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Quiet Village
When her sister dies, Collie Noonan gets custody of her ten-year-old niece. Hoping for a fresh start, they move to a small village on the outskirts of Suffolk. But in Hyam all is not as it seems. The locals are verging on hostile, and all the local shop seems to stock is meat—a problem for Collie’s vegetarian niece.Emily Lassiter is also new to the village, and Collie is drawn to the mysterious schoolteacher. Unknown to Collie, Emily is an undercover reporter looking into the disappearance of her brother. He warned her something was wrong in Hyam. Something was watching him. Emily believes the answers lie in the village, and she’ll do whatever it takes to discover the truth.But something not quite human is stalking Collie and her niece. It’s coming for them all, and they’ll need to work together if any of them want to get out of Hyam alive.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2021
About the author
Eden Darry
9 books23 followersEden Darry is a UK based author who has three novels published with Bold Strokes Books. Eden writes speculative fiction with a romantic arc, and her novels so far have featured a haunted house, an apocalypse and zombies. To find out more, follow the ‘Publications’ tab above.
Eden has recently moved out of London, having lived there her whole life, and is enjoying a change of scenery in Kent.
Eden has recently moved out of London, having lived there her whole life, and is enjoying a change of scenery in Kent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 1, 2021
3.5 stars. After reading the blurb of this book I was not sure what to expect, but I generally enjoy paranormal and thriller/horror stories, so this was an easy choice. The story overall was entertaining, not the most surprising, but fun if you’re looking for some escapism.
The book starts with a bang, the brutal death of Collie’s sister and Lana’s mother, Sasha. Collie now gets custody over Lana and they decide to move from London to the countryside, to get away from all it all. But Hyam, their new hometown, turns out to be a small, unfriendly, and creepy town. The storyline piqued my interest from the beginning. Almost immediately you get to know the villain of this story, but the fate of our mains and the role of the townspeople (if any) remains unclear. The story slowly builds towards the last 20% were all the action happens and especially this last part grabbed me. Parts of the story were not that hard to guess, but there was some good tension build-up and creepy moments.
The romance storyline between Collie and Emily (Lana’s teacher and secretly an undercover reporter) starts with some immediate attraction. They both have their reasons why they shouldn’t date, which gives some nice push and pull, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance. I thought there was slightly too much internal dialogue and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them.
The writing is easily readable, although it was a bit repetitive during the first part of the book. The book is written in third person with multiple POV’s. I liked both mains and I especially liked the POV of Lana, she’s such a sweet kid. It was interesting to see how the death of her mother affected her decision making on how to interact with Collie (I found it quite sad really). I have to note though that she doesn’t appear not to grieve for her mother, which was very strange, and for a 10-year old she’s probably too mature and responsible. A POV that did not work well was the one from the villain, the insight it gave didn’t really add much to the story for me, if at all, it reduced some of the tension. Luckily, this POV only makes up a very small portion of the book.
All in all, an entertaining creeper story to get away from “normal life” for a few hours.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts with a bang, the brutal death of Collie’s sister and Lana’s mother, Sasha. Collie now gets custody over Lana and they decide to move from London to the countryside, to get away from all it all. But Hyam, their new hometown, turns out to be a small, unfriendly, and creepy town. The storyline piqued my interest from the beginning. Almost immediately you get to know the villain of this story, but the fate of our mains and the role of the townspeople (if any) remains unclear. The story slowly builds towards the last 20% were all the action happens and especially this last part grabbed me. Parts of the story were not that hard to guess, but there was some good tension build-up and creepy moments.
The romance storyline between Collie and Emily (Lana’s teacher and secretly an undercover reporter) starts with some immediate attraction. They both have their reasons why they shouldn’t date, which gives some nice push and pull, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance. I thought there was slightly too much internal dialogue and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them.
The writing is easily readable, although it was a bit repetitive during the first part of the book. The book is written in third person with multiple POV’s. I liked both mains and I especially liked the POV of Lana, she’s such a sweet kid. It was interesting to see how the death of her mother affected her decision making on how to interact with Collie (I found it quite sad really). I have to note though that she doesn’t appear not to grieve for her mother, which was very strange, and for a 10-year old she’s probably too mature and responsible. A POV that did not work well was the one from the villain, the insight it gave didn’t really add much to the story for me, if at all, it reduced some of the tension. Luckily, this POV only makes up a very small portion of the book.
All in all, an entertaining creeper story to get away from “normal life” for a few hours.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2021
I became a fan of Eden Darry when she scared the pants off me with her debut novel, The House. I became an even bigger fan of hers when she had me in stitches with her campy horror/romance novel, Z-Town, about zombies overrunning Provincetown. Now with her current book, Quiet Village, she is again scaring off a necessary article of clothing from my anatomy.
Collie Noonan’s sister is murdered at the beginning of the story. Collie and her niece (Lana) decide to move to a small village called Hyam to escape the publicity. There they meet Emily Lassiter who is working as a teacher at the village school though that isn’t the only reason she is there. Collie and Lana are looking for peace and quiet. What they and Emily find is anything but peaceful.
When I started reading this story, I decided to only read it during the daytime. I knew if I continued to read after dark, I would be watching the light fade to black outside my windows, and would then be listening to the night breeze and the wild animals (I live in the country) rustling in the trees and bushes right outside. Then I would be sleeping with the lights on all night. It’s a good thing I did read during the daytime because the author created a world that could send chills up and down your spine, and have you looking over your shoulder. One of the author’s strengths is creating an atmosphere so creepy that even a sleepy little village in the country gradually seems like one of the most terrifying places to be. The characters are well suited for the roles they have in the story, and the romance between Collie and Emily gives the reader at least some break from the more frightening aspects of this tale.
This novel is first and foremost a paranormal horror story and a psychological thriller. It is filled with murder, monsters in the night, and a little romance. Just be prepared to leave the lights on if you read it at night…and hold on to your pants. I’m giving this book a 4.5 star rating.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
Collie Noonan’s sister is murdered at the beginning of the story. Collie and her niece (Lana) decide to move to a small village called Hyam to escape the publicity. There they meet Emily Lassiter who is working as a teacher at the village school though that isn’t the only reason she is there. Collie and Lana are looking for peace and quiet. What they and Emily find is anything but peaceful.
