive heard many great things, and can’t wait to start it.

[Holly]

I can't wait to read this one! Ordering my copy now!

[Krystal]

Here is a link to my review if anyone is interested!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thieryn]

This looks immensely fun, I am super down to join this buddy read!

[Ann]

I'll be joining this one, on Kindle. Thanks for the tip about it being on KU!

[Patrick]

I think I'm too eager this month as I have now finished both April Group Reads and it's still only March!

In the end I enjoyed this one but I must admit that until the 'reveal' I though Winterset Hallow was pretty unoriginal and was nothing more than a wilderness survival story. The final quarter of the book is excellent though and brings everything together perfectly. the message of the book is pretty clear but it's one that is still very relevant today.

Again I would struggle to call this is a horror book but I certainly I enjoyed. I'm rating it 4 stars but really it's a 3.5 star book as it's only the final quarter that elevates above average.

[Kelly B]

I’m starting this one later tonight….

[WendyB]

I've only read the first two chapters so it's a small sample size, but so far I like the author's writing style. I like the characters and am interested to see where the story goes.

[Emilie]

I just finished this, and wow- this was a great debut novel for Durham. I liked the dark fantasy/horror aspects of this novel. I'm not a super big fantasy fan, but the mix of horror elements really captured me.

(view spoiler)[ I really liked the family connection twist and I felt the main character and the antagonists were well developed. The side characters weren't and because of this, I wasn't connected to their deaths. I won't lie- the poem was probably my least favorite of the whole novel, but I can see why he included it. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Emilie wrote: "I just finished this, and wow- this was a great debut novel for Durham. I liked the dark fantasy/horror aspects of this novel. I'm not a super big fantasy fan, but the mix of horror elements really..."

I felt a similar way - (view spoiler)[I wasn't real keen on the poetry but felt it did work well here. (hide spoiler)]

[Thieryn]

I am about 20% in and (view spoiler)[ just getting to the good stuff where things started going sideways re: animals-turned-real, and I have 2 things to say 1) I am on the fence about the poetry because, while it is a little boring/cringe to read, I will SO be using it in a DnD campaign I am running, and 2) all of the descriptions of the delicious food actually made me hungry for pumpkin pie and butternut squash puree! (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying the writing style so far. While I tend to glaze over when long descriptions of surroundings are given without much action, I find myself intrigued to find out what's on the walls etc.

20% verdict: So far, so good!

[Rochelle]

This was soooooo good! thanks so much for the recommendation! it's a really unique take on fantasy/horror. I've never read anything quite like it. it was refreshing and fun. I hope you all enjoy it at least as much as I did.

[Krystal]

Rochelle wrote: "This was soooooo good! thanks so much for the recommendation! it's a really unique take on fantasy/horror. I've never read anything quite like it. it was refreshing and fun. I hope you all enjoy it..."

Yes that's exactly how I feel! So very different to any horror I've read before! I really enjoyed the carnage haha

[Joey's deathly tomes of death]

Anyone know a place to read this book online? I can't afford to buy a copy and they don't carry it at the SF Library, it's not on Hoopla or Libby either :(.

[Sally]

@Joey It's on Kindle Unlimited if you have that

[Netanella]

I'm at the beginning. So far it's very Wind in the Willows.

[Casey]

I started reading this a bit before this group read began because it caught my eye so hard when I saw it was about to start. I just finished it tonight and I'm not sure I'll find many books this far that surpass it's almost five star rating I gave. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention, I'm excited to see what everyone else thinks and if you all enjoy it as much.

[Kasia]

Wow Casey, that's such a terrific summation, can't wait to read it.

[Thieryn]

I may be alone here, but this book was a solid "meh" for me. Didn't find it scary, the chase wasn't quite as thrilling as I expected, the ending/plot twist was really really bad, and there's only so many pages I can read about paintings on the walls while characters are going from one room to another. 2 stars for me because I'm generous, but that's it.

[Kelly B]

I really enjoyed this one. Such an interesting premise.

I did find (view spoiler)[ it perplexing that the visitors to the isle took it pretty much in stride that the animal characters were real. And decide to dine with them. I would’ve been running for that ferry so fast.

It also seems unlikely that so many other victims could have disappeared there over the years, and no one gets suspicious. (hide spoiler)].

I really liked Runny as a character.

[Mona]

Well the comments sound promising. Will be starting this one this week.

[WendyB]

I enjoying this. Don't know strictly how much horror will be in this but I think it's well-written. I'm surprised at some reviews being really critical of the author's writing style. Whatever... everyone has their own tastes.

[Emilie]

Kelly B wrote: "I really enjoyed this one. Such an interesting premise.

I did find it perplexing that the visitors to the isle took it pretty much in stride that the animal characters were real. And decide to di..."
(view spoiler)[Totally agree with you!! Like how in the world did these animals not get discovered sooner by the powers that be? And why is everyone ok just accepting that they can talk and pretty much act like humans? That would creep me out! (hide spoiler)]

[Ann]

WendyB wrote: "I enjoying this. Don't know strictly how much horror will be in this but I think it's well-written. I'm surprised at some reviews being really critical of the author's writing style. Whatever... ev..."

Not every book is for every reader, & I'm glad this group is open to folks making negative comments as well as positive ones. In my case, I'm finding the writer's style entirely appropriate to the kind of chills he's trying to deliver -- & I'm 38% done.

[WendyB]

Ann wrote: "Not every book is for every reader, & I'm glad this group is open to folks making negative comments as well as positive ones. In my case, I'm finding the writer's style entirely appropriate to the kind of chills he's trying to deliver -- & I'm 38% done."

At HA, we try to bring books to the attention of our members that maybe they wouldn't have known about otherwise. Sometimes we find really great books... sometimes not so much. It's all about being open to new things and our members are the best. :)

[Netanella]

It's our Easter horror read, so of course we need to feature lovable furry animals with self-destructive tendencies, killer instincts, and sharp obsidian blades.

I enjoyed the story, actually. It didn't really bother me that giant, talking animals are on an island recreating scenes from an effed-up Hundred Acre Woods. Suspension of belief, I believe, should take a little precedence here.

[Trista]

Ann wrote: "WendyB wrote: "I enjoying this. Don't know strictly how much horror will be in this but I think it's well-written. I'm surprised at some reviews being really critical of the author's writing style...."

I also DNF’d this book. I struggled with the writing. I just couldn’t look past it. I’m sure there’s a good plot in there somewhere. Unfortunately, because of the POV issues and other technical things I just couldn’t hang. I’m glad so many people are enjoying this book though.

[WendyB]

Emilie wrote: "Kelly B wrote: "I really enjoyed this one. Such an interesting premise.

I did find it perplexing that the visitors to the isle took it pretty much in stride that the animal characters were real. A..."

As much as I'm enjoying this story, I wouldn't be so calmly accepting what is seen in that house, I would be running and screaming in terror.

[WendyB]

Trista wrote: "Ann wrote: "WendyB wrote: "I enjoying this. Don't know strictly how much horror will be in this but I think it's well-written. I'm surprised at some reviews being really critical of the author's wr..."

Believe me, I've put down plenty of books that other readers loved, scratching my head trying to figure out what they saw in it.

[Ann]

Trista wrote: "Ann wrote: "WendyB wrote: "I enjoying this. Don't know strictly how much horror will be in this but I think it's well-written. I'm surprised at some reviews being really critical of the author's wr..."

OK, fair on the POV issue. I'm still enjoying this one a lot, but the author seems to be switching POV whenever it's most convenient to the plotline. Not something I'm used to, but I'm willing to deal with it to see how things come out!