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Blackbriar
In the attempt to decipher a number of strange events after he moves into an old cottage, a boy discovers a group of English folk engaged in Devil worship.
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
88 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
William Sleator
49 books323 followersWilliam Warner Sleator III was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland on February 13, 1945, and moved to St. Louis, MO when he was three. He graduated from University City High School in 1963, from Harvard in 1967 with BAs in music and English.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
December 31, 2012
You know that old sci-fi or supernatural novel you checked out from the library when you were a kid? You've forgotten the title and the author, but you remember the 80s-tastic cover almost clearly... you remember there were these two kids, a boy and a girl, and... and it was thrilling, and it's half-haunted your memory and your dreams ever since.
Just so you know, there's about a 50% chance that book was by William Sleator.
For me, that was Sleator's "Into the Dream;" I hadn't read "Blackbriar" before, but I wasn't surprised that many of the reviews are from adults who half-remember this thrilling book from their childhood. I understand why those reviewers say it didn't live up to their expectations upon rereading. It is really disappointing how Lark is introduced to us as a character who's brave and independent, but turns into a whimpering, arm-clutching coward whenever something scary happens, all in order to propel the (initially cowardly, passive) hero Danny's maturation towards bravery and independence. Why does his gain have to come at her expense? It's very "Secret Garden" (I was a "Little Princess" fan, myself) -- as is the "living in the country turns lazy, sickly city boy healthy and energetic" plotline. And like other reviewers, I found the finale disappointing.
All that said, this book deserves credit for something I haven't seen many reviewers mention. Sleator is a skilled, evocative, incredibly compelling prose writer. No wonder people who read his books in childhood remember moments and images from them so vividly, even when the other details have long faded. I was captivated not only by the gothic thrills and moments of shock he so effectively creates, but by his writing style, his gorgeous ability to describe scenes from the creepy, beautiful house in the woods and scenes from daily life so marvelously. The book was worth the read just for that.
Just so you know, there's about a 50% chance that book was by William Sleator.
For me, that was Sleator's "Into the Dream;" I hadn't read "Blackbriar" before, but I wasn't surprised that many of the reviews are from adults who half-remember this thrilling book from their childhood. I understand why those reviewers say it didn't live up to their expectations upon rereading. It is really disappointing how Lark is introduced to us as a character who's brave and independent, but turns into a whimpering, arm-clutching coward whenever something scary happens, all in order to propel the (initially cowardly, passive) hero Danny's maturation towards bravery and independence. Why does his gain have to come at her expense? It's very "Secret Garden" (I was a "Little Princess" fan, myself) -- as is the "living in the country turns lazy, sickly city boy healthy and energetic" plotline. And like other reviewers, I found the finale disappointing.
All that said, this book deserves credit for something I haven't seen many reviewers mention. Sleator is a skilled, evocative, incredibly compelling prose writer. No wonder people who read his books in childhood remember moments and images from them so vividly, even when the other details have long faded. I was captivated not only by the gothic thrills and moments of shock he so effectively creates, but by his writing style, his gorgeous ability to describe scenes from the creepy, beautiful house in the woods and scenes from daily life so marvelously. The book was worth the read just for that.
March 14, 2010
For nearly twenty-five years, the story of Blackbriar haunted me. When I was in sixth grade, Mrs. Mullins read it out loud to our reading class. Even in the fully-lit classroom surrounded by kids the story was scary as hell.
After sixth grade I didn’t give the book much thought. But whenever anyone asked me about scary books this is the one I’d conjure up. The problem was for years and years I had forgotten the title of the book and wasn’t sure if I ever knew the name of the author.
All I could remember was the creepy image of names carved on the back of a door. Each name had a date next to it, effectively making the entire house a giant tombstone. I remember that it had something to do with the Black Plague. But that’s it.
Occasionally, I’d ask someone if they’d ever read the black plague with the names on the door book when they were a kid. “You know the one with the tunnel and names, the NAMES. The names on the door!” Because repetition is the surest way to jog someone’s memory, right?
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After sixth grade I didn’t give the book much thought. But whenever anyone asked me about scary books this is the one I’d conjure up. The problem was for years and years I had forgotten the title of the book and wasn’t sure if I ever knew the name of the author.
All I could remember was the creepy image of names carved on the back of a door. Each name had a date next to it, effectively making the entire house a giant tombstone. I remember that it had something to do with the Black Plague. But that’s it.
