Reviews

The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker

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slop_queen's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

graceve's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.75

~ Haunting, Lyrical Story ~

This was such an atmospheric and cool read!!! I loved the unsettling feeling of inevitable dread I got when reading!
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The story unfolding through journals was a perfect touch and I loved the way it flowed! I thought the beginning was a little slow, but once I got into the book it was easy and intriguing to read!!
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A really cool story of self-discovery, feminism, and a family curse!! If you’re in the mood for gothic vibes definitely pick this one up!
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CWs - Innuendo (used more for character development than romance), occasional strong language, two, relatively brief spice scenes (used for character development and exploration more than romance)
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annamickreads's review

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5.0

I am really fond of stories about messy family dynamics, especially within the confines of certain class structures - this book in that way reminded me a LOT of "The Virgin Suicides" and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" if you loved those, especially the sisterly dynamics and the loneliness they shared.

This book definitely includes many elements of gothic horror: high emotion, hysterical women, supernatural elements (especially visions), fear of a controlling male figure (in this case, their father and their eventual husbands). The home is a central figure in the story as well. I think a lot of people argue against the category of 'gothic HORROR' because the "horror" elements themselves aren't overwhelming or all-consuming - there are ghosts and the suggestion of a curse, but no skeletons in closets, mystery blood streaming from the walls, or vampires preying on the weak.

While I was surprised that the family connection to the guns, especially with the inspiration behind this book being the Winchester Mystery House, wasn't somehow even more of a focal point, I also could appreciate how Sarai Walker made the story her own. The book is very slow, but once it picks up, it picks up to a decent pace.

It took me a while to sit with and read this book but I'm glad I did. Excited to see what Sarai Walker does next!

darumachan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad 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

What stays with me most powerfully are the lovely prose and the rich atmosphere-- especially the unsettling sense of deep and sinister ties to the family and their wedding cake house.

I was initially captivated by the mystery of the haunting at the core of the novel, but that was also where I was most frustrated. I don't mind an ambiguous ending that leaves you pondering, but I realize here that I do take issue with patterns or "clues" that are either abandoned or that are later contradicted for no reason, pointing the reader to a ridiculously broad conclusion that the problem is men and marriage in general, rather than following through on the more subtle relationships between heteronormative marriage and homophobia, misogyny, medical gaslighting, mental illness, gun violence, and family cultures founded on authoritarianism.

I also am dissatisfied with how the MC was developed. I'm fine with an unlikeable MC, but here she seemed to be a faded copy of her elder sisters rather than her own person, even though she was the one who survived to tell her story. She doesn't want to be compared to men, but she has no problem taking advantage of her romantic partner to do the emotional and intellectual labor expected of women married to "genius" male artists, for example. This is especially problematic given that this is a mixed-race partnership. The MC's sexuality was also handled rather clumsily and her attraction to women seemed tacked on to an otherwise asexual character.

Content Warnings