She feels your pain… for Ariel to take matters into her own hands, but in doing so she may find that the only way to catch a killer…
…is to become his victim.
From the bestselling author of Four o’Clock Alice comes this gripping paranormal suspense story that will leave you gasping for breath. Get it now.
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This book has an extremely intriguing blurb and cover – both caught my attention immediately, and the opening pages reinforced those first impressions. The story begins in a richly detailed fashion, describing Ariel’s condition and history and laying out the grounds for what I expected to be a thoroughly entertaining story. The story was entertaining – but shortly after the first reveal (Aunt Jada), things felt like they hit an oil slick and skidded all the way to the end in a burst of handy revelations, madcap activity, and tidy conclusions… It felt like a different author wrote the last three-quarters of the book – or like this author was given a deadline and felt pressed to meet it.
That isn’t to say the story wasn’t fun to read – it still was, but it would have been INCREDIBLE if it had been more consistently paced and detailed. I loved the way things were laid out in the beginning. There was just the right amount of detail and subtle foreshadowing; it made the characters come alive and drew me right in. But when the secrets started popping the story felt rushed. Things were happening that weren’t being adequately explored/explained – just presented. It made the revelations about Lachlan ring oddly – his character literally imploded without much explanation why or how; it just happened. If the time and care spent laying out Ariel’s backstory had been spent with his, I think the book would be a truly incredible read. Ditto Craig – he appears, and plays a huge role in the developing story, but there’s nothing about his backstory or why he behaves as he does. It makes him feel hollow and given his role, that seemed odd. And while I loved Ariel, I found her “new” experiences a bit hastily added and inadequately explored; where did this come from and why, other than as a handy plot device? A little explanation – even if it left things open-ended – would have made this change feel a lot more organic and a lot less convenient…
I think there’s tremendous potential here. It’s a novel concept with great characters, but uneven. If more detail had been provided, I think this would be a solid 4 (or even 5) star read. Still, it was an enjoyable book and I would read Ravel again based on its strengths.
My review copy was provided via Reedsy Discovery.
Another great read!
Vanessa Ravel has a gift for creating captivating stories with unique story lines that keep you guessing! Like her other two books, this one is a real page-turner one that will have you delaying meals and staying up at night. I loved THE FEELS, my only complaint is that it ended.
I really enjoyed this book. Really good plot to the story. Very well written. Would highly recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of stories. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Fast paced to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
‘The Feels’ is a gripping psychological thriller that explores ideas of guilt, secrecy, and vengeance through the experiences of Ariel, the protagonist of the story, and her interactions with those close to her as the story progresses.
Ariel is a complex and deeply flawed character, yet one for whom the reader develops a strong sense of empathy because the story is told from her perspective, Her thoughts and feelings are communicated powerfully, creating vivid images in the reader’s mind and evoking strong emotional responses.
The story also provides a fascinating study of a mind corrupted by both mental illness and indulgence in evil, through the thoughts and actions of the antagonist. This adds a dimension of horror that leaves the reader aghast at the extent of the destruction caused by a depraved mind.
The story remains unpredictable and suspenseful throughout, keeping the reader guessing right to the end with plenty of complications and heart-in-the throat moments.
Vanessa Ravel is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. She made the macabre beautiful with her Dark Fantasy, Four O’Clock Alice. She flipped the Horror genre on its head with the Demon Dance anthology. And now with THE FEELS, she spins a paranormal web so creepy that this serial killer thriller will give your willies the willies.
This is a new author to me, and I am really happy that I chose to read this book. The plot is well organized and very well written. It’s a fairly short read and has a steady pace throughout. I’ll be looking for other works by this author in the future. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.