Other reviewers have noted the stilted prose, banal plot, and one-note characters. The story idea has potential, and the Polynesian setting is interesting, but the finished product is dull. ( )

There was some great stuff going for this novel - an ancient curse, a historical setting, adventure - but it just dragged a bit in places ( )

I received this book as a free review copy. It has taken me so long to finish this book, which is honestly rare. I tried to like it as it contained a number of themes to my taste, especially the 'Body Horror' elements. The story reads like a cross between an old fashioned adventure and a treatise on Polynesian history and folklore. I found the tale strangely bloodless and unengaging especially considering there is great deal of madness, mayhem and blood shed throughout the story.

I won an Early Reviewers copy of this book and really thought I would enjoy it based on its supernatural theme. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time just getting through it. The book felt really disjointed, and for the first half I kept wondering if I skipped some pages here or there. I also couldn't really attach to any of the characters, as they were pretty one-dimensional, or would do something so out of character that they were practically schizophrenic. It also felt inconsistent, as if it could have used a good editor - in particular, I was really annoyed by the use/non-use/use/non-use of broken English by the native islanders. The story has a lot of potential, but I just think it could have been much better written. ( )

I received an early review copy of this book, which generally makes me a very happy reader indeed. Unfortunately, like some of the other reviewers, I really struggled with this one, despite finding lots to like in the synopsis the delivery just didn’t live up to expectations. I appreciate given the subject area no one was expecting Booker prize literature, but I found the characters pretty ‘paint by numbers’ and unlikeable. Given there is so much other (and sorry to say better – at least for me) reading material out there I’d struggle to recommend this one… ( )