When I started reading this story, I decided to only read it during the daytime. I knew if I continued to read after dark, I would be watching the light fade to black outside my windows, and would then be listening to the night breeze and the wild animals (I live in the country) rustling in the trees and bushes right outside. Then I would be sleeping with the lights on all night. It’s a good thing I did read during the daytime because the author created a world that could send chills up and down your spine, and have you looking over your shoulder. One of the author’s strengths is creating an atmosphere so creepy that even a sleepy little village in the country gradually seems like one of the most terrifying places to be. The characters are well suited for the roles they have in the story, and the romance between Collie and Emily gives the reader at least some break from the more frightening aspects of this tale.
This novel is first and foremost a paranormal horror story and a psychological thriller. It is filled with murder, monsters in the night, and a little romance. Just be prepared to leave the lights on if you read it at night…and hold on to your pants. I’m giving this book a 4.5 star rating.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
July 22, 2021
Quiet Village’s book blurb led me to believe this was a paranormal horror story with a bit of romance squeezed into it. In reality the romance plays a much larger role in the book which is fine with me. I stand on the squeamish side of the scale when it comes to horror so I enjoyed the emphasis being spread around.
Due to a family tragedy Collie Noonan packs up her ten year old niece Sasha and leaves London to settle into village life. But a quiet life is not what she finds in the village of Hyam. Something not of this world is stalking Collie , Sasha and Sasha’s school teacher Emily.
There is no build up of suspense as to who is the stalker as the information is easy to piece together early in the novel. The actual suspense is when will they attack and why is the town so weird to all three of them. I will not lie that I was very frightened throughout the story but remember I am lightweight when it comes to horror.
I am not a fan of the internal dialogues Collie, Sasha and Emily had throughout the novel. It felt to me that writer Eden Darry was taking the easy way out to further
the storyline. When the internal dialogue became crucial to the story it had less impact due to its over use.
There were a few other issues I had with the storyline pertaining to Sasha’s response to the family tragedy. She seemed just too well adjusted and handled things better than her Aunt.
The thing I really enjoyed was the budding romance between Collie and Emily. It was paced and timed perfectly with plausible reasons why it should not happen. The tug and pull back was very realistic.
Overall I found the novel entertaining with likeable characters and I am willing to overlook my minor issues . Some books are just meant to scare and entertain you. Getting too bogged down on realistic issues not being up to snuff is a fool’s errand. After all how do we know what is realistic in Hyam with a snarling, limb tearing beast hidden in their woods.
3⭐️ but a fun read if you take it as it is.
Thank you to Net Galley for sending me a free Arc for my honest opinion.
Due to a family tragedy Collie Noonan packs up her ten year old niece Sasha and leaves London to settle into village life. But a quiet life is not what she finds in the village of Hyam. Something not of this world is stalking Collie , Sasha and Sasha’s school teacher Emily.
There is no build up of suspense as to who is the stalker as the information is easy to piece together early in the novel. The actual suspense is when will they attack and why is the town so weird to all three of them. I will not lie that I was very frightened throughout the story but remember I am lightweight when it comes to horror.
I am not a fan of the internal dialogues Collie, Sasha and Emily had throughout the novel. It felt to me that writer Eden Darry was taking the easy way out to further
the storyline. When the internal dialogue became crucial to the story it had less impact due to its over use.
There were a few other issues I had with the storyline pertaining to Sasha’s response to the family tragedy. She seemed just too well adjusted and handled things better than her Aunt.
The thing I really enjoyed was the budding romance between Collie and Emily. It was paced and timed perfectly with plausible reasons why it should not happen. The tug and pull back was very realistic.
Overall I found the novel entertaining with likeable characters and I am willing to overlook my minor issues . Some books are just meant to scare and entertain you. Getting too bogged down on realistic issues not being up to snuff is a fool’s errand. After all how do we know what is realistic in Hyam with a snarling, limb tearing beast hidden in their woods.
3⭐️ but a fun read if you take it as it is.
Thank you to Net Galley for sending me a free Arc for my honest opinion.
July 25, 2021
Yup! Read this in one sitting! Probably one of the better horror books I've read in a while... but I must say I am a fan of Eden Darry! If you're not into this kind of genre then id give this book a miss... if you've not read a horror book before then I highly recommend Eden Darry books. Quiet read Village is a page-turner, has great characters, and has a good storyline. Even tho it's a horror, there is a mix of some romance there too.
I've given Quiet Village a 4 star. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story.
I've given Quiet Village a 4 star. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story.
July 22, 2021
I missed that this was a horror-slash-romance book and only saw it advertised as horror, thus was not expecting the romance bit, which is a genre I dislike. The horror bit has a good premise, though I wasn't fully satisfied by the ending. The story centers on Collie and Emily, the former who has custody of her niece since her sister was murdered, and the latter trying to figure out what happened to her brother, who disappeared. Both end up in the same small town, where villagers are unfriendly and there is clearly something going on. The POV shifts between both women, interspersed with chapters from the unknown villain.
The book had definite creepy parts. It was a bit of a slow burn, but when it call came to a head, I wished that there had been more build-up and additional background on what had happened in the past to bring it all together. The creepy scarecrow was a great touch and I wish there had been more of that too.
I am not into romances anyway, and was particularly frustrated with the fact that a lot of time was spend on internal dialogue where Collie and Emily were bemoaning the irresponsibility of getting together based on everything else that was going on in their lives, despite their clear attraction to each other. There was more time spent on internal dialogue than actions, in my opinion.
Overall, I found this more romance than horror, though the horror had a decent premise. It's a fairly fast read with some creepy bits throughout. 2.5 stars for me. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book had definite creepy parts. It was a bit of a slow burn, but when it call came to a head, I wished that there had been more build-up and additional background on what had happened in the past to bring it all together. The creepy scarecrow was a great touch and I wish there had been more of that too.
I am not into romances anyway, and was particularly frustrated with the fact that a lot of time was spend on internal dialogue where Collie and Emily were bemoaning the irresponsibility of getting together based on everything else that was going on in their lives, despite their clear attraction to each other. There was more time spent on internal dialogue than actions, in my opinion.
Overall, I found this more romance than horror, though the horror had a decent premise. It's a fairly fast read with some creepy bits throughout. 2.5 stars for me. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2021
Quiet Place had the makings to be a great horror/romance. The characters were likable and well defined. The setting and backdrop set it up for a really intriguing read. Unfortunately the balance was off. There was a bit of redundancy in the the build up during the first 80%. The last 20% of the book was action packed and great, but it took awhile to get there. The love story played a more minor role in the book and was approached almost as if it were an after thought.
