Reviews

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel

youthfulexpression's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

rozydozy's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jamesgoodwin1982's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Having read a few of Hilary Mantel's other works I was quite looking forward to reading this. Telling of a psychic who travels around the suburbs north of London, the novel explores the background of the main character Alison and her assistant Collette. 

I found I struggled with some of the more supernatural elements of this novel, I found the bits where spirits appeared to become a bit hard to follow on times and to understand what was reality and what wasn't. The main sections which followed the pair as they travelled was interesting and I would have liked the novel to be more of this.

Overall not may favourite book by the author.

006pen's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book and Hillary Mantel us always good quality reading. 

jmcook's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

fanninh's review against another edition

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4.0

I really liked this, though there were some elements that didn't seem to fit the overall theme. The ending was kinder to the protagonist than I was expecting but that's a good thing.
A tough read, not a joyful story, would recommend to some friends. Definitely not my parents.

ashleyg10's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

3.0

seyda_neen's review

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challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nthnryn's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

3.75

anettereadsthings's review

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0