Stolen Tongues
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Stolen Tongues is a polarizing horror novel frequently discussed for its high-tension atmosphere and effective 'mimic' scares. While many readers find the first half genuinely terrifying—particularly the 'cabin in the woods' setting—the book is often criticized for becoming repetitive and concluding with an anticlimactic or jarring ending.
Pros
- Highly effective 'mimic' horror and creepy supernatural imagery
- Strong atmosphere, especially recommended for 'cabin in the woods' or 'snowed in' scenarios
- High tension and genuine scares in the first third of the book
- Focus on a protective and caring relationship between the main characters
Cons
- The plot is frequently described as becoming repetitive in the latter half
- The ending and final reveal are often cited as disappointing or nonsensical
- Audiobook narration is heavily criticized for the narrator's portrayal of female dialogue
- Pacing can feel rushed, sometimes failing to sit with the characters' fear
Caveats
- Readers are sharply divided: some overlook the plot flaws for the quality of the scares, while others find the decline in quality after the first half deal-breaking.
- One reader noted a heavy reliance on dialogue early on to establish character stakes rather than organic storytelling.
Best for
- Fans of supernatural horror involving mimics and forest settings
- Readers looking for a book that is 'actually scary' in its first half
- Fans of 'cabin in the woods' tropes
Avoid if
- You prioritize a strong, cohesive ending over initial scares
- You are sensitive to repetitive plot structures
- You primarily consume books via audiobook (due to specific narrator complaints)
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. Evidence is drawn from 22 mentions in r/horrorlit with a median source age of approximately 401 days.
Sentiment
18 positive (45%) · 9 mixed (23%) · 13 negative (33%)
Trust + time weighted score: +14% · raw score 13%
What redditors said (10 of 40)
Stolen Tongues, Felix Blackwell.
If I remember correctly, this story had a brilliant opening chapter and then it went very swiftly downhill from there.
Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell fits the bill
Sorrow stones, stolen tongues and mean spirited are few that come to mind if you want fast paced , very scary horror, writing isn’t great but also not bad.
Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell... Stolen Tongues in particular literally gave me nightmares.
It was an aggressively Reddit book
Which is a shame, because "Stolen Tongues" is an amazing title for a horror novel.
It was incredibly annoying and that’s how we end up with a 300 page book that should have stayed a 3 part reddit story
I read it back when it was a creepypasta and like most of them, should have stuck to the Internet rather than evolve into print media.
Oh Lordy mercy, that book sucked. By about a quarter of the way in, I was getting tired of the repetitive plot, but I was determined to see it through. That was probably a mistake.
Compare
Stolen Tongues vs Dark MatterStolen Tongues vs MiseryStolen Tongues vs Books of Blood
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