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fangslibris's review against another edition
3.0
After how much I loved her debut, I couldn't wait to read Burn Our Bodies Down. And now I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book because the whole thing was frustrating.
I expected a strong mystery/horror based on the premise of maternal relationships. What I ended up reading was a book about maternal trauma with splashes of "scares." It's definitely not what I expected, and all of the gaslighting made it very, very hard to read personally. All of it just touched too close to home and without the payoff of true horror, it ended up being not the book for me.
I think the point where I fully gave up on enjoying came near the end with a scene intended to be scary, but it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Heartbreaking and horrifying aren't the same, and this was definitely the former.
Again, I don't really know how to review this because it very well could be a good book if you go in with the right expectations. And probably even better if you don't have to reckon with your own trauma on every page.
Glad I read it, probably won't be reaching for it again soon. Bummed.
I expected a strong mystery/horror based on the premise of maternal relationships. What I ended up reading was a book about maternal trauma with splashes of "scares." It's definitely not what I expected, and all of the gaslighting made it very, very hard to read personally. All of it just touched too close to home and without the payoff of true horror, it ended up being not the book for me.
I think the point where I fully gave up on enjoying came near the end with a scene intended to be scary, but it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Heartbreaking and horrifying aren't the same, and this was definitely the former.
Again, I don't really know how to review this because it very well could be a good book if you go in with the right expectations. And probably even better if you don't have to reckon with your own trauma on every page.
Glad I read it, probably won't be reaching for it again soon. Bummed.
neptunenad's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
1.0
erintowner's review against another edition
3.0
My three star rating is a testament to Rory Power's excellent writing and character development. The trauma the characters experience from abusive/neglected childhoods is evoked well.
This book suffered from serious pacing and plot hole issues. There is a lot of foreshadowing of explanations that never occur and the science is spotty at best. This book was a bit of a letdown after Wilder Girls and maybe would have been a better novella or short story.
This book suffered from serious pacing and plot hole issues. There is a lot of foreshadowing of explanations that never occur and the science is spotty at best. This book was a bit of a letdown after Wilder Girls and maybe would have been a better novella or short story.
hrenfro's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
avasisx's review against another edition
5.0
I read this on audiobook and the narrator was absolutely fantastic. Her voice captured the anger in the Margo perfectly. The ending was more upsetting than I thought it'd be but it culminated in such a good way.
what_the_puck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I bought a copy of this book from the library bookstore.
"Burn Our Bodies Down" follows Margot. For as far back as Margot can remember, it has been just her and her mother against the world. As much as she loves her mother, Margot wants more, she wants a family she can share her life with. Unfortunately, her mother is very tight-lipped about where they came from and who their family is. When Margot finally gets a clue about her family, it is too elusive to pass up. Margot ventures to the small town where her grandmother lives, but everything is not as picturesque as Margot imagined.
Just like with "Wilder Girls", this book was strange, sci-fi-y, and relied on some body horror to shock the reader. With that said, I thought it was very captivating, and I did not want to put it down.
Margot's desperation for a family and understanding where she came from was devastating and highly relatable. I think most young people grow curious about who they are, and a big part of that can be who their family was/is. Margot's mother refuses to share anything with her, which only makes the family secrets all the more alluring. This is definitely a very stereotypical YA trope, and I do not think this book did it in any special way, but it was still enjoyable to read.
The "mystery" about what was going on was a unique take, and although aspects of it I anticipated early on, I thought it was difficult to see the whole picture right away.
This was a pretty fast-paced thriller, as is most YA thrillers. Because it was so fast paced, it was easy to devour in one sitting, and it was fairly engaging from start to finish.
I definitely will continue to read from Rory Power in the future.
"Burn Our Bodies Down" follows Margot. For as far back as Margot can remember, it has been just her and her mother against the world. As much as she loves her mother, Margot wants more, she wants a family she can share her life with. Unfortunately, her mother is very tight-lipped about where they came from and who their family is. When Margot finally gets a clue about her family, it is too elusive to pass up. Margot ventures to the small town where her grandmother lives, but everything is not as picturesque as Margot imagined.
Just like with "Wilder Girls", this book was strange, sci-fi-y, and relied on some body horror to shock the reader. With that said, I thought it was very captivating, and I did not want to put it down.
Margot's desperation for a family and understanding where she came from was devastating and highly relatable. I think most young people grow curious about who they are, and a big part of that can be who their family was/is. Margot's mother refuses to share anything with her, which only makes the family secrets all the more alluring. This is definitely a very stereotypical YA trope, and I do not think this book did it in any special way, but it was still enjoyable to read.
The "mystery" about what was going on was a unique take, and although aspects of it I anticipated early on, I thought it was difficult to see the whole picture right away.
This was a pretty fast-paced thriller, as is most YA thrillers. Because it was so fast paced, it was easy to devour in one sitting, and it was fairly engaging from start to finish.
I definitely will continue to read from Rory Power in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
bethwodzinski's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
Omg this book was a ROLLERCOASTER AHH. The mystery kept me guessing the whole time, wanting to know more of the story. I wish there was more background of the characters but the plot didn’t give the characters time in a way to have then be fully complete to me.
Omg this book was a ROLLERCOASTER AHH. The mystery kept me guessing the whole time, wanting to know more of the story. I wish there was more background of the characters but the plot didn’t give the characters time in a way to have then be fully complete to me.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
I'm calling it now this book is going to be just as divisive as Wilder Girls. Rory Power has such eerier and atmospheric writing that leaves you compelled. Also, those corn fields.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.