December 8, 2024
Thank you Bold Strokes Books, NetGalley and Author for the chance to read Quiet Village.
This was a interesting read.
Here we have Collie, and her sister was just murdered. So now she takes in her one and only 10 year old niece Lana who she absolutely adores.
Wanting to get Lana away from it all she lets her pick anyplace she wants to live and move to.
Lana does some searching and discovers a small village on the outskirts of Suffolk, in Hyam.
But as they get settled into their environment nothing is as it seems. And everyone there is beyond weird acting.
Collie meets a new local Emily who just moved there also and she teaches at the local school.
But Emily is there on a mission and no one knows the truth as to why Emily is there. She is there to discover what really happened to her brother who just outta no where up and disappeared.
He told her in a few emails that something weird was happening there and something or someone was watching him.
Well Emily will stop at nothing to discover the truth and find what really happened to her brother!
Soon Collie and Lana feel like something is watching them from the woods and something big coming for them all!.
This book I really enjoyed reading and was alot of fun!
I loved the characters like alot! I really liked getting to know them.
The writing was great and kept me interested and intrigued.
A soaring, sweeping, satisfying novel that kept me up late for a full night.
Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
This was a interesting read.
Here we have Collie, and her sister was just murdered. So now she takes in her one and only 10 year old niece Lana who she absolutely adores.
Wanting to get Lana away from it all she lets her pick anyplace she wants to live and move to.
Lana does some searching and discovers a small village on the outskirts of Suffolk, in Hyam.
But as they get settled into their environment nothing is as it seems. And everyone there is beyond weird acting.
Collie meets a new local Emily who just moved there also and she teaches at the local school.
But Emily is there on a mission and no one knows the truth as to why Emily is there. She is there to discover what really happened to her brother who just outta no where up and disappeared.
He told her in a few emails that something weird was happening there and something or someone was watching him.
Well Emily will stop at nothing to discover the truth and find what really happened to her brother!
Soon Collie and Lana feel like something is watching them from the woods and something big coming for them all!.
This book I really enjoyed reading and was alot of fun!
I loved the characters like alot! I really liked getting to know them.
The writing was great and kept me interested and intrigued.
A soaring, sweeping, satisfying novel that kept me up late for a full night.
Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
October 18, 2022
ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review
After the death of her sister, heroine Collie becomes the guardian of her ten year old niece. In order to provide her naive with a stable home they decide to move to the country outside of London. Little do they know the random small town is most assuredly the worst place in the entire country they could have chosen to move to. Everyone in the town is weird and there's a history of people going missing. It seems the majority of the town has resided there for generations and don't take well to outsiders.
Immediately I was sucked into the story and only felt disappointed that I let this sit on my TBR for so long. This was a great read for spooky season and while the plot wasn't overly original the attention to detail and characters made it more than enjoyable. There are a few LBGTQ characters which was nice to see, however personally I don't think the F/F sex scenes added anything the story. I'm happy how things wrapped up as I wasn't sure where it was going or who would live. Really enjoyed this one!
After the death of her sister, heroine Collie becomes the guardian of her ten year old niece. In order to provide her naive with a stable home they decide to move to the country outside of London. Little do they know the random small town is most assuredly the worst place in the entire country they could have chosen to move to. Everyone in the town is weird and there's a history of people going missing. It seems the majority of the town has resided there for generations and don't take well to outsiders.
Immediately I was sucked into the story and only felt disappointed that I let this sit on my TBR for so long. This was a great read for spooky season and while the plot wasn't overly original the attention to detail and characters made it more than enjoyable. There are a few LBGTQ characters which was nice to see, however personally I don't think the F/F sex scenes added anything the story. I'm happy how things wrapped up as I wasn't sure where it was going or who would live. Really enjoyed this one!
July 18, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Quiet Village follows Collie and her niece Lana as they move to a small village where things just seem slightly off. The villagers seem to hiding something dark. They meet a fellow outsider Emily who investigating the disappearance of her brother a year prior.
Quiet Village is much what you expect after reading the synopsis. It's a paranormal horror book set in a small English town. The mood of the book really worked for me because I love a small town hiding its secrets in stories. I really liked some of the side characters, particularly Tony and Hamish. I loved seeing a group of queer people form friendships and families with each other.
The story overall never captured me. I never really connected with the characters. I felt like the mystery played its hand way too early for the book to be able to set up tension for me. I knew where the story was going to end after a few chapters and it never really surprised me in any way. I wish there was more mystery going on and that there was more interactions with the villagers. I felt like the mystery and horror aspects got put on a back burner for the romance going on between Collie and Emily. I liked their relationship for the most part but I went in wanting a horror story and got much more of a romance.
Overall 3/5 it was a decent book but I can't see myself reading it again.
Quiet Village follows Collie and her niece Lana as they move to a small village where things just seem slightly off. The villagers seem to hiding something dark. They meet a fellow outsider Emily who investigating the disappearance of her brother a year prior.
Quiet Village is much what you expect after reading the synopsis. It's a paranormal horror book set in a small English town. The mood of the book really worked for me because I love a small town hiding its secrets in stories. I really liked some of the side characters, particularly Tony and Hamish. I loved seeing a group of queer people form friendships and families with each other.
The story overall never captured me. I never really connected with the characters. I felt like the mystery played its hand way too early for the book to be able to set up tension for me. I knew where the story was going to end after a few chapters and it never really surprised me in any way. I wish there was more mystery going on and that there was more interactions with the villagers. I felt like the mystery and horror aspects got put on a back burner for the romance going on between Collie and Emily. I liked their relationship for the most part but I went in wanting a horror story and got much more of a romance.
Overall 3/5 it was a decent book but I can't see myself reading it again.
August 24, 2021
3 stars--I liked the book.
Lesbian horror alert! If this genre is your cup of tea, give this book a shot! It involves one of my favorite horror tropes (creepy English villagers doing creepy things). The writing is basic, but the lovely characters and spooky plot (the scarecrows got to me) make up for that.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
Lesbian horror alert! If this genre is your cup of tea, give this book a shot! It involves one of my favorite horror tropes (creepy English villagers doing creepy things). The writing is basic, but the lovely characters and spooky plot (the scarecrows got to me) make up for that.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
September 8, 2021
Scared me!
Collie and her niece are starting again in a little village and trying to move on, but village life is stranger than they thought, especially when they start to get the feeling something spooky is going on. Emily, an undercover reporter working as a teacher at the school and new to the village herself, is looking for answers after her brother’s disappearance and concerned that all is not as it seems in the village. When Collie confides in Emily she gets the same strange sensations, they have to work together to survive.
