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There is a bog body that was discovered. That element was creepy and fun.
The atmosphere of this book was great! I really enjoyed some of the mixed media elements.
I liked the writing style. I had times where I couldn't stop reading.
Lucy makes bad choices. The third part of this story really proved it. I did not agree with her decisions and I felt like her logic was flawed.
This book has a very strong aspect of sisterhood, but I didn't think the way they were using it made sense. No spoilers, so that's as vague as I can be.
This also had a lot of Body Horror. It gave me too much yuck at one point and I had to take a little bit of a break.
I would definitely read more from this author.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Medical content, Cannibalism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Infidelity, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
First, for the things I loved: The concept is so interesting! This book draws heavily on the vampire tradition but doesn't only limit itself to the obvious (Dracula, Carmilla). There's some cool revenant folk lore and science influences as well, all grounded in a pretty convincing historical setting. There's sapphics (so many sapphics, guys!!) and having just finished Hungerstone, a Carmilla retelling, I was so happy to get not one but two sapphic vampire stories within the same month! What a wonderful surprise.
For things that I didn't enjoy: the writing wasn't as evocative as I would have liked. For a gothic, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to atmosphere and the creeping sense of dread as the mystery unfolds but this book unfortunately fell on the weaker end of the spectrum. Also, there was a heavy dose of bigotry voiced through many side characters, and while I do believe that it was meant to make a point (about the times, womanhood, etc), I personally found it made the reading experience a little less enjoyable, since it was just too heavy-handed for my taste.
All in all, I do recommend this though. The story offers a fresh approach to a very old topic, the ending felt very well deserved and I am looking forward to whatever the author writes next.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Homophobia
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent
This was so nasty. I loved it.
The atmosphere was so, so beautifully written. So very gothic and moody. Even when everything crumbled and hell broke loose. Ah, sisterly love.
For those who need to know what happens to the dog (a minor character but who is so prominent on the cover):
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Sexism, Lesbophobia
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Child death, Self harm, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization