My thoughts

Harrow Lake is my first ever experience reading a paranormal book. Perhaps those who are experienced in this genre might feel differently but these are the views of a person who is trying an unfamiliar genre.

Narrative and Plot

One of the best things about the book is its narrative. Lola, the main character, is the voice of the story. It is her search into the past and the monster in Harrow Lake. There were a lot of things that could have been overdone here. The book really had a lot of chances to glorify violence and abuse. But it pulled it off without any theatrics. Certain things were added so subtly, particularly in the climax. The chill that you get is because how you easily recognize it.

The plot starts of as strong and easily builds an eerie atmosphere. You can immerse yourself in this abandoned and cursed village. The monsters start to become believable until up to a certain point. The penultimate portion of the book had a bit of a lag. Things keep going round and round in a circle. There is a lot of confusion. I am not sure if it is deliberate. But you move forward anyway because you need to find out all the secrets. And at that point you care deeply about Lola. 

Characters and Conflicts

Lola is the central character of the story. It is her relationship with Nolan that makes him another important part of the book even if his presence is not fully materialized throughout. Their relationship borders along emotional abuse. And then you realize it is the central theme of the book. Parental abuse in more than one way is told just with simple scenes instead of dwelling too long on the emotional drama.

These portrayal of grounded characters make the story believable. The book successfully creates a haunted village with memorable characters.

Secrets is the conflict of the book.  Lola has secrets but she hides them. The foreshadowing in the book is so obvious that you forget to pay attention to it. It really pays off in the end. The unexpected climax steals the show.

Conclusion

Overall, Harrow Lake is a fresh experience for me. Will I read another paranormal book in the near future? NO!! Did I have a good time with this one? Creepily yes.It is the thrill you get from a haunted house that does not have too many props but is scary as hell. And in the end, the monsters are always real.

About the Author

I received an e-Copy of the book from TheWriteReads in exchange for an honest review as a part of the #UltimateBlogTour.