Scary as hell, and I am not a lover of horror, the paranormal or anything but in a way I do enjoy it and this was no exception. Eden has delivered a perfect scare with Quiet Village, and honestly I wasn’t sure I could be any more scared than I was when I read The House but Eden succeed in terrifying me to the point I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to finish it but I loved the sensations and thrill of being scared by this story.
The story was intricately pieced together and cleverly crafted to make me feel uncertain as the reader. I couldn’t have predicted who was involved and how it was all going to play out, all I knew was I was intrigued but frightened to learn the truth. It was almost as if I was in the story, in the character’s shoes and experiencing all of this and yet I was safe but sometimes I was on edge, so lost in the story.
Another great story from Eden Darry that cements a place as one of my favourite horror writers. I highly recommend this book, and can’t say too much without spoilers but it was an experience and an unforgettable story. You really have to experience that chill down your spine when reading, and on edge feeling for yourself. I can’t wait to see what spooky, creepy, or terrifying story Eden will bring us next!
Collie and her niece are starting again in a little village and trying to move on, but village life is stranger than they thought, especially when they start to get the feeling something spooky is going on. Emily, an undercover reporter working as a teacher at the school and new to the village herself, is looking for answers after her brother’s disappearance and concerned that all is not as it seems in the village. When Collie confides in Emily she gets the same strange sensations, they have to work together to survive.
Scary as hell, and I am not a lover of horror, the paranormal or anything but in a way I do enjoy it and this was no exception. Eden has delivered a perfect scare with Quiet Village, and honestly I wasn’t sure I could be any more scared than I was when I read The House but Eden succeed in terrifying me to the point I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to finish it but I loved the sensations and thrill of being scared by this story.
The story was intricately pieced together and cleverly crafted to make me feel uncertain as the reader. I couldn’t have predicted who was involved and how it was all going to play out, all I knew was I was intrigued but frightened to learn the truth. It was almost as if I was in the story, in the character’s shoes and experiencing all of this and yet I was safe but sometimes I was on edge, so lost in the story.
Another great story from Eden Darry that cements a place as one of my favourite horror writers. I highly recommend this book, and can’t say too much without spoilers but it was an experience and an unforgettable story. You really have to experience that chill down your spine when reading, and on edge feeling for yourself. I can’t wait to see what spooky, creepy, or terrifying story Eden will bring us next!
July 19, 2021
Quiet Village Review
Thank you so much Netgalley, Bold Strokes Books, and Eden Darry for this Arc, in exchange for an honest review!
Creepy scarecrow cult? Sign me up! I really love books that have that small village vibe to it and this was was very creepy. There were some times my heart was literally racing! Quiet Village was a 4/5 ⭐️ for me. I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. I would definitely consider this to be a bit of fantasy as well (brothers grim like). One thing that bothered me was the romance. I am not a romance reading girl, so I’m not exactly sure how it’s supposed to go. I felt like half of the book was just adjectives like hot, gorgeous, attractive, good looking, beautiful. We get it, the characters like/ are attracted to each other. I also thought that the last scene was really unnecessary. This book will definitely be a hard one to forget!
Thank you so much Netgalley, Bold Strokes Books, and Eden Darry for this Arc, in exchange for an honest review!
Creepy scarecrow cult? Sign me up! I really love books that have that small village vibe to it and this was was very creepy. There were some times my heart was literally racing! Quiet Village was a 4/5 ⭐️ for me. I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. I would definitely consider this to be a bit of fantasy as well (brothers grim like). One thing that bothered me was the romance. I am not a romance reading girl, so I’m not exactly sure how it’s supposed to go. I felt like half of the book was just adjectives like hot, gorgeous, attractive, good looking, beautiful. We get it, the characters like/ are attracted to each other. I also thought that the last scene was really unnecessary. This book will definitely be a hard one to forget!
October 15, 2021
As in all horror books (although this would be more a thriller than horror in my opinion) the actions of the main characters often makes you wonder why they would do/wouldn't do *that*. There were a little too much of these moments in this book combined with some other thing that didn't seem all that realistic. Mainly the mental condition of a 10 year old girl who recently lost her mother due to an abusive boyfriend. But well, a scary creature is also not very realistic so I was able to overlook it. The thriller part definitely had some creepy moments and even though you're able to figure it out rather quickly it was still a nice read. The romance part was ok, if you like a lot of internal dialogue about how they shouldn't do anything coupled with longing glances and an overall lack of communication.
It was not a great read, but I will still round it up to 3 stars since it managed to keep my attention with the creature storyline and the last 20% of the book it picked up in pace and action. Just don't pick up this book if you are mainly going for the romance, if you like a nice enough thriller with a not too complicated plot this could be a book to enjoy in your downtime.
***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***
It was not a great read, but I will still round it up to 3 stars since it managed to keep my attention with the creature storyline and the last 20% of the book it picked up in pace and action. Just don't pick up this book if you are mainly going for the romance, if you like a nice enough thriller with a not too complicated plot this could be a book to enjoy in your downtime.
***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***
December 27, 2022
The bush-shaking and the monster's POV were such a mind-fuck. The whole idea of that village was just crazy.
Those interrogations could have been interesting. And damn, was I surprised by the niece.
Though I was sad the monster was not well elaborated, like what it was, its origins and most esp its last moments, because that water scene was pure tension.
Those interrogations could have been interesting. And damn, was I surprised by the niece.
Though I was sad the monster was not well elaborated, like what it was, its origins and most esp its last moments, because that water scene was pure tension.
September 14, 2021
*Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.*
Callie gains custody of her niece and to escape the tragedy they encountered in London, they move to a small country town. Hyam is a weird place with weird people, which they soon learn that there are very dark secrets that are being hidden.
First off, I love horror and romance stories. I’m someone who always loves the mixture of these two genres, I know not everyone loves a romance heavy plot, but I typically do enjoy it mixed in with my horror.
However, this book was mostly romance. I couldn’t even find the horror half the time. The scenes or atmospheric moments just fell flat and had no tension. The majority of the story is focused on the relationship between two of the characters.
I was happy to see that the romance was sapphic, which I did enjoy seeing diversity and representation in this story.
The writing is extremely clunky and at times I felt like I was reading more of a YA, than a adult horror novel. The writing is very simple and just doesn’t have a lot of depth to it.
