Published by Macmillan audio, Tor-Nightfire Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, thriller
Format: ARC, Audiobook, eBook
Well, this was a dark one. Catriona Ward is a gifted storyteller, and she has quite a few stories to tell in Nowhere Burning. Don’t confuse Nowhere with Neverland. Nowhere is a place for children to take refuge in the ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch. The place is infamous due to the star’s penchant for dark crimes. In its ruins, children have gathered, and adults are not allowed.
Riley and her younger brother Oliver ran away in the night from a horrific living situation. She has heard for Nowhere and thinks it may be just the place for them. But are they trading one horror for another. There she will learn that nothing in life is free and that all things come at a cost.
That is just one of the stories being told in this book. Catriona Ward manages to include more. Some worked better than others. Keep in mind, this is not a short story collection but a book where their stories will have a merging at some point.
Sadly, this book was a mixed bag for me. There were things that I enjoyed and things that did not work for me. I loved the atmosphere, the tension, the dread, and the eerie vibe in this book. I also enjoyed the setting and the menacing scenery. Plus, the ending was a very nice touch! I thought that was well done. What I struggled with was the pacing and its slower meandering trip through the dark bleak world of nowhere. I also felt that she had a lot going on with the other storylines and would have liked to just stick with one or two. I struggled to connect with this book even with the elements that I enjoyed.
I had both the book and the audiobook. I found myself going back and forth between the two, hoping one would grab me more than the other. Again, a mixed bag.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
