This book’s cover has been on my radar and I say that because I have seen the cover around but I hadn’t read the description. When I did, I immediately checked it out at my library. I’ve recently been really into stand alone books and new/recreating fairy tales–so this book seemed perfect.
It’s been a while since I read a book that felt in my wheel-house, but it kept surprising me. There are no tropes and there are no expectations that aren’t subverted. It was exciting to read, but also filled me with dread as I realized–I didn’t know where this book was going or how it would end.
I would describe this book as a modern creepy fairy tale. If you enjoyed Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (you can read my review here), then this is for sure the book for you.
The book is told from one character’s point of view, but we get to know her two sisters very well throughout the book because of her close relationship with them as well as their roles in the story. I thought they both felt “other” as well as very familiar in their roles as first, second, and last born.
As I said in the title of this post, I think this is a great spooky season read. It’s pretty eerie and can get a little gruesome. I don’t want to give anything else away, so I won’t say more.
Overall this book was not at all what I expected and I think it did a great job playing on familiar elements and making a very original story and world. Although this is a stand alone novel, I would certainly read this as a series as well.
I’ve been thinking about this book since finishing it, trying to digest all the emotions that the book brought out in me. I also felt like I needed a few days to get my head wrapped around the final reveals at the end. If you’re looking for your next spooky book, you should definitely check this out!
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