The story is very one note and not a lot happens until the last 10% of the story. I wish that the story had had more climactic moments or had at least some creepy moments.
The plot is very predictable and easy to see what’s going to happen next. I wish that it had brought something new to the table, the author definitely tried to, but the story still felt lackluster.
The ending wasn’t bad, but again, just felt predictable for what type of story I was reading.
Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with this story, but I definitely think this will be for some people.
Callie gains custody of her niece and to escape the tragedy they encountered in London, they move to a small country town. Hyam is a weird place with weird people, which they soon learn that there are very dark secrets that are being hidden.
First off, I love horror and romance stories. I’m someone who always loves the mixture of these two genres, I know not everyone loves a romance heavy plot, but I typically do enjoy it mixed in with my horror.
However, this book was mostly romance. I couldn’t even find the horror half the time. The scenes or atmospheric moments just fell flat and had no tension. The majority of the story is focused on the relationship between two of the characters.
I was happy to see that the romance was sapphic, which I did enjoy seeing diversity and representation in this story.
The writing is extremely clunky and at times I felt like I was reading more of a YA, than a adult horror novel. The writing is very simple and just doesn’t have a lot of depth to it.
The story is very one note and not a lot happens until the last 10% of the story. I wish that the story had had more climactic moments or had at least some creepy moments.
The plot is very predictable and easy to see what’s going to happen next. I wish that it had brought something new to the table, the author definitely tried to, but the story still felt lackluster.
The ending wasn’t bad, but again, just felt predictable for what type of story I was reading.
Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with this story, but I definitely think this will be for some people.
Did Not Finish
August 1, 2021DNF
August 3, 2021
Small dose of folklore with a large dose of romance.
Collie is a graphic designer, Lana is her 10 year old niece, and Emily is a journalist turned teacher. Quiet Town by Eden Darry is a book surrounding these three characters and what happens to them in the town of Hyam. Collie and Lana move to Hyam from London after Collie’s sister (Lana’s mom) dies. Emily also had moved from London a few months prior, to investigate what happened when her brother went missing. There seems to be a beast lurking in the woods and its attention is now focused on the new residents.
I am an absolute sucker for eerie small town stories. I love when people move or visit a town and the residents are suspicious and keeping secrets. It’s one of my favorite tropes. In Hyam, the villagers stick to their own and aren’t very kind to outsiders. The town has a yearly spring festival that is extremely important to them, creepy scarecrows included. The story was great, I cared about the characters and enjoyed most of the writing. There were only two things I was not a big fan of. Those included: the constant head hopping between characters and the constant romantic thoughts.
I don’t mind switching point of views in books, I actually usually like it. The first half of this book seemed to jump so often that sometimes it took me out of the story. I know authors use this to build suspense but I felt like it happened too often just when the story was getting going. I think I just would have preferred some more linear storytelling for longer stretches in the book. Given the jump in perspectives, the book was still really fun and I enjoyed reading as the characters slowly discovered things about the town.
While I also enjoy romance in stories, the constant Collie and Emily thoughts about each other were a little much. I liked their relationship but would have liked to have seen a little less of the angsty crush thought processes between them.
I understand that while Collie and Emily clearly are attracted to each other, they are both dealing with their own issues and situations to do much about it at first, but I could have gone without their thoughts about each other on every page.
The head hopping and the romantic thoughts did tone down in the second part of this book and boy was it GOOD. For me, the second half of the story was SO much better than the first half. I just wish the entire book would have been more story of the town and the lore because that’s what I’m personally interested in. While it took me a while to get myself through the intro and build up I did really enjoy the story in the climax and ending. The book was definitely worth the read and I will try other books from Eden Darry to see how I feel about their other books. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a creepy story that has a large focus on a sweet romantic story as well.
Collie is a graphic designer, Lana is her 10 year old niece, and Emily is a journalist turned teacher. Quiet Town by Eden Darry is a book surrounding these three characters and what happens to them in the town of Hyam. Collie and Lana move to Hyam from London after Collie’s sister (Lana’s mom) dies. Emily also had moved from London a few months prior, to investigate what happened when her brother went missing. There seems to be a beast lurking in the woods and its attention is now focused on the new residents.
I am an absolute sucker for eerie small town stories. I love when people move or visit a town and the residents are suspicious and keeping secrets. It’s one of my favorite tropes. In Hyam, the villagers stick to their own and aren’t very kind to outsiders. The town has a yearly spring festival that is extremely important to them, creepy scarecrows included. The story was great, I cared about the characters and enjoyed most of the writing. There were only two things I was not a big fan of. Those included: the constant head hopping between characters and the constant romantic thoughts.
I don’t mind switching point of views in books, I actually usually like it. The first half of this book seemed to jump so often that sometimes it took me out of the story. I know authors use this to build suspense but I felt like it happened too often just when the story was getting going. I think I just would have preferred some more linear storytelling for longer stretches in the book. Given the jump in perspectives, the book was still really fun and I enjoyed reading as the characters slowly discovered things about the town.
While I also enjoy romance in stories, the constant Collie and Emily thoughts about each other were a little much. I liked their relationship but would have liked to have seen a little less of the angsty crush thought processes between them.
I understand that while Collie and Emily clearly are attracted to each other, they are both dealing with their own issues and situations to do much about it at first, but I could have gone without their thoughts about each other on every page.
The head hopping and the romantic thoughts did tone down in the second part of this book and boy was it GOOD. For me, the second half of the story was SO much better than the first half. I just wish the entire book would have been more story of the town and the lore because that’s what I’m personally interested in. While it took me a while to get myself through the intro and build up I did really enjoy the story in the climax and ending. The book was definitely worth the read and I will try other books from Eden Darry to see how I feel about their other books. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a creepy story that has a large focus on a sweet romantic story as well.
August 21, 2021
Three and a half stars.
This was... weird. I try to appreciate when these paranormal books try to use monsters that aren't your usual vampires or werewolves, but I wonder if this might have done better with something a tad more conventional, or maybe it just needed better explanation. I know, nobody likes an info dump, but it was a little concerning how quickly the characters seemed to accept the brief description of a creature they've never heard of. I hated the parts told from the monster's POV. They were repetitive and the book could have done without them. Then there's the other... entity, which swoops in at all the right times. I didn't mind its existence, but I did think it contributed way too much to the story. We want to see the protagonists rescue themselves!
