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Plot: The House on the Hill has been abandoned for as long as James can remember. So when he discovers Webster, a drifter, hiding there, he's instantly curious about the story behind the homeless man.
What is he running from?
Afflicted by a dark curse, Webster is no longer who he used to be. But there is said to be a cure and it might just be that by helping Webster, James will find some solace of his own.
Together they embark on a journey, not knowing that what they discover will impact them both in ways they never imagined...
Review:
Thank you to everyone at Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an e-arc of this book for review.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The beginning of the book was set in a rural village that was very atmospheric. I liked the imagery of the small crumbling house and the grassy fields, standing alone but together. I felt that I enjoyed the beginning the most and after a certain point the book became a little bland for me.
The plot of the book was really intriguing. I felt the plot revolved around both the mystery element of Webster and Webster and James special bond developing. I enjoyed the plot flow in the beginning of the novel but felt it lag a little towards the middle and before the very end. I enjoyed the suspense element to the plot and was surprised by some of the plot twists within the story.
There was a lot of characters in this novel and I found it difficult to keep up with who was who at times. The protagonist James was a character I really enjoyed. I felt he gave a really good and comprehensive narrative voice to the story. I enjoyed his way of thinking and his wisdom beyond his years was refreshing. It was his relationship with Webster that I found most compelling. Their friendship was really heartwarming. Billy was a good antagonist, along with his family. I thought he needed to be a bit more frightening at times, and there were some parts where I was confused as they didn't seem like the villains of the story.
The book was quite enjoyable but there was some definite parts that just fell down for me . I was somewhat disappointed by aspect of the novel and I was not blown away by the writing style. I do think that fans of David Almonds writing style would enjoy this.
Rating:
Three Star Book
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This is the first I've heard of this book. I love book with old abandoned houses for some reason!! I'll be looking out for this one. Nice review :)
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