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displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The first half of this book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I had to know what was in Adelaide's trunk (I had an inkling), how long she would be able to keep her secrets, and what would happen when those secrets eventually got out. The second half was a little less compelling but no less enjoyable, as different plot elements weave their way towards a dramatic conclusion.
Adelaide is a complicated main character. I found her loveable, as I relate to characters with a certain amount of resentment towards their family, and I admired her independence. Other people may find her a little less likeable, but I hope readers will generally enjoy her complexity.
Although this is primarily Adelaide's story, there's a few other characters who take turns in the POV seat (the story shifts from third-person limited towards a more omniscient third-person narrator in a way that feels reminiscent of storytelling). I really enjoyed a peak at the lives of the different sort of people who might have homesteaded in Montana in the early 20th century; what brought them to such an isolated place, and what they were willing to do to create a life of their own.
This book straddles the line between dark historic fantasy and horror. If you're not usually a horror reader but are intrigued by the premise or setting of this book, take a look at the content warnings. I didn't find it especially scary, personally. I'd say it's more on the level of a Gothic in terms of being mysterious and atmospheric, but there is some violence and gore.
Adelaide is a complicated main character. I found her loveable, as I relate to characters with a certain amount of resentment towards their family, and I admired her independence. Other people may find her a little less likeable, but I hope readers will generally enjoy her complexity.
Although this is primarily Adelaide's story, there's a few other characters who take turns in the POV seat (the story shifts from third-person limited towards a more omniscient third-person narrator in a way that feels reminiscent of storytelling). I really enjoyed a peak at the lives of the different sort of people who might have homesteaded in Montana in the early 20th century; what brought them to such an isolated place, and what they were willing to do to create a life of their own.
This book straddles the line between dark historic fantasy and horror. If you're not usually a horror reader but are intrigued by the premise or setting of this book, take a look at the content warnings. I didn't find it especially scary, personally. I'd say it's more on the level of a Gothic in terms of being mysterious and atmospheric, but there is some violence and gore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Animal death, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, and Transphobia
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