Occasionally, I’d ask someone if they’d ever read the black plague with the names on the door book when they were a kid. “You know the one with the tunnel and names, the NAMES. The names on the door!” Because repetition is the surest way to jog someone’s memory, right?
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March 25, 2013
Really enjoyed it, as I did when I was a kid. Nice gothic tale, good atmosphere, excellent prose. A little campy ending, but it is a YA novel, after all...
May 7, 2012
This is a quick read, and enjoyable enough, if you're of the appropriate age. The author does a good job of establishing an air of mystery and menace throughout. But, I read it as an adult, not as an adolescent, so the tale's thinner plot points couldn't help but catch my eye. If I'd read this as a kid, I'm sure I would have given it 4 stars. As an adult, the outdated cliche of evil witches worshiping demons, and the use of a dwarf as a signal of evil mayhem were rather irksome, (as was the notion that a child would simply be allowed to live with a flighty woman, with no formal or legal arrangement, who would feel it was her right to remove him from his home and school with no notice to anyone with legal authority over him--yeah, sure, whatever). The main character is also off-putting in his initial mistreatment of Islington, (a cat who is sometimes the most interesting character in the book)--but, to be fair, as the character grows throughout the novel, this initial behavior becomes starkly contrasted. Of course, this novel was written in a time when such things would have raised nary an eyebrow. There are some good points, too, of course. Islington, the cat, is a fun character, and Philippa, his pampering "owner" (does anyone actually OWN a cat?) is a fine literary example of codependency. Her treatment of Danny (the MC) is a good conversation-starter if you want to discuss smothering and/or unhealthy relationships with an adolescent. There is also some refreshingly astute introspection and empathy on the part of the main character. For the psychological maturity that is engendered by the main character's recognition of, and response to, Philippq's loneliness-bred codependency, this book is a worthwhile read for younger readers. It is a decent yarn.
May 1, 2012
Yeah, it's YA -- but even so, this is pretty weak tea, packed with cliches, stupid dialogue, and a girl sidekick who is introduced as tough but goes all whimpery and arm-clutchy so the wimpy kid protagonist can be a hero. Sleator's House of Stairs gave me unforgettable chills when I stumbled upon it in fifth grade, but this this Scooby-Dooish tale of meddling kids thwarting a rural witch coven doesn't really measure up.
Three grudging stars for the deserted house with the secret passage full of skeletons, the portrait of the teenage witch, and oodles of similar gothic trappings which I would have enjoyed to no end if I'd read this as a kid. Also, for Islington the Siamese cat, who's the most compelling character of the lot.
Three grudging stars for the deserted house with the secret passage full of skeletons, the portrait of the teenage witch, and oodles of similar gothic trappings which I would have enjoyed to no end if I'd read this as a kid. Also, for Islington the Siamese cat, who's the most compelling character of the lot.
May 27, 2018
A Cool Little Ghost Story
Danny and his his guardian, Phillipa, were tired of the hustle and bustle of London. When the opportunity to buy Blackbriar, an old mansion in the county, they jumped at the chance. Little did they know that Blackbriar was once a pest house, where people who were unwell went to die, and that sinister forces were at work in the small town. The story unfolds as Danny and his new friend, Lark, discover the secrets hidden in Blackbriar and the ghost of the young woman who haunted it. This is a cool little ghost story that I enjoyed very much.
Danny and his his guardian, Phillipa, were tired of the hustle and bustle of London. When the opportunity to buy Blackbriar, an old mansion in the county, they jumped at the chance. Little did they know that Blackbriar was once a pest house, where people who were unwell went to die, and that sinister forces were at work in the small town. The story unfolds as Danny and his new friend, Lark, discover the secrets hidden in Blackbriar and the ghost of the young woman who haunted it. This is a cool little ghost story that I enjoyed very much.
October 3, 2015
very well written, decent character depth, but it felt like there should have been more to the story. I enjoyed it anyways
November 3, 2018
I discovered this novel in the Power Middle School library in 6th grade and must have checked it out and read it at least five times. I remember the cover of the hardcover book vividly. I've thought about it over the years and finally looked it up and ordered it. I have to say it didn't hold up as well as I was hoping. But it's still a good story and has made me feel a bit nostalgic.
October 8, 2018
I guess this may be an indication I like William Sleator’s science fiction way more than his attempt at horror. I couldn’t stand the main character and his guardian. They were both petty and disrespectful to each other. I got about halfway through and decided it wasn’t worth finishing.