I will say I did find this quite scary at times, but I'm not usually one for anything horror-related. The author does an excellent job of making the village feel sinister. There are many parts where the least plausible detail is that the characters are sticking around, trying to live normally, and doing things like splitting up. It doesn't count as U-Hauling if you're just finding strength in numbers, right?
The romance part was great. I liked both Collie and Emily, as individuals and as a couple. While romance was mostly more of the focus than the horror aspect, the end of the book wasn't really about the relationship, and I didn't mind it that way. I also liked Lana, who had a believable intelligence level for her age and was likeable, which I haven't been seeing in a lot of lesfic featuring children. I would have liked if the way she chose to interact with Collie had been explicitly ironed out, but there just didn't seem to be much room for it as the plot progressed, and I forgot about it until now.
I will continue to read Eden Darry. I regret that I couldn't get along with some of the key details in the horror parts, but this was still a decent read.
This was... weird. I try to appreciate when these paranormal books try to use monsters that aren't your usual vampires or werewolves, but I wonder if this might have done better with something a tad more conventional, or maybe it just needed better explanation. I know, nobody likes an info dump, but it was a little concerning how quickly the characters seemed to accept the brief description of a creature they've never heard of. I hated the parts told from the monster's POV. They were repetitive and the book could have done without them. Then there's the other... entity, which swoops in at all the right times. I didn't mind its existence, but I did think it contributed way too much to the story. We want to see the protagonists rescue themselves!
I will say I did find this quite scary at times, but I'm not usually one for anything horror-related. The author does an excellent job of making the village feel sinister. There are many parts where the least plausible detail is that the characters are sticking around, trying to live normally, and doing things like splitting up. It doesn't count as U-Hauling if you're just finding strength in numbers, right?
The romance part was great. I liked both Collie and Emily, as individuals and as a couple. While romance was mostly more of the focus than the horror aspect, the end of the book wasn't really about the relationship, and I didn't mind it that way. I also liked Lana, who had a believable intelligence level for her age and was likeable, which I haven't been seeing in a lot of lesfic featuring children. I would have liked if the way she chose to interact with Collie had been explicitly ironed out, but there just didn't seem to be much room for it as the plot progressed, and I forgot about it until now.
I will continue to read Eden Darry. I regret that I couldn't get along with some of the key details in the horror parts, but this was still a decent read.
August 3, 2021
This book had huge 'American Werewolf in London’ vibes for me. The setting of the village really made me think back to that iconic film and how outsiders were received.
Not my typical genre but having said that I really enjoyed the basis of the book. When her sister dies, Collie Noonan gets custody of her ten year old niece. Hoping for a fresh start, they move to a small village on the outskirts of Suffolk. But in Hyam all is not as it seems …..
The development of the characters was captivating and the relationship that develops between Collie, the aunt, and the local teacher, Emily running alongside the horror that is unfolding is believable and pitched correctly. For me the horror story was the aspect that I really enjoyed, and at times I felt a real sense of Children of the Corn and Grimms Fairy Tales. I actually felt that the author could have gone more crazy with the horror, after all, it already contained werewolf creatures and spooky scarecrows and a village full of nutters that she may just as well have gone to town with it.
The two things that let it down for me 1) the age of the girl, 10. I felt that she should have been more 14/15 for me to buy into some of the ways in which she reacted etc and the school setting. 2) The dead mothers voice talking to them and telling them how to escape etc a bit unncessary as I’m sure these tough women could have managed it on their own without psychic help.
Often books are too rushed at the ending but not in this case I felt that the author kept a good pace going throughout. The perspective in which the book is written is spot on for the storyline and the snappy chapters keep you going.
I received this book through netgalley and I understand the publishing date is next week. Definitely a good read for those of you who fancy a bit of horror in a slightly fanciful way.
Not my typical genre but having said that I really enjoyed the basis of the book. When her sister dies, Collie Noonan gets custody of her ten year old niece. Hoping for a fresh start, they move to a small village on the outskirts of Suffolk. But in Hyam all is not as it seems …..
The development of the characters was captivating and the relationship that develops between Collie, the aunt, and the local teacher, Emily running alongside the horror that is unfolding is believable and pitched correctly. For me the horror story was the aspect that I really enjoyed, and at times I felt a real sense of Children of the Corn and Grimms Fairy Tales. I actually felt that the author could have gone more crazy with the horror, after all, it already contained werewolf creatures and spooky scarecrows and a village full of nutters that she may just as well have gone to town with it.
The two things that let it down for me 1) the age of the girl, 10. I felt that she should have been more 14/15 for me to buy into some of the ways in which she reacted etc and the school setting. 2) The dead mothers voice talking to them and telling them how to escape etc a bit unncessary as I’m sure these tough women could have managed it on their own without psychic help.
Often books are too rushed at the ending but not in this case I felt that the author kept a good pace going throughout. The perspective in which the book is written is spot on for the storyline and the snappy chapters keep you going.
I received this book through netgalley and I understand the publishing date is next week. Definitely a good read for those of you who fancy a bit of horror in a slightly fanciful way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
‘It wanted to know them first. Stalk them first. Make them afraid. People always tasted so much better when they were afraid.’
After her sister is brutally murdered by a sadistic ex, Collie and her niece leave the tragic circumstances behind in London to settle for a peaceful life in the Suffolk countryside. They end up in a village. A quite village that is involved in a centuries old ritualistic pact. Emily, on the other hand, is drawn to the village of Hyam for significantly different reasons; her brother mysteriously vanished months prior and she takes the occupation of a teacher at a local schoolhouse to find out the true reasoning behind her brother’s disappearance. Collie and Emily’s paths eventually cross, and together they must unravel the dark secrets behind Hyam’s evildoers while fending for their own survival.
The eerie feel of this novel is constant and pervasive. The author is constantly shifting between the main characters and the beastly point of view. That works well with the premise and, once things truly get going with the festivities and village celebrations, it almost takes on an ancient Wicker Man Renaissance vibe. The buildup is there, but the shocking revelations and the sense of dread is wavered by a shaky romance that constantly disrupts the chilling effect of the story. I understood that romance would be emphasized heavily with this, and I even like reading cheesy love stories from time to time, but it remains a constant struggle. In something like this, if the two characters had made a move on each other early on, we might had a little more flexibility here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an ARC.
