Reviews

Feast by Emily O'Grady

thunderhead's review

emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cheyenneisreading's review

2.0

I read this one quickly and wanted to put it down many times but I was hopeful. Alison and Patrick are awful people, hurting those around them with no care and no redemption at the end. They really are made for each other. Also the animal abuse and the amount of animals they eat makes me sick.

kaddadams's review

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sooky's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

schgro's review

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

The characters start out unlovable, and then get worse—but you want to follow them there. Patrick is a pivot for the women; he has a different dynamic with each of them. It seems important for them all to see him with each other to really know him at last. Unrepenting Patrick who will just continue to feel entitled to anything he wants! 

liesthemoontells's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Beautifully written, disturbing portrait of a dark, fractured family full of secrets. 

The glimpses of humanity given to each character despite their awfulness is a testament to the author's talent, as is the way that the tangle of secrets slowly unravels throughout the narrative.

The prose dragged a little at times, and the book is relentlessly bleak - I can't say whether I enjoyed it or not - but it's a short read if you are looking for something dark and punchy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Stalking, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Dysphoria, Abortion, and Toxic friendship

jesmaye's review

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

5.0

redheadragereads's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Synopsis:
Set amongst the eerie Scottish countryside the story follows three women over the course of an eighteenth birthday celebration weekend. Each of them has a deep, dark secret. 

My thoughts: 
Feast was all kinds of creepy in the best possible way. 

I love a book that rips characters apart and lets you really get to know them- O'Grady does this without making obvious what she is doing. 

If for no other reason, read this book for the atmosphere- it has a touch of gothic, horror, and thriller which makes for an unsettling and addictive read. 



Thank you to the publisher, Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Drug use, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child death