February 6, 2022
Establishes and maintains a nice atmosphere until the rather silly and rushed-feeling ending. Satanic panic? C’mon now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2016
This book seems to be a lot like John Bellairs' The Face in the Frost, not in terms of plot but in terms of it being one of an author's earliest published novels which is a spooky story and has a different style than almost any of the later work. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but there isn't any amazing, fantastic, or weird scientific twist going on here.
Unfortunately, talking about what this story does or doesn't have in it might slightly spoil it, but I will say that the tension builds over time and it took me a while to figure out whether Philippa was involved in the main mystery or not. The setting is in England and the writing has British style. The tension could have been built better if the reader was told more of what was going on sooner; there is entirely too much "local finds out you've moved into Blackbriar, local shuts up and won't talk to you anymore" which isn't helpful after the first time or two. The locals are supposed to drop little hints that let you know just how scary the main mystery is instead of shutting up entirely. Then again, maybe that's what British people really do.
Unfortunately, talking about what this story does or doesn't have in it might slightly spoil it, but I will say that the tension builds over time and it took me a while to figure out whether Philippa was involved in the main mystery or not. The setting is in England and the writing has British style. The tension could have been built better if the reader was told more of what was going on sooner; there is entirely too much "local finds out you've moved into Blackbriar, local shuts up and won't talk to you anymore" which isn't helpful after the first time or two. The locals are supposed to drop little hints that let you know just how scary the main mystery is instead of shutting up entirely. Then again, maybe that's what British people really do.
December 10, 2019
Gothic fiction that fails to live up to Sleator's later works. Still the book does present a sense of dread here and there. The image of the pesthouse of Danny's dreams and the tumuli were evocative. Did enjoy the descriptions of the countryside and the beginnings of spring. Largely the book is predictable and Philippa comes across annoyingly controlling. I also found the ending rushed and was intrigued by the dwarf witch and the other henchman but it's as if Sleator had a cool idea there and just never followed through with it. The ending feels anticlimactic and not really as satisfying as the build made it seem. Still, for a younger young adult who might be looking for a scary scooby-doo-esque thriller than you can't go wrong with Blackbriar. As a student of Sleator I can see the workings of a lot of his themes in it: dark rooms hiding potential threats, familial conflict, the subtle suggestion of the supernatural, and often enough a main character or characters transported into a place of Gothic mystery.
August 13, 2018
Kindle Deal | Not enough depth. | Growing up I returned again and again to the "S" section of the school library, in large part for Sleator's books. They were always so unusual and interesting, and the characters felt real. This book doesn't fit the rest of his oeuvre. This isn't unusual, the underlying premise was pretty clear right off. It's not actually that interesting, more perplexing, because the characters don't make sense. I can't imagine that even as a child I would've found anything redeeming about Danny, and Philippa just didn't make sense--nothing justifies who she is. All that said, target age readers would probably find it fairly creepy.
Side note: there was no reason to write one character as a dwarf. The only purpose it served was to make him physically unusual and separate him from everyone else. I know this isn't a modern book, but it needs to be mentioned that giving the evil crazy antagonist a physical disability to indicate his internal deformity is wrong.
Side note: there was no reason to write one character as a dwarf. The only purpose it served was to make him physically unusual and separate him from everyone else. I know this isn't a modern book, but it needs to be mentioned that giving the evil crazy antagonist a physical disability to indicate his internal deformity is wrong.
April 11, 2010
Not one of Sleator's best, but not bad either. Some hilarious stuff happens because the book was written in 1972 - at one point a boy's guardian pulls him from school when she shouldn't and takes him far out into the countryside. Her cover story? That she is a teacher traveling alone with her student. An excuse that did not age well.
Basic mystery plot with some spooky stuff happening, and Sleator knows what he's doing so there's nothing bad about it, but it is otherwise a very paint-by-numbers 1970s YA.
It was a fast read, and Sleator keeps the tension up. He's also very good at creating a few resonant, memorable details that stick with you long after you've read the book. Not bad if you have a chance to read it, but nothing to seek out.
Basic mystery plot with some spooky stuff happening, and Sleator knows what he's doing so there's nothing bad about it, but it is otherwise a very paint-by-numbers 1970s YA.
It was a fast read, and Sleator keeps the tension up. He's also very good at creating a few resonant, memorable details that stick with you long after you've read the book. Not bad if you have a chance to read it, but nothing to seek out.
