The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Liked but didn’t love it
I will start this review with the positives. I certainly think this is an impressive and fairly unique debut, Ana Reyes succeeds in creating a great atmosphere and I enjoyed her style and would be keen to pick up any books she writes in the future. I also enjoy a story told in a dual perspective and added to that a slightly unreliable narrator and you have my attention. But, I felt like the pacing was off a little – for me at least anyways. I reached a stage where I was becoming a bit annoyed, at this point, instead of enjoying the suspense I found myself becoming frustrated. This could of course be my reading mood at the time but I just felt too much ‘drag’.
Anyway, a little about the plot.
As the story begins we meet Maya, in a loving relationship and living in Boston. However, look a little closer and it turns out that Maya is keeping secrets. She has become addicted to painkillers to try to keep at bay the mysterious death of her best friend and is really struggling with withdrawal because her supply has dried up. On top of this, after witnessing a strange YouTube video in which a young woman dies unexpectedly her memories from that time begin to creep back in unwanted – the reason being, the unknown man in the video, who was talking to the woman just before she keeled over, is Frank, Maya’s love interest when her own best friend died in similar circumstances. Maya decides to return to her home to finally search for answers.
There is so much here that is done very well. I got a great feel for Maya and her best friend Aubrey. They have a close friendship until Maya’s interest in Frank begins to drive a wedge between the two, ultimately leading to jealousy. The relationship between Maya and Frank is also really well done. Frank seems to be too good to be true. He’s elusive and mysterious, giving very little away about himself whilst at the same time manipulating Maya who seems to experience disturbing memory lapses during his presence, which she generally puts down to time flying when she is in his company. He’s an unusual character, his charm barely masking a general feeling of something more sinister lurking beneath the surface. You have an overall ‘bad’ feeling about him.
The story jumps back and forth to Maya’s highschool days and the present time (approx 7 years later) when she’s trying to kick addiction, hold down a job, keep her relationship steady and discover the missing elements of that mysterious summer from her past. On the whole I enjoy a split timeline and that was the case here. Between the past and present we jump back to the strange encounter with Frank and the author begins to lay the trail of crumbs that something is not quite right. At the same time we jump forward to the present where Maya struggles with her withdrawal and begins slowly to recall events from the past.
I mentioned the atmosphere. On the face of it this is a regular story where something just feels off – mainly anything in relation to Frank – but steadily Reyes builds up the tension. I can’t deny I was fascinated to read the final scene with Aubrey and found the jaunts to the house in the woods equally compelling and would have liked more.
Okay, the only thing that really held me back here was the pacing. I definitely felt myself flagging by the middle. Of course I was desperate to know what was really going on so I was turning the pages like a maniac but, put simply, for me the eventual reveal was too drawn out and in fact, considering how quickly the ending then rushed in it felt a little unbalanced. I must also mention that the unreliable narrator feels as though it is slightly overused (although I usually like it)- or perhaps I’ve simply read to many similar books recently.
Regardless of my slight reservations I do think this was a good read and the conclusion felt unique to me. I enjoyed the writing and would love to see what this author comes up with next.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating is 3 of 5 stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing so but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
I was shocked to realised that I didn’t post a wrap up last week – whoops – I was obviously getting carried away with the holiday festivities. Plus my daughter came to stay which was lovely so less time for reading and blogging. In other news I’ve finally shaken off the lurgy, I still feel tired if I over exert myself but otherwise I feel good. That being said my dad has just gone into hospital which is very worrying. Hopefully he will be better soon but in the meantime it’s a bit distracting so if I go missing on here that’s probably why.
So, firstly, Happy New Year to everyone. In reading news I managed to complete The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes. I also managed to fit in The Ivory Tomb by Melissa Caruso which is the third and final book in the Rooks and Ruin series and was a very dramatic conclusion. The past week I’ve been reading Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie which is very good and also listening to what is perhaps a strange choice for me, the Vanishing Act of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander. It’s an easy listen that I hope to complete soon.
Next Week’s Reads:
Hopefully I’ll complete my two current reads fairly quickly as I’m close to the end of both and then I have three books that I’m very excited to get to. All The Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce, The Drift by CJ Tudor and The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell. Literally, I’m so excited for these three books. Fingers crossed they live up to my lofty expectations.
Reviews Posted since my last Sunday Post:
None for the past week – I need to catch up.
- Love Will Tear Us Apart by CK McDonnell
- SPFBO No.1
- SPFBO No.2
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
- How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
- The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
- The Ivory Tomb by Melissa Caruso
I shall be trying to fit in a few reviews more than usual in the next couple of weeks in a bid to catch up. Wish me luck
Friday Face Off : Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
6 January 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Friday Face off, Heather Fawcett
Today is the start of a new Friday Face Off (a meme originally created by Books by Proxy) – similar in many ways to what came before but different going forward. From 2023 I will no longer be posting prompts or themes to guide your cover choices. Instead, having noticed that many of my most recent reads have had more than one cover, I thought instead it would be a change to highlight something that you’re keen to shine the focus on. So, from today onwards come up with one of your reads that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week the book I’ve chosen was one of the very last books that I crammed into the end of the year and I loved it, it even made my favourites list of the year. I’ve not posted a review yet but that will soon be happening. For now, let’s take a look at the book, and more importantly the covers.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1) by Heather Fawcett.
