A review by jdcorley
The Pretty Ones by Ania Ahlborn

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Perhaps this is Ahlborn gravitating to the structure and length that suits her best - a brief novella tightly in the point of view of someone who's too far gone to really connect deeply with, yet someone who has enough of an inner life to draw us in to their story. The genre recapitulation, right down to the oft used Summer of Sam, is a bit by the book but Ahlborn has a clear love for it and a passion for her central character and that covers a multitude of sins. I keep giving Ahlborn books second chances, this one is the first to really get me understanding why. There's great potential here.