After her sister is brutally murdered by a sadistic ex, Collie and her niece leave the tragic circumstances behind in London to settle for a peaceful life in the Suffolk countryside. They end up in a village. A quite village that is involved in a centuries old ritualistic pact. Emily, on the other hand, is drawn to the village of Hyam for significantly different reasons; her brother mysteriously vanished months prior and she takes the occupation of a teacher at a local schoolhouse to find out the true reasoning behind her brother’s disappearance. Collie and Emily’s paths eventually cross, and together they must unravel the dark secrets behind Hyam’s evildoers while fending for their own survival.
The eerie feel of this novel is constant and pervasive. The author is constantly shifting between the main characters and the beastly point of view. That works well with the premise and, once things truly get going with the festivities and village celebrations, it almost takes on an ancient Wicker Man Renaissance vibe. The buildup is there, but the shocking revelations and the sense of dread is wavered by a shaky romance that constantly disrupts the chilling effect of the story. I understood that romance would be emphasized heavily with this, and I even like reading cheesy love stories from time to time, but it remains a constant struggle. In something like this, if the two characters had made a move on each other early on, we might had a little more flexibility here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an ARC.
August 10, 2021
This was so much fun! I had a blast reading this. I didn't have very many expectations because I haven't read Eden Darry before, and this book exceeded everything.
Quiet Village focuses on the small village of Hyam. Following a gruesome murder of domestic violence, Collie is the new caregiver for her niece, Lana. Also living in the town is Emily, an undercover reporter desperately trying to find the truth about her brother's disappearance from the same village some months back. Collie and Emily are attracted to each other, but they each have too much on their plates to be able to support a relationship. In the midst of this, something is stalking them from the bushes. Something that isn't human.
I really loved the characters in this book. Collie and Emily are both interesting with fully-realized motivations for their behavior. I enjoyed seeing their progress (even if their prospective internal narration often got repetitive). I also really liked Lana. I'm not usually a big fan of kids in books so Lana was the exception. That being said, I'm not sure she really acted like a 10-year-old. I might have liked her so much because she was so mature. I also really liked the narration from the monster. Others have said they didn't care for it, but I think it added to the necessary humanity of the monster.
Overall, tons of fun! The romance itself was probably only a 3/3.5 for me, but the paranormal elements really brought it up and fulfilled the areas I thought were a little lacking. I'm excited to read more by Eden Darry!
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
Quiet Village focuses on the small village of Hyam. Following a gruesome murder of domestic violence, Collie is the new caregiver for her niece, Lana. Also living in the town is Emily, an undercover reporter desperately trying to find the truth about her brother's disappearance from the same village some months back. Collie and Emily are attracted to each other, but they each have too much on their plates to be able to support a relationship. In the midst of this, something is stalking them from the bushes. Something that isn't human.
I really loved the characters in this book. Collie and Emily are both interesting with fully-realized motivations for their behavior. I enjoyed seeing their progress (even if their prospective internal narration often got repetitive). I also really liked Lana. I'm not usually a big fan of kids in books so Lana was the exception. That being said, I'm not sure she really acted like a 10-year-old. I might have liked her so much because she was so mature. I also really liked the narration from the monster. Others have said they didn't care for it, but I think it added to the necessary humanity of the monster.
Overall, tons of fun! The romance itself was probably only a 3/3.5 for me, but the paranormal elements really brought it up and fulfilled the areas I thought were a little lacking. I'm excited to read more by Eden Darry!
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
November 1, 2021
I love horror and I love romance so when I saw this story I thought it could be the perfect read for me, combining two things I love. Only...this story fell way short of horror or romance for me. Most of the book seemed to be Collie or Emily thinking how much they like the other, but can't be with them because reasons. The same reasons. Again and again and again they thought the exact same thing. It got really old really quickly and I just wanted something, anything to happen other than them recounting yet again why they cannot want anything more than friendship with the other. I swear if you took out all of the passages that repeated the same thing in this regard you would be left with like 10 pages. Or that is the way it seemed to me. Intermixed with these "romance" scenes there were "spooky" scenes with some monster thing watching them all (Collie, Collie's niece Lana, and Emily). Something strange is going on in the town and this could have been really creepy, but it didn't work for me. Nothing really happened. It was a lot of telling not showing, there was no tension for me, I didn't really care about any of the characters as I didn't really ever know them or feel for them or anything. Overall it just didn't work for me. I wanted to see these two fall in love, and I didn't. I wanted to see the creepy fun of whatever is going on in the town and for the most part that felt like an afterthought. Until the last few pages nothing really happens.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book
August 28, 2021
This was a well written entertaining read. It’s scary but not in a blood up the walls way, more in a planted idea in your head way. What is the thing that watches and why does it choose who it does? (No spoilers here). Ms Darry has created a strong atmosphere with likeable and credible main characters. Teacher Emily meets Collie and her niece in a Sussex village where strange things happen and people disappear. There are some heart in mouth moments and bits where you think “why would she do that!”, but overall it is a well paced, interesting read.
Collie takes on her niece after the brutal murder of the child’s mum, Collie’s sister. They move away from the pain and the press and pitch up somewhere they can start again. But this place isn’t quite as peaceful as it first seems. The relationships are well developed and the romance is slow moving which seems appropriate in the circumstances. Collie especially is written strongly and she is the one I got most frustrated with as she fails to notice or react to things. Amusing in places, creepy and scary in others, this is an easy read and I will look up other work by this author.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Collie takes on her niece after the brutal murder of the child’s mum, Collie’s sister. They move away from the pain and the press and pitch up somewhere they can start again. But this place isn’t quite as peaceful as it first seems. The relationships are well developed and the romance is slow moving which seems appropriate in the circumstances. Collie especially is written strongly and she is the one I got most frustrated with as she fails to notice or react to things. Amusing in places, creepy and scary in others, this is an easy read and I will look up other work by this author.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
February 28, 2024
This is a good enough story to read in one sitting and has equal doses of romance and paranormal and I guess some thriller. My qualm is with the actions that the protagonists take. I have found this is something I especially do not like while reading books in this genre. I find most of the actions so unexplainable, mostly just made so that the suspense is milked and for the book to be just a bit longer. I do not understand why one would choose to keep information from someone they have no reason to doubt and someone who is experiencing the same. I do not understand how you are a journalist and ignore your own testimony, proof you've acquired and possible avenues for information. This latter part angers me because the sole purpose for the lady being there was investigation. Hence, I enjoy the story but I cannot be convinced these are actual decisions made by human beings who feel unsafe and fear for their lives. In fact for the most part, the two protagonists were more okay believing they had lost it. For a person with no psych history, this is just not such a believable reaction to feeling in danger. Honestly feel like characters in these genres are just dumbed down or just have the worst fight or flight instincts.
