Reviews

The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado

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kdahlo's review

5.0

This book is awesome! I am so impressed with Carmen Maria Machado and the illustrator DaNi. This book does cover some tough themes around trauma and sexual violence. However, it doesn't do so lightly, the narrative is really thoughtful. I thought the feel and plot were both pretty different, I liked that the story is very stand-alone and ends up completely resolved by the end. It feels like a nice, complete package. The comic it most reminded me of might be Paper Girls, since that also involves girls on bikes in a small town facing the paranormal, but the core friendship at the heart of the Low, Low Woods is something much deeper, cooler and queerer, bringing back distant memories of reading Love and Rockets (disclaimer: I read Love and Rockets when I was too young to totally get it - I should reread it I guess!). Anyways, loved this, can't wait for what comes next!

rbz39's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

milo_elliot11's review

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

scary. good. yay!

midici's review

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4.0

*4.5 stars, some spoilers*

This was a wonderfully creepy and haunting story, about two queer kids in Shudder-To-Think who work to reclaim their lives, and the lives of the women around them, from the dangers that lurk in their small town.

I don't want to give away the whole plot but essentially, the men and women in Shudder-To-Think suffer from... strange ailments. Women routinely losing time and forgetting what's happening. Women who are so traumatized by their unknown loss they slowly morph into dangerous beasts, or sinkholes that swallow people whole. Men suffer too, in their own way becoming the skinless men who live in the eternal fires of the coal mines.

The mystery surrounding these events are, in the surface, supernatural. Beneath the surface it's about a cycle of abuse, trapping everyone within it, until someone has the courage to tr and break free and bring everyone else out as well.

The artwork was gorgeous and terrifying.

tbdaniel_111's review

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5.0

lovely writing from carmen maria machado as always, although the artwork in some panels was a bit rough. the cover art for each of the issues are gorgeous though! a 4/5 star read for me, although i’m giving it 5 stars to combat the sexist men in the reviews.