Reviews with content warning for Gore - Bride of the Tornado

I could not put down this book and finished it in two days. I enjoyed how the absurdity and pageantry of tradition, aspects of religion, and small-town/community/cult mob mentality were broken down and regurgitated through the densely terrifying and kaleidoscopic horror of this world.

It looks like there are a ton of interpretations on what this novel may be about, and I may come back to this review later when I inevitably think about this story more, but this is my current take on Bride of the Tornado after finishing it just 20 minutes ago:
The girl

was a sort of tragic chosen-one figure who

desperately wanted to get away from her little world, but simultaneously was drawn to it and goaded on by forces beyond her from both within and just beyond the outskirts of her town.

She became the town’s sacrificial lamb in the face of a eldritch and sinister evil.

To me, this was maybe supposed to be symbolic of how easy it is to become trapped in the familiar systems you resent the most, and how destructive cycles can reign in isolation and fear. I also think the

sentient tornadoes (and their destructive, reactive, and soul-sucking nature)

seemed symbolic of the ways violent and misogynistic traditions are venerated and replicated in the name of tradition alone.

I found some aspects of the plot a little predictable at times, which is why I’m rating it a 4/5, but ultimately I really enjoyed this book and will continue to think about it and its ending.

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oldandnewbooksmell's review

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

In a small, midwestern town, the adults whisper about “Tornado Day”, something a high school sophomore has never heard of. At the Tornado Day’s assembly, she sees the tornado killer for the first time. Drawn to boy, she begins to feel a connection between them. But the adults are hiding a secret about the tornados and she must escape before the secrets dig in and claim her.

So one of my goals this year (as with every year, really) is to try and branch out of my standard historical adult fiction and YA. I was born and raised in the Midwest and tornadoes were almost like a block party for us because we were the only ones of our friends and family in the immediate area that had a basement. I think that’s why I was kind of drawn to this book.

This story was a ride and it will definitely keep you guessing as to what in the world is going on

though some questions you probably won’t get the answer to

The storytelling in this was vivid, and I could “see” what was happening, or what the narrator was talking about - though sometimes it jumped around from showing to just telling and that would throw me off. There was also a lot more gore than I was expecting in it, but it is horror, so I feel like I probably should have expected what there was.

The first ¾ of the book really held my interest, but the last quarter had me lost and I ended up having to reread a lot. I would get confused on the POVs as well as what was overall happening. It would also really switch up the way it is written (again, that telling vs showing).

Overall, it was a fun read. It was something different and I still enjoyed it (even the uncomfortable gorey parts). It’s a bit of a hard book to explain but, I can still see myself recommending it to those who like fast-paced creepy horror/thrillers.

*Thank you Quick Books and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

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andy5185's review

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I've always found tornados terrifying, yet also completely fascinating. The experience of this book was similar for me. It pulled me in fiercely, swept me up, disorienting me with terror, but I could not look away, not even for a second. In total confusion I read on trying to piece together what was happening, brain working overtime to try to solve the mystery, only to be thrown around while it veered off just out of reach. Needless to say, this book is weird. It made me feel so strange and yet so intrigued. And just when I thought it would be approaching the "too weird" line, it would stun me with an intimate, lyrically written moment to throw me off again. It's a total mind bend of a read, but 100% amazing for anyone that likes to get lost in warped, bizarro worlds. I loved it.
Warning: it is definitely a horror novel. There is definitely gore, and also really violent tornado imagery. If you fear tornados, you may want to skip this one!

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