September 9, 2021
Quiet Village by Eden Darry courtesy of NetGalley. At first I thought I was going to hate it because the beginning is so repetitious and while introducing some of the mystery focused more on the budding romance. Then at about 40% of the way through it took a turn and finally caught my interest. From that point forward it didn’t stop and it was rather creepy. It starts off with a murder that leads Collie and her niece Lana to move out of London to the safe quaint little village of Shyam. What could possibly go wrong, right? Turns out the whole village has a dark secret that goes back centuries. Unfortunately as soon as Collie and Lana stumble into the village they are in the crosshairs of the dark force who keeps the village from crumbling. Along the way Collie meets Emily who happens to be one of Lana’s teachers. Emily has come to Hyam in search of her missing brother. There’s a love story between Collie and Emily that for the first chunk of the book had me saying we get it move on but like I said at about 40% it improved. 3.5⭐️ for the slow start but the creepy monster mystery storyline saved the book for me.
October 2, 2021
Collie Noonan and her niece move to the small village of Hyam in hope of a new start after the death of Collie's sister. However, the village is far from friendly and even a little hostile towards outsiders. Emily Lassiter recently moved to the Hyam village and started working as a teacher while looking for answers regarding her bother's disappearance. He said there was something wrong with the village and Emily won't stop until she discovers the truth. But something is stalking the newest outsiders, something not human. Will they be able to able to discover the secrets of the village and escape?
I love this author and I knew the book wouldn't disappoint. However, I did find it a bit slow and hard to get into at the beginning. That said, the mystery involving the village and the way she writes and keeps you wondering what will happens next makes this a great and interesting book.
The book delivers a great story that keep unfolding as you read, where while there is romance, it is not the central theme. The characters were interesting and very real. It was overall a great read, especially for a fall rainy day.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love this author and I knew the book wouldn't disappoint. However, I did find it a bit slow and hard to get into at the beginning. That said, the mystery involving the village and the way she writes and keeps you wondering what will happens next makes this a great and interesting book.
The book delivers a great story that keep unfolding as you read, where while there is romance, it is not the central theme. The characters were interesting and very real. It was overall a great read, especially for a fall rainy day.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2021
Quiet Village is spine tingling and moody. After the death of her sister Collie Noonan takes on raising her beloved ten year old niece Lana. Feeling the need to get out of London they rent a house in a small and not very friendly village. With the rustling of the bushes and the feeling of being watched they know this isn't the place for them. Their nearest neighbor is Emily Lassiter. She is new to the village and also Lana's school teacher. But she is there to look into the disappearance of her brother.
I don't usually read paranormal/horror as a genre but was instantly caught up in the story. I'm also not fond of kids in danger but Lana was great with a keen eye for observing others. Collie and Emily seem genuine in watching out for each other. This gave me just the right amount chills and I can't recommend it enough. And I don't want to see a scarecrow any time soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I don't usually read paranormal/horror as a genre but was instantly caught up in the story. I'm also not fond of kids in danger but Lana was great with a keen eye for observing others. Collie and Emily seem genuine in watching out for each other. This gave me just the right amount chills and I can't recommend it enough. And I don't want to see a scarecrow any time soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2021
Collie, a video game character designer, has brought her niece to the small village of Hyam for a fresh start away from the memories in London. Emily has stepped away from journalism and come to work in home with the goal of discovering what happened to her missing brother. The timing couldn't be worse, but there is a spark between Collie and Emily that can't be denied, even as something is very wrong in Hyam.
I was excited to read a horror/thriller published by Bold Strokes Books and this novel by Eden Darry exceeded my expectations. I was hooked from early on and the tension kept being rachetted up. I had to keep asking myself why I thought it was a good idea to read at night.
The small English village setting quickly moved from quaint to unsettling. However we had characters to root for, and I raced through to find out how it would all end.
I will be keeping my eye out for any more novels from Eden Darry, and will absolutely recommend Quiet Village.
I was excited to read a horror/thriller published by Bold Strokes Books and this novel by Eden Darry exceeded my expectations. I was hooked from early on and the tension kept being rachetted up. I had to keep asking myself why I thought it was a good idea to read at night.
The small English village setting quickly moved from quaint to unsettling. However we had characters to root for, and I raced through to find out how it would all end.
I will be keeping my eye out for any more novels from Eden Darry, and will absolutely recommend Quiet Village.
December 11, 2021
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
To start off, I have to say that I absolutely love horror. I love paranormal horror especially. That being said, this book was way more of a romance novel/thriller than a horror.
The connection between Collie and Emily was well done. I also liked the interactions between Collie and Lana. The setting was a fun setting and I feel that there was a lot of potential to really make it suspenseful and filled with horror, but again, I feel like the horror aspect of the book was way too light.
Another issue I had was with Lana herself. I feel like the author made her way too mature for a ten year old and made her seem rather, unemotional in regards to her mothers death. I have a ten year old and while he is rather mature for his age, he makes Lana seem like an adult.
Overall though, I did enjoy the book. It just was not what I was expecting it to be
To start off, I have to say that I absolutely love horror. I love paranormal horror especially. That being said, this book was way more of a romance novel/thriller than a horror.
The connection between Collie and Emily was well done. I also liked the interactions between Collie and Lana. The setting was a fun setting and I feel that there was a lot of potential to really make it suspenseful and filled with horror, but again, I feel like the horror aspect of the book was way too light.
Another issue I had was with Lana herself. I feel like the author made her way too mature for a ten year old and made her seem rather, unemotional in regards to her mothers death. I have a ten year old and while he is rather mature for his age, he makes Lana seem like an adult.
Overall though, I did enjoy the book. It just was not what I was expecting it to be
July 20, 2022
In this sapphic horror novel, a handful of outsiders find themselves in an off-putting little town. Each has their own reasons for being there, but gradually it becomes apparent that there is something sinister at work in this quiet village. The book leaves you with some haunting images, but there’s also a surprising amount of romance to break the tension. While the beginning could get a bit slow, I appreciated the time put into developing relationships between the characters, and there is a nice cast of queer characters that are included in the story. The story is told from several different perspectives and the author does a great job of subtly changing her writing style for each unique perspective. An excellent option if you’re looking for a lesbian horror novel that does a good job of softening tense scenes with warm-hearted ones.
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