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fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation and Physical abuse
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I requested to read this book because it was marked as “A haunted house story for the climate change era”. I liked the concept of grappling with large scale issues through the lens of horror, especially through the haunted houses trope, as they’ve always freaked me out. It’s something about the contrast of home as (supposed) sanctuary with home as a place of foreboding.
It turned out that this novella was much more than that. This is a story about imperialist expansion and colonial imposition, that details the horrors of taking too much, and the ramifications of and ignoring the people, the land, and traditional knowledge.
Set in Sri Lanka, this novella grapples with these complex topics through multiple periods of time and POVs. However, the perspective and timeline changed so much I often felt lost in the story. I normally like fluctuations between times and POVs, but it was just too ambitious for such a short novel. I needed more time to find my bearings to really feel immersed in the dread.
As well, while the author does explain that he’s not from Sri Lanka and these are not his stories to tell, I feel like this is a theme that should have been further explored in the novel. There were many points (e.g. the German filmmaker Bernhard’s POV) in which this could’ve been broadened and expanded.
Ultimately, I think the ideas were just much too large to be grappled with in such a short novella and the storylines should’ve been either edited down to a novella form or expanded into a full novel.
Check out this book if you’re looking for a story:
- That’s Pan’s Labyrinth-esque
- Has an atmospheric, descriptive setting
- Incorporates elements of gothic dread
Thanks to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and @netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review!
Notable quotes:
“The forest never forgave those who built the house.”
“This place is quiet. It shouldn’t be here, and neither should we.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Colonisation
I requested to read this book because it was marked as “A haunted house story for the climate change era”. I liked the concept of grappling with large scale issues through the lens of horror, especially through the haunted houses trope, as they’ve always freaked me out. It’s something about the contrast of home as (supposed) sanctuary with home as a place of foreboding. It turned out that this novella was much more than that. This is a story about imperialist expansion and colonial imposition, that details the horrors of taking too much, and the ramifications of and ignoring the people, the land, and traditional knowledge. Set in Sri Lanka, this novella grapples with these complex topics through multiple periods of time and POVs. However, the perspective and timeline changed so much I often felt lost in the story. I normally like fluctuations between times and POVs, but it was just too ambitious for such a short novel. I needed more time to find my bearings to really feel immersed in the dread. As well, while the author does explain that he’s not from Sri Lanka and these are not his stories to tell, I feel like this is a theme that should have been further explored in the novel. There were many points (e.g. the German filmmaker Bernhard’s POV) in which this could’ve been broadened and expanded. Ultimately, I think the ideas were just much too large to be grappled with in such a short novella and the storylines should’ve been either edited down to a novella form or expanded into a full novel. Check out this book if you’re looking for a story: * That’s Pan’s Labyrinth-esque * Has an atmospheric, descriptive setting * Incorporates elements of gothic dread While this book wasn’t really for me, I am still hoping to check out future books pubished by Stelliform Press, whose mission is to share Earth-focused fiction and stellar stories to shape conversations around our climate change to world and our place within it. Climate fiction is a burgeoning genre that I’m hoping to explore further. Notable quotes: “The forest never forgave those who built the house.” “This place is quiet. It shouldn’t be here, and
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