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skello's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Sexual violence, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse and Injury/Injury detail
ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by Lanternfish Press at the 2019 ALA Conference.
This was an odd reading experience. More literary than I usually enjoy, but with a tight focus on a very small cast of characters and a claustrophobically close environment that made it less of a chore to read. (I struggle with the literary style; that's another story for another day.)
All that said, the concept of a pair of violent sisters obsessed with a common goal and willing to go to any means to achieve it is a compelling one, and I enjoyed spending time in their heads, and in Ellie's.
The other characters were very difficult to sympathize with, but that was mostly by design. Dr. Lark is singularly despicable, but not at first. His treachery creeps up slowly and was very well developed. I'm not sure how we're supposed to feel about Mel. I dislike being asked to sympathize with an anti-abortion zealot, but I'm not sure if that was the author's intention or if it just showed up that way in Simon's point of view. I also found the constant descriptions of everyone's physical attributes distracting.
Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of psychological horror looking for something a little different, with the caveat that the ending is inconclusive and, depending on what you're looking for in your thriller-style fiction, unsatisfying. I'm curious to see what Barbara Barrow writes next. This one held my attention, but I don't think I'd read another like it in a hurry.
This was an odd reading experience. More literary than I usually enjoy, but with a tight focus on a very small cast of characters and a claustrophobically close environment that made it less of a chore to read. (I struggle with the literary style; that's another story for another day.)
All that said, the concept of a pair of violent sisters obsessed with a common goal and willing to go to any means to achieve it is a compelling one, and I enjoyed spending time in their heads, and in Ellie's.
The other characters were very difficult to sympathize with, but that was mostly by design. Dr. Lark is singularly despicable, but not at first. His treachery creeps up slowly and was very well developed. I'm not sure how we're supposed to feel about Mel. I dislike being asked to sympathize with an anti-abortion zealot, but I'm not sure if that was the author's intention or if it just showed up that way in Simon's point of view. I also found the constant descriptions of everyone's physical attributes distracting.
Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of psychological horror looking for something a little different, with the caveat that the ending is inconclusive and, depending on what you're looking for in your thriller-style fiction, unsatisfying. I'm curious to see what Barbara Barrow writes next. This one held my attention, but I don't think I'd read another like it in a hurry.
kattrent's review against another edition
5.0
This is easily my favorite book of this year. The writing was phenomenal, the switching in perspectives that offered more context, and how the lives of these two sisters were altered heavily by their mother. This does raise the question of nature vs. nuture, and how far people are willing to go, but also how women develop, and how that needs to be taught and explained.
The horror of this novel comes specifically from the people that are supposed to help the most. All of main characters were well rounded and were provided with flaws that seem logical rather than thrown in to cater to the audience.
When this novel ramped up, it just kept going. Every action spurrred another, everything had a logical rise and fall, and still the novels ideas and morals shine through. This novel contains a kind of horror that drills into our greatest fears that relates directly to the feeling we all have: that the people who are supposed to care and look after us are not looking out for our best interest and are what we should be most scared of.
The horror of this novel comes specifically from the people that are supposed to help the most. All of main characters were well rounded and were provided with flaws that seem logical rather than thrown in to cater to the audience.
When this novel ramped up, it just kept going. Every action spurrred another, everything had a logical rise and fall, and still the novels ideas and morals shine through. This novel contains a kind of horror that drills into our greatest fears that relates directly to the feeling we all have: that the people who are supposed to care and look after us are not looking out for our best interest and are what we should be most scared of.
readingwithadi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thebookgeekboutique's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
2.0
katiecomet's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a good book. I flew through it. Every character was so complex and fleshed out.
And that ending....
Please please read it.
And that ending....
Please please read it.
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