September 27, 2013
I read this in fourth or maybe fifth grade, and remembered it ever since as a vague haunting recollection. My daughter has inherited my liking for ghostly and horrible stories, so I got it for her birthday -- happily, it was the same edition I read, with the very affecting surreal black and white illustrations. But she wouldn't read it! So I grabbed it and read it myself. Like most things from your childhood, it's a little smaller and less scary when you go back to it -- but still quite good enough! If you have a little Blair Witch rattling around your brain, that adds something extra. The story is nothing too surprising, and the climax is slightly contrived, but Sleator's control of mood is great. The book is just what it should be, and that's saying something.
January 17, 2018
I liked this haunted house story. The characters are well established at the very beginning, with an opening chapter that makes their relationship clear. The house and woods that surround it are nicely gothic and the ominous feeling and atmospheric descriptions are great. I just didn't quite like the ending.
February 5, 2019
A fun little adventure
This story had plenty of intrigue mixed with a bit of fantasy. The story was a page turner which made this short novel a quick read. I rated this at a 3 because I would have liked a bit more background on some of the minor characters and the town history.
This story had plenty of intrigue mixed with a bit of fantasy. The story was a page turner which made this short novel a quick read. I rated this at a 3 because I would have liked a bit more background on some of the minor characters and the town history.
October 27, 2009
This book thrilled the crap out of me as an elementary/middle school reader. I think I read it every year. It has some of everything: plague, witches, hauntings, cults, conspiracies. Good stuff!!
June 9, 2011
Decent book.
I really wish that we had learned more about Mary Peachy or the cult. As soon as we learned of the cult, the book ended. What a letdown...
I really wish that we had learned more about Mary Peachy or the cult. As soon as we learned of the cult, the book ended. What a letdown...
April 6, 2014
Brody finished it last night and had a smile on his face when he talked about the ending!
Love this gifted author!
Love this gifted author!
January 13, 2015
Good story for the young reader
I thought it would be a bit scarier, but it was still a nice read. It is something a little different and mysterious....a child like adventure.
I thought it would be a bit scarier, but it was still a nice read. It is something a little different and mysterious....a child like adventure.
October 31, 2020
This was a bit of a disappointment to me. I had originally found this book by chance when I was in middle school, and I totally ate it up. For 13 year old me, this had just the right amount of creepiness. I can never read or watch anything that’s too scary because I have an overactive imagination, especially at night. Back then, I would have given this a rating of 4 or 5 stars, but reading it again as an adult, it doesn’t hold up. It wasn’t that creepy, maybe because even though I couldn’t remember exactly what happened, I remembered it all was resolved pretty well. However, there were certain things that bothered me this time around, reading more critically, including some plot conveniences. It gets 3 stars from me now because I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it, it was pretty average.
I really wish Philippa was more likable. At times, she was downright nasty to Danny, and I wouldn't blame him for wanting to get away from her. She seems like one of those people who always has something negative to say even if you compliment them. For example, Danny praised her cooking, and then she came back with something like "Oh, so you don't like how I usually make it?" She is also incredibly controlling, telling Danny not to hang out with certain people, to the point where she ended any friendships he had. In fact, I think part of her desire to move to the country was so she could continue to control Danny, as he would be more isolated than he was in the city, and thus less likely to leave her. I think she was starting to realize he was getting older and more independent, and she wanted to prevent him from gaining independence from her even though it is a natural part of growing up. I disliked Philippa and her whole attitude throughout the book, and I found nothing to really redeem her. She was just rude to other people, including Lark, making her feel guilty for wanting more food after she had offered her some. It's not like she was at all witty or funny, which might have redeemed her, but she was just generally nasty and controlling.
I think a preteen or someone in their early teens would like this, though nowadays it might be a bit outdated because kids would have no idea what things were like back then. They would be too young at this point to probably remember card catalogs, which is something Danny uses when he is at the library. This ending felt a bit Scooby Doo-ish to me, and I don't think it would really stand up for adult readers.
It was okay for me, but I'm not sure if I would reread it again after re-experiencing it as an adult. I had been looking forward to revisiting it after having read it years ago, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much now as I did then.
Spoilers!
Throughout the book, I was questioning why Danny and Philippa had to bring the cat everywhere with them. If they went to buy things at the store, they brought the cat, and once when they were getting ready to leave and couldn't find him they stopped to look so they could bring him with them. I could understand that maybe in the city it was a way to get him out of the small apartment into the fresh air, but in the country there wasn't the need for it. It later became clear it was for plot convivence so the bad guys would know about the cat who became central to the final scenes.
