Hi all!
Welcome back! In January, we read Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell for The You’ll Read Too Bookclub! If you wish to access all of the latest updates/information, click here. Spoilers ahead!
Quick Reminder: This month we are reading ‘The Hollow Dead’ by Darcy Coates!
Today I’m going to discuss the book in the same way I normally do online. You can find the recorded talk on my book club Instagram page. I’ll give a quick plot summary plus my overall star/scare-factor ratings. Then I will share the discussion topics and trivia questions. Please include all of your answers and opinions down below. I want to know exactly what you thought. I’ll also leave the answers to the trivia questions at the very bottom of the post, so if you wish to guess without being spoiled, do not scroll to the end until you’re ready. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
STOLEN TONGUES BY FELIX BLACKWELL – JANUARY 2024
PLOT SUMMARY
A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back.
OVERALL STAR RATING
I gave this novel an overall rating of 4/5 stars. I thought it was incredibly scary, captivating and intense. I will admit, the book became quite repetitive after a while, but the ending helped make up for it. This story had one of best opening scenes I’ve read in a very long time. I also felt that the title, Stolen Tongues, was very fitting. We need to remember that this was originally a contest-winning tale on Reddit, which is now being optioned for film. Very impressive!
OVERALL SCARE-FACTOR RATING
Unsurprisingly, I gave this book an overall scare-factor rating of 5/5 stars. As mentioned above, the opening scene is one I won’t forget in a long time. Who knew a parrot named Carrot would make me want to sleep with the lights on? Furthermore, the creature knocking on the door and trying to trick Felix into letting it in was downright terrifying. I can only imagine how much more intense the film adaptation will be.
DISCUSSION TOPICS
1.) Did the ending of the novel work for you? Why/why not?
I’ve seen a lot of differing opinions on the ending of this novel, but it did work for me. It had such a strong opening scene; I assume some readers wanted that momentum to continue. For me personally, I felt it ended quite poetically. There was a sense of closure in the creature not being able to control Faye anymore and her finally facing off against her demons – both literally and emotionally.
2.) The author has written a prequel about The Impostor. Would you like to learn more about this creature? Why/why not?
Because this novel was so terrifying, I would read the prequel. Having said that, I don’t feel like there would be a whole lot more to learn about The Impostor but maybe the author will surprise me.
3.) How does grief intertwine with horror in the novel?
Faye’s grief is what created the link between her and the creature. It was only when she made peace with her brother’s death, that the connection could sever. Grief itself is such a dark, deep hole of despair. It makes sense to pair such a powerful emotion with the horror genre.
TRIVIA QUESTIONS
Easy: Which number was the Impostor obsessed with?
Medium: What language did Felix speak in an attempt to confuse the creature?
Hard: Which video game was Felix playing at the beginning of the novel?
I hope you enjoyed the book club discussion in this post and on Instagram. As mentioned above, share all of your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any feedback/suggestions to improve the book club, please let me know. I look forward to talking to you all next month! Thanks for reading!
Peace & Love xoxo
TRIVIA ANSWERS: Easy: 5. Medium: German. Hard: Donkey Kong Adventure.