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chandraleereads's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jade_courtney's review
3.0
It had a fun premise but I don't think I have any strong feelings about it tbh
andtheywereroommates's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
savvyrosereads's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Short, entertaining, and as thoughtful as I’ve come to expect from AEH!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
ratgrrrl's review
4.0
A Tragic, Hopeful Tale of Haunting
CW: Animal Harm & Death (Cat, Violence Described), Parental Neglect, Abuse & Death of a Mentally Ill Person (Referenced)
The story follows a young girl with a head full of Wonder Woman and a heart full of parental neglect and grief who moves to a strange, old mansion after the death of her mother, which it is alluded to was mentally ill, beofe suffering and dying at the hands of horrific treatment. She meets a strange, unsettling friend in another girl who lives in her mirror. Time jumps to the complications of teenage Queer romance and different perspectives on life and conformity. Leading her back to her reflective friend...
I agree with some other reviews that this has the potential to really be something special, but the quality of the prose, a sad Queer girl, and hope free from sugarcoating just tipped this to a four for me. This is the first work of Harrow's I've read and it has certainly served as a good teaser to make me want more, even if there is a niggling feeling that this particular story just needed a tiny bit more to make it really sing. I think perhaps being extended into a novella or even novel with more interactions with the girl in the mirror, showing, discussing, and exploring more of the MC's Queerness and relationships, and having space for the haunting gulf of her father's neglect and the spectre of her mother's death and horrific treatment. The ingredients and quality of prose here are so very good!
Ultimately, it's a wonderful short story and definitely one of the better ones in the Audible Included library. I definitely need to read more of Harrow's work!
CW: Animal Harm & Death (Cat, Violence Described), Parental Neglect, Abuse & Death of a Mentally Ill Person (Referenced)
The story follows a young girl with a head full of Wonder Woman and a heart full of parental neglect and grief who moves to a strange, old mansion after the death of her mother, which it is alluded to was mentally ill, beofe suffering and dying at the hands of horrific treatment. She meets a strange, unsettling friend in another girl who lives in her mirror. Time jumps to the complications of teenage Queer romance and different perspectives on life and conformity. Leading her back to her reflective friend...
I agree with some other reviews that this has the potential to really be something special, but the quality of the prose, a sad Queer girl, and hope free from sugarcoating just tipped this to a four for me. This is the first work of Harrow's I've read and it has certainly served as a good teaser to make me want more, even if there is a niggling feeling that this particular story just needed a tiny bit more to make it really sing. I think perhaps being extended into a novella or even novel with more interactions with the girl in the mirror, showing, discussing, and exploring more of the MC's Queerness and relationships, and having space for the haunting gulf of her father's neglect and the spectre of her mother's death and horrific treatment. The ingredients and quality of prose here are so very good!
Ultimately, it's a wonderful short story and definitely one of the better ones in the Audible Included library. I definitely need to read more of Harrow's work!
thecaffeinatedlibrary's review
dark
mysterious
4.5
A bite-sized historical sapphic horror! I really loved this teeny tiny baby, it was gothic and lush and really packed a punch, despite the small size. Definitely recommend if you’re stuck on what to read — short and sickly sweet 🍓