Helpful Score: 2
CRYERS CROSS is a fantastically creepy paranormal horror story from the incredible storyteller Lisa McMann. Whether or not you like horror stories, this is a really engaging quick read that may even be better than her Wake series.
Lisa McManns third-person present-tense writing style brings a simultaneous immediacy and calculated distance to the story. Everything that is happening to Kendall feels like its happening to her right this very moment, which makes it really easy to get caught up in whats going on with her. At the same time, the distance makes it easy for us to enjoy CRYERS CROSS as simply an exhilarating and fast-paced horror novel.
CRYERS CROSS creepiness factor comes less from the actual physical object of horror and more on the way individuals suspicions slowly insinuates themselves into the townspeoples minds. Its what made Jacian and Kendalls budding relationship so dear to me: that it could still build in this slow, tortured, believable, and utterly sexy way despite the unusual happenings in town. Yes, I have a tiny crush on Jacian. I have a soft spot for dark, broody, tortured, protective minority sweethearts.
Kendalls OCD, which purports to have a significant contribution to her fascination with her towns mystery, felt rather undeveloped for its supposed significance. Ive read other books featuring OCD characters before, and Kendalls OCD just never felt completely realized. Despite that, though, I really liked Kendall. She is a star soccer player without the jockish trappings, has a good relationship with her parents, and is good about making friends. Some of her interactions with people felt a little simplistic, like they were simply for the convenience of revealing something about the story. However, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I dont like to be scared, but CRYERS CROSS was a psychological thriller with an appreciable amount of interesting characters to keep me invested. Lisa McMann proves that she is the master of writing horror stories for those who dont like horror.
Lisa McManns third-person present-tense writing style brings a simultaneous immediacy and calculated distance to the story. Everything that is happening to Kendall feels like its happening to her right this very moment, which makes it really easy to get caught up in whats going on with her. At the same time, the distance makes it easy for us to enjoy CRYERS CROSS as simply an exhilarating and fast-paced horror novel.
CRYERS CROSS creepiness factor comes less from the actual physical object of horror and more on the way individuals suspicions slowly insinuates themselves into the townspeoples minds. Its what made Jacian and Kendalls budding relationship so dear to me: that it could still build in this slow, tortured, believable, and utterly sexy way despite the unusual happenings in town. Yes, I have a tiny crush on Jacian. I have a soft spot for dark, broody, tortured, protective minority sweethearts.
Kendalls OCD, which purports to have a significant contribution to her fascination with her towns mystery, felt rather undeveloped for its supposed significance. Ive read other books featuring OCD characters before, and Kendalls OCD just never felt completely realized. Despite that, though, I really liked Kendall. She is a star soccer player without the jockish trappings, has a good relationship with her parents, and is good about making friends. Some of her interactions with people felt a little simplistic, like they were simply for the convenience of revealing something about the story. However, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I dont like to be scared, but CRYERS CROSS was a psychological thriller with an appreciable amount of interesting characters to keep me invested. Lisa McMann proves that she is the master of writing horror stories for those who dont like horror.
