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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
An intriguing science fiction thriller novel tinged with body horror and terrifying plausibility, Sorrowland kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until it's final beautiful and shocking twist. Readers follow young Vern as she tries to survive in the woods after having escaped a cult compound known as the Blessed Acres of Cain, on the run from a mysterious fiend who is hellbent on scaring her back to the cult and constantly threatening the lives of Vern's newborn twins. All the while Vern continues to experience strange "hauntings" of people who may or may not be real, dramatic changes to her body including new levels of strength, speed, and agility, and a growing pain deep inside.
Without spoiling what I found to be one of the most interesting and horrific aspects of the novel, I'll say that Solomon aptly addresses themes of memory, responsibility, and systemic racism in brilliant ways, using our country's own history of abuses and a new conceptualization of hauntings to make their points through a weird but accessible lens of sci-fi horror. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Without spoiling what I found to be one of the most interesting and horrific aspects of the novel, I'll say that Solomon aptly addresses themes of memory, responsibility, and systemic racism in brilliant ways, using our country's own history of abuses and a new conceptualization of hauntings to make their points through a weird but accessible lens of sci-fi horror. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such an interesting way to discuss generational trauma and touch on real life events that Black people have been subjected to in the United States.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Truly genre-bending and a premise unlike anything I’ve read before. Was honestly approaching a 5-star read but the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying after how incredibly well-done the first two acts played.
This is my second read book by this author and still very much looking forward to exploring their other work.
This is my second read book by this author and still very much looking forward to exploring their other work.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed this one. The writing was good and unique. It really reminded me of Hell Follows With Us by Andrew Joseph White, which is one of my favorite books. I thought there were good, strong characters, although the plot gets pretty slow at points before really ramping up at the end. I thought it could have been a bit more consistent so that it didn't seem as though everything was happening so suddenly and many plot points were based on assumptions more than anything (and I did get a bit confused about who people were) but overall it was a great read.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No