Here are the covers:
These are all lovely covers. The last cover is the one I’m must familiar with and it is a gorgeous cover that really drew my eye. However, my favourite this week is :
The reason I’ve chosen this one, apart from it’s a beautiful design of course, but at the same time if you look closely enough it clearly makes reference to some of the darker elements in the story, and given this is a book about tricksy fae, I like that this one has a more ominous feel.
Which cover is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
The Good Intentions Book Tag
Last year, about this time, I came up with my Good Intentions Book Tag. Put bluntly I’m not very good at sticking to resolutions so instead decided to come up with a tag based around the most popular ‘resolutions for this time of year. Today I’m going to look back at that list and also come up with some new intentions for the next twelve months. This is my Good Intentions Book Tag – after all you can have good intentions at any point in the year:
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Exercise more : This is a book that is a real chunkster, in fact you will need help to even pick this book up:
Last year I came up with a great chunky book for this prompt. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff – and unfortunately I still haven’t got round to picking this one up. Whoops. I did squeeze in a backlist read that was also something of a chunkster though so I’m going to say that things even out. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky. Guess I’ll have to make Empire of the Vampire this year’s book.
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Lose weight : A book that is not a chunkster; a short story or novella. A book you could probably read in one sitting:
Last year I read Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M Valente. This year I’m going to go with a book that I really enjoyed by an author that I really like. Western inspired with demons and angels. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse. I would be overjoyed if this is a world that the author decides to revisit.
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Eat healthy : A book that is good for you. This is a book that made you feel so happy that you wanted to give it a big hug:
The book I highlighted last year for this prompt was The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow which I will say, one more time at least, is a beautiful book. This year, one of my reads that gave me all the gooey vibes (well I did have more than one but have decided to go for just the one) Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson
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Fulfill your ambitions : A book that has a lot going on. Plenty of different threads, points of views and action but everything eventually comes together in a very satisfactory fashion:
For this prompt last year I went with The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley (#1 Ashes of the Unhewn Thrown). Which was a fantastic read and on my ‘best of‘ list and likewise the book I’ve chosen this year was also one of my favourite reads of 2022. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandell
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Spend more time with the family : A series of books that you love and that has developed more than you ever anticipated:
I used the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs for this prompt. It’s a series that I’m loving although I need to check and see if I’m uptodate or not. The latest series that has a great ‘found’ family feel and I just love it is the Stranger Times Series by CK McDonnell. I am adoring this series and can’t get enough of it.
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Tick off an item from your bucket list : Reduce the tbr. Choose a book from Mount TBR that you would like to read this year:
Well, I admit I failed with this particular prompt. Last year I highlight two books – and to be perfectly honest I’m going to choose the same two books. I’m absolutely determined to read both of these. T
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant. I’ve seen some excellent reviews for this one and I’m excited to read it.
And, December Park by Ronald Malfi because I read and loved his latest book Come With Me (in fact it’s on my ‘Best of’ list this year and so I wanted to check out some of his earlier books.
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Save money : A book that was an absolute bargain – you would have to be crazy in fact not to have bought this book:
I bought The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher last year for the bargain price of £1.99 for kindle. I’m loving this author and so would like to pick this one up this year.
This year I managed to snag a few bargains and one that I’m very keen to pick up is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
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Get Organised : A book with a glossary, maps, useful words, lists of people – this book is one helpful book, it wants you to know ALL the things and it’s not afraid to use footnotes and other devices to help you do so:
I choose a great book for this last year and one that I heartily recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. This year I’ve gone for the second in series. The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne – not only a fantastic second instalment but it also includes a list of characters and a map.
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Start a new hobby : A book that is outside your comfort zone. Perhaps everyone was raving about this book, maybe it was over-hyped, you hesitated to pick it up in fact, but when you did – you loved it:
Finally, a book that is outside of my comfort zone. To clarify, for the most part I read SFF, I also like to read a little crime/thriller/horror and also some history. So, I’m not really going to include those in books that fall outside my usual reading zone. I’ve gone for romance. Last year I chose The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. I loved this book when I read it and still have lovely memories of it – it would be interesting to reread it actually to see if I still feel the same way.
This year I chose a lovely book, A Restless Truth by Freya Marske. I loved this, and whilst I’ve chosen it for the romance elements it also has fantasy and murder mystery with it’s pages.
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That’s my top ten Good Intentions Book Tag which compares last year to this.
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Only One Left by Riley Sager
4 January 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Riley Sager, The Only One Left, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is : The Only One Left by Riley Sager. The description for this one is fantastic.
Bestselling author Riley Sager returns with a Gothic chiller about a young caregiver assigned to work for a woman accused of a Lizzie Borden-like massacre decades earlier.
At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred.
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life
It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer—I want to tell you everything.
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said
But she’s the only one not dea
As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth—and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought.
Expected publication : June 2023
Books and travelling with Lynn 