I found the ending, especially the epilogue, unsatisfying. Both Philippa and Danny leave Blackbriar to rot and fall into ruin? I get Danny had to leave because the lawyer, his legal guardian, considered Philippa irresponsible, which I kind of agree with, but then he goes back to London only to want to go to school in the country. I was expecting that they would say they weren’t scared of staying there anymore and that Danny didn't hear the laughter of Mary Peachy anymore. I don't disagree that Philippa was irresponsible in moving Danny out to the country without informing the lawyer who is his legal guardian, because I think that falls under the definition of kidnapping. I was just hoping for a better ending involving Blackbriar, and it is a shame that it was allowed to fall into ruin after being at least somewhat taken care of for several hundred years.
I really wish Philippa was more likable. At times, she was downright nasty to Danny, and I wouldn't blame him for wanting to get away from her. She seems like one of those people who always has something negative to say even if you compliment them. For example, Danny praised her cooking, and then she came back with something like "Oh, so you don't like how I usually make it?" She is also incredibly controlling, telling Danny not to hang out with certain people, to the point where she ended any friendships he had. In fact, I think part of her desire to move to the country was so she could continue to control Danny, as he would be more isolated than he was in the city, and thus less likely to leave her. I think she was starting to realize he was getting older and more independent, and she wanted to prevent him from gaining independence from her even though it is a natural part of growing up. I disliked Philippa and her whole attitude throughout the book, and I found nothing to really redeem her. She was just rude to other people, including Lark, making her feel guilty for wanting more food after she had offered her some. It's not like she was at all witty or funny, which might have redeemed her, but she was just generally nasty and controlling.
I think a preteen or someone in their early teens would like this, though nowadays it might be a bit outdated because kids would have no idea what things were like back then. They would be too young at this point to probably remember card catalogs, which is something Danny uses when he is at the library. This ending felt a bit Scooby Doo-ish to me, and I don't think it would really stand up for adult readers.
It was okay for me, but I'm not sure if I would reread it again after re-experiencing it as an adult. I had been looking forward to revisiting it after having read it years ago, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much now as I did then.
Spoilers!
Throughout the book, I was questioning why Danny and Philippa had to bring the cat everywhere with them. If they went to buy things at the store, they brought the cat, and once when they were getting ready to leave and couldn't find him they stopped to look so they could bring him with them. I could understand that maybe in the city it was a way to get him out of the small apartment into the fresh air, but in the country there wasn't the need for it. It later became clear it was for plot convivence so the bad guys would know about the cat who became central to the final scenes.
I found the ending, especially the epilogue, unsatisfying. Both Philippa and Danny leave Blackbriar to rot and fall into ruin? I get Danny had to leave because the lawyer, his legal guardian, considered Philippa irresponsible, which I kind of agree with, but then he goes back to London only to want to go to school in the country. I was expecting that they would say they weren’t scared of staying there anymore and that Danny didn't hear the laughter of Mary Peachy anymore. I don't disagree that Philippa was irresponsible in moving Danny out to the country without informing the lawyer who is his legal guardian, because I think that falls under the definition of kidnapping. I was just hoping for a better ending involving Blackbriar, and it is a shame that it was allowed to fall into ruin after being at least somewhat taken care of for several hundred years.
August 12, 2017
I loved William Sleator's books as a kid, and I read this one several times, always hoping that it would finally make sense and be enjoyable. Thirty years later, it's perfectly understandable and I have no idea why I struggled.
Boy and guardian move to secluded country house that's been empty for ages; house has a Bad Vibe to it and townspeople refuse to talk about it; Boy researches and gets half the story; townspeople still creepy about the house; Bad Vibes take over; Boy and friend solve mystery and put an end to house shenanigans.
This book has atmosphere up the wazoo. What it lacks is. .. I don't really know. A compelling plot? Characters I care much about? A friend character who doesn't change from Strong Independent Girl to Simpering Damsel to contrast Boy's arc of growing independence and freedom (a heavy-handed metaphor for adolescence if ever there were one)?
So, yeah, I don't know why this never made sense to me. But I do understand why I never loved this one like I did House of Stairs.
Boy and guardian move to secluded country house that's been empty for ages; house has a Bad Vibe to it and townspeople refuse to talk about it; Boy researches and gets half the story; townspeople still creepy about the house; Bad Vibes take over; Boy and friend solve mystery and put an end to house shenanigans.
