Review of Breakers
-
Meenakshi Girish
- Posts: 14
- Joined: 05 Dec 2022, 22:58
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 11
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-meenakshi-girish.html
- Latest Review: How To Be Successful by M. Curtis McCoy
Review of Breakers
[Following is a volunteer review of "Breakers" by Barry Litherland.]
If you are looking for a fast-paced crime fiction novel laced with paranormal elements, Breakers by Barry Litherland is the ideal choice! Set in a fictional land in the Scottish Northwest Highlands, the book narrates how a community is disturbed by scary events.
The story ricocheted between multiple perspectives and was driven by the characters at the heart of it. The author has succeeded in taking readers on a thrilling ride filled with psychological twists and turns as readers grapple between what’s true and pure imagination.
The Good
One of the main reasons this book is a hit is the number of perspectives in the story. Each chapter narrates the incidents from a different character’s point of view and gives the story a unique approach. The characters are relatable, and readers can keep track of who’s who even though many perspectives emerge.
Although the horror elements are described briefly, they leave a profound impact of morbid dread on readers. The descriptions were majorly focused on how the characters perceive them rather than the incident itself. The short and crisp chapters make the story seem to go by faster.
The Bad
Despite all the high notes, there were some misses, as well, in the book. One would be how unlikeable the characters were - it left me with a raw aftertaste, and I wasn’t rooting for anyone to survive.
Another issue I faced was how the antagonist has been described as an evil man everyone fears, but it is not revealed why. Had the author shown us incidents rather than merely telling us how sadistic the villain is, readers could have comprehended what was at stake more. Apart from an initial brutal killing narrated by a small boy, there are no other instances of the antagonist’s sadism.
My Rating
I am rating this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded despite the height of danger never sinking in. The book could have been a solid 4-star for me had some loopholes at the end been resolved. It felt like all the events built up to an epic climax, but it ended in barely four pages.
Had there been conclusions from the characters and how they coped with the aftermath of the issue, I would have enjoyed the book more. There is also a plot twist that might hint at a sequel coming soon. On the whole, I was satisfied with the ending we got, but still can’t entirely wrap my head around what happened.
Who Would Love This Read?
Breakers is ideal for lovers of paranormal fiction married to psychological narratives. If you prefer the fear you get out of uncomfortable dread more than blatant jump scares, this would be perfect for you! But if you want to have all the answers served to you at the end of a crime thriller, this might leave you unsatisfied.
My rating is a personal preference, as I hoped to have all the answers by the end. It is also suitable for people who like book tropes that have creepy children with eerie imaginary friends. It is a good read for people who like tropes that delve into the past and future to play with time overlapping over decades.
******
Breakers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
If you are looking for a fast-paced crime fiction novel laced with paranormal elements, Breakers by Barry Litherland is the ideal choice! Set in a fictional land in the Scottish Northwest Highlands, the book narrates how a community is disturbed by scary events.
The story ricocheted between multiple perspectives and was driven by the characters at the heart of it. The author has succeeded in taking readers on a thrilling ride filled with psychological twists and turns as readers grapple between what’s true and pure imagination.
The Good
One of the main reasons this book is a hit is the number of perspectives in the story. Each chapter narrates the incidents from a different character’s point of view and gives the story a unique approach. The characters are relatable, and readers can keep track of who’s who even though many perspectives emerge.
Although the horror elements are described briefly, they leave a profound impact of morbid dread on readers. The descriptions were majorly focused on how the characters perceive them rather than the incident itself. The short and crisp chapters make the story seem to go by faster.
The Bad
Despite all the high notes, there were some misses, as well, in the book. One would be how unlikeable the characters were - it left me with a raw aftertaste, and I wasn’t rooting for anyone to survive.
Another issue I faced was how the antagonist has been described as an evil man everyone fears, but it is not revealed why. Had the author shown us incidents rather than merely telling us how sadistic the villain is, readers could have comprehended what was at stake more. Apart from an initial brutal killing narrated by a small boy, there are no other instances of the antagonist’s sadism.
My Rating
I am rating this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded despite the height of danger never sinking in. The book could have been a solid 4-star for me had some loopholes at the end been resolved. It felt like all the events built up to an epic climax, but it ended in barely four pages.
Had there been conclusions from the characters and how they coped with the aftermath of the issue, I would have enjoyed the book more. There is also a plot twist that might hint at a sequel coming soon. On the whole, I was satisfied with the ending we got, but still can’t entirely wrap my head around what happened.
Who Would Love This Read?
Breakers is ideal for lovers of paranormal fiction married to psychological narratives. If you prefer the fear you get out of uncomfortable dread more than blatant jump scares, this would be perfect for you! But if you want to have all the answers served to you at the end of a crime thriller, this might leave you unsatisfied.
My rating is a personal preference, as I hoped to have all the answers by the end. It is also suitable for people who like book tropes that have creepy children with eerie imaginary friends. It is a good read for people who like tropes that delve into the past and future to play with time overlapping over decades.
******
Breakers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: How To Be Successful by M. Curtis McCoy
