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_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I think David's a d¡ck tbh but overall this is a really good paranormal novella. It's bittersweet and funny, with hauntingly beautiful, lyrical writing that makes it a memorable read. I enjoyed learning about all these other Marian (ok no) urban legends/rhyming songs that I hadn't heard of. The only one I knew of was Bloody Mary. And on further reading about Resurrection Mary, it reminded me of this short story I read when I was kid–and that I can't remember the title of, or the title of the collection I read it from–of a hitchhiking girl that died on her way to prom or graduation, can't really remember and the protag gives her a ride and it turns out that she was a ghost (duh) and he finds out when he goes back to the girl's apartment bc he wants to visit her again and stuff and finds out she had died 50 years or something ago. I really wanna revisit that short story collection but I have completely forgotten that name. And reading this story reminded me of it and now im frustrated bc I can't remember the name but ok enough rambling, back to this review, and yeah the Rhee's sightings/hautings gave me those story's vibes. I enjoyed the spooky villain darkness. Yeah, he might come across as basic but I really dig these kind of villains that are so arrogant and slick and sure that everything will go their way and that's the whole of their personality, and then, boom! seeing their plans topple over them. It's fun. Though here Rhee paid a steep price, too. Honestly, this novella had its misses but I enjoyed it most than not so it earned from me its 4 big stars.
P. S. Shout out to the cover artist/designer! The cover art is so freaking cute!
P. S. Shout out to the cover artist/designer! The cover art is so freaking cute!
sarahc1215's review
2.0
“We’re a house brimming with Marys, the mortar bursting at the seams with urban legends and deranged nursery rhymes. We don’t know how we got here, and we don’t know how to leave.”
This is a flipped fairytale where a handful of ghosts (all the Marys—Bloody Mary, resurrection Mary, etc.) are fighting to save their afterlife. It was an interesting premise, but ultimately didn’t deliver. The characters, including the protagonist, were under developed, and Rhee’s relationship with David (a mortal) is largely unexplained. How did they meet? Why the attraction? The ending was interesting, but it sped along too quickly.
This is a flipped fairytale where a handful of ghosts (all the Marys—Bloody Mary, resurrection Mary, etc.) are fighting to save their afterlife. It was an interesting premise, but ultimately didn’t deliver. The characters, including the protagonist, were under developed, and Rhee’s relationship with David (a mortal) is largely unexplained. How did they meet? Why the attraction? The ending was interesting, but it sped along too quickly.
cozyinthenook's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
carolined314's review against another edition
5.0
The wry, witty writing makes this book so easy to read. Urban fantasy paired with strong, loving female friends made me grin. This novella went beyond any ghost story I've ever read, and I look forward to reading more by Kiste.
wrenxavier's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mariahaskins's review against another edition
5.0
Dark, twisted, strange, eerie, and moving, all at the same time, this is a beautifully written ghost story with a twist (or two, or three... or more). Because while most ghost stories are told from the perspective of the living being haunted by the dead, Kiste's novella is told from the point of view of a ghost: Rhee, who haunts a stretch of highway and delights (at least sometimes) in frightening those driving down that road. She lives in a strange world between the living world and the afterlife, a world she shares with her family of sisters - a fabulous collection of original ghost-characters.
There is darkness gnawing at the edges of Mary's world - regret, longing, loneliness - but also a physically present darkness that seems intent on threatening Rhee and her ghostly family's already precarious existence.
I love this story: it's gripping and kept me turning the pages eagerly, and the sadness and longing beneath the darkness and the horror really resonated with me. I've been a fan of Kiste's short fiction for a while, and this novella is just further proof of what a wonderful and talented author she is.
There is darkness gnawing at the edges of Mary's world - regret, longing, loneliness - but also a physically present darkness that seems intent on threatening Rhee and her ghostly family's already precarious existence.
I love this story: it's gripping and kept me turning the pages eagerly, and the sadness and longing beneath the darkness and the horror really resonated with me. I've been a fan of Kiste's short fiction for a while, and this novella is just further proof of what a wonderful and talented author she is.
beverleyleeauthor's review
4.0
A very unique little novella about five ghosts (all named Mary) trapped in the afterlife together. Loved the blend of light horror with fantasy and folklore/urban legend.
Although I didn't like this as much as The Rust Maidens (one of my top reads of 2019), it's clear this author has an incredible talent for delivering dark stories with a real difference.
Although I didn't like this as much as The Rust Maidens (one of my top reads of 2019), it's clear this author has an incredible talent for delivering dark stories with a real difference.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
This book is oddly, beautiful. I really can’t think of a better way to describe it. The odd can be attributed to Gwendolyn Kiste’s very unique idea of what if we put a group of famous, fictional Mary’s under one roof. That’s Resurrection Mary, Mistress Mary (quite contrary), Miss Mary Mack, Mari Lwyd, and a Bloody Mary for you keeping track at home. The Mary’s are also given personalities and quirks, and it’s not just to keep them straight as it might have been in the hands of another author. It’s warm to us up to them as people.
The star of the show, and the beautiful, is Kiste’s prose. The storytelling voice transcends the page and pulls us right in to the action. The reader lives right there with all the Pretty Mary’s. We want to be part of the solution to the problem, and we want to aid them in any way we can to battle the darkness. Pretty Mary’s all in a Row walks a line, and does so with grace and finesse, between fitting nicely into a horror niche, and leaning into something altogether more fantastical like we might expect to see from Neil Gaiman. Given the strong voice Kiste possess, I’d say it’s about time I got my hands on the Rust Maidens and And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe.
The star of the show, and the beautiful, is Kiste’s prose. The storytelling voice transcends the page and pulls us right in to the action. The reader lives right there with all the Pretty Mary’s. We want to be part of the solution to the problem, and we want to aid them in any way we can to battle the darkness. Pretty Mary’s all in a Row walks a line, and does so with grace and finesse, between fitting nicely into a horror niche, and leaning into something altogether more fantastical like we might expect to see from Neil Gaiman. Given the strong voice Kiste possess, I’d say it’s about time I got my hands on the Rust Maidens and And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe.
weirdtea's review
4.0
Beautiful writing with great atmosphere. The Marys were interesting characters and I loved the concept. It’s a short, satisfying read.