This book has atmosphere up the wazoo. What it lacks is. .. I don't really know. A compelling plot? Characters I care much about? A friend character who doesn't change from Strong Independent Girl to Simpering Damsel to contrast Boy's arc of growing independence and freedom (a heavy-handed metaphor for adolescence if ever there were one)?
So, yeah, I don't know why this never made sense to me. But I do understand why I never loved this one like I did House of Stairs.
August 13, 2020
It sounded so intriguing--spooky happenings in isolated English cottage in the woods next to tumuli, with a bad, secret past, but instead of being primarily focused on history reverberating into the present in a spook way, it was a mad man leading the villagers in insane witchcraft revitalization....The woman who took in Danny after his parents died when he was little, and who has been supporting herself on his alimony, is a really nasty controlling person in an emotionally manipulative way, and never changes or has any aha sort of moment (until the epilogue, at which point it's pointless). There's a local girl Danny meets, who at first seems adventurous and spunk, but then melts into a fear soaked thing who contributes nothing at all and Danny has to be Brave and Protective. There is a ghost, but she does nothing plotwise either. So no, not one I really liked, though it sounded right up my alley.
December 9, 2019
I read this because as a child and teenager I loved some of Sleator's novels, and I wondered what this one was like. The blurb for the modern reprint covers the ground nicely, but the novel does not really do Sleator's future works justice. It is a reasonable children's supernatural-ish novel in the tradition of Penelope Lively, William Mayne and other late 60s/early 70s British children's authors, but it is not particularly exciting or special. What I noticed most about it is that it has that traditional trope of the domineering female figure who is destroying the boy's life with her demands, but Sleator doesn't go all in on it, and in the end although she's not an easy person, she's also not the nightmare bad mother-figure that shows up in such a slew of children's literature from the period. I am not sorry I read it, but there is not enough to it for it to be worth my rereading.
October 8, 2024
Such evocative writing which was totally reminiscent of Carol Beach York for me. The visceral descriptions of the English countryside were just lovely.
This was a creepy and atmospheric read, and a total MOOD! There were most definitely a few scenes that had me a bit anxious in my seat as I was reading. Also loved that the protag's siamese cat played an integral part in this book.
My only complaint is that for a book about witches and cults and such, the ending was not as wild and wacky as I would've wanted, lol. GIVE. ME. THE. CRAZY!!! But I did really enjoy this read and will definitely check out more books from Sleator!
This was a creepy and atmospheric read, and a total MOOD! There were most definitely a few scenes that had me a bit anxious in my seat as I was reading. Also loved that the protag's siamese cat played an integral part in this book.
My only complaint is that for a book about witches and cults and such, the ending was not as wild and wacky as I would've wanted, lol. GIVE. ME. THE. CRAZY!!! But I did really enjoy this read and will definitely check out more books from Sleator!
January 12, 2017
Even though Blackbriar was written in 1972, it does not seem dated. It is slow to get started and the resolution happened a little too fast, but otherwise the story is very good. By about 1/3 of the way through I had trouble putting it down. My biggest complaint is the overuse of italics to show emphasized words in the dialogue. I found that very distracting. I really liked Danny and how he evolved and matured over the course of the book. I found the epilogue to be satisfying. I definitely recommend Blackbriar by William Sleator.
October 31, 2018
Okay
This book starts out strong, but has an anticlimactic ending. It seems as though the ending is rushed and thrown together. I really didn’t care much for Phillipa. She was a nag and annoying. Danny and Lark are better characters, but not real strong. Some things are left unexplained- like the sense of euphoria they would feel at times. Were they just extremely happy or did this have to do with a spirit? I really don’t get it.
This book starts out strong, but has an anticlimactic ending. It seems as though the ending is rushed and thrown together. I really didn’t care much for Phillipa. She was a nag and annoying. Danny and Lark are better characters, but not real strong. Some things are left unexplained- like the sense of euphoria they would feel at times. Were they just extremely happy or did this have to do with a spirit? I really don’t get it.
November 22, 2020
I feel like this was probably a book that was read to me as a child. I remember the name Mary Peachy and it's the sort of story I liked... but I can't be sure. I liked this story a lot except for some parts with the cat at the end. Things turn out ok but it's still not pleasant to read that sort of thing.
April 15, 2021
William Sleator developed a reputation for trippy, slightly unsettling sci-fi young adult novels, but he cut his teeth on the rural gothic. "Blackbriar" is pretty decent, a slightly slow-moving and ambiguous take on the rural horror genre a la "The Wicker Man" or "Harvest Home," but it moves much slower and has less authorial confidence than Sleator's later work.
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