Reviews with content warning for Medical trauma - Raparigas Selvagens

Wilder Girls by Rory Power strikes me as a book that some will enjoy, and others will wish they had never picked up – very niche in its audience. Personally, I was into it and would selectively recommend it.

The story is set at a boarding school for girls that has been put under quarantine by the CDC. We jump in after they have already adjusted and fallen into a routine, then slowly learn bits about the early days when the isolation first began. It’s an effective way to tell the story without reading through the whole event. Instead, the book focuses on what happens when a few girls start disappearing and the protagonist, Hetty, starts looking for answers.

The book is categorized as YA lgbtqia+ horror and that felt inaccurate. There are romantic relationships between girls in the school, but their world is so bleak that it’s not the focus, more of an implied afterthought. And horror is a tough bar to clear. This was suspenseful at times but never tense (for me), definitely not scary (again, for me), but did have a few graphic descriptions. It’s more of a creepy mystery through a lens of survival dystopia.

It is an interesting look at how powerful information can be, especially when it is withheld. How isolation can be achieved by manufactured fear. If you enjoyed books like Devolution, Dry, or Unwind then this might be a good one for you.

Content warnings: Gore, Death, Self-harm, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma

Content Warnings

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book will likely not be most people's 'thing' but it was absolutely mine. My recommendation is to read through all the 1-2 star reviews and if any of the criticisms are complete turn offs for you then dont read it. As someone who enjoys this book thoroughly I found myself agreeing with most of the criticisms people had but I was able to enjoy the book anyway. In order to enjoy this book you must really and truly suspend your disbelief and occasionally your morality. The main characters are not likeable, they do not have major growth or development but in my opinion this does not hurt the plot. They are children and they act their age, its like an all female lord of the flies with an added horror element. The world built for you by this series is unique in its terror. There are two main ways horror is achieved, by subverting something we know or by creating a new cosmic or existential threat and this book expertly applies both. Although we may not all go to boarding school we all know how a boarding school functions and modernly, we have all lived through and watched how powerless we are to disease. The existential horror comes in with the nature of the disease used in this story. It is absolutely not realistic in its symptoms, how it spreads or how it was created but that is what is horrifically wonderful about it. The way it takes the most ordinary things from animals to people and warps them into monsters is an underrated aspect of this book. The timing of this book hinders its ability to truly lean into the disease element and I think if it reached popularity before 2020, or if anyone could truly read books in a vacuum, it would probably be more well received as we would be able to suspend our disbelief further. I would recommend going into this book as blind as possible and really just tucking away your pandemic knowledge. Furthermore I would not recommend this book to those who like character driven narratives. This book uses its characters to tell a story but there is not much development or a deeply compelling aspect to these characters. You will have a level of sympathy for them and their plight but expect them to annoy you mildly from time to time. If you come into this book knowing vaguely what to expect and if it fits your interests and let yourself be immersed in the pocket dimension built for you, you will enjoy this book. Overall I liked this book but it is a very niche book and marketing it as anything more than that does it a disservice. I would recommend this book to only those who are looking for a book about teen girls afflicted by a horrific, body horror level, disease and their struggle to survive. If that description does not intrigue you then do not even bother with my previous advice and read lowstar reviews, simply turn back now.

Content Warnings