Take a photo of a barcode or cover
DID NOT FINISH
Marrow has been described as a blend of There Are No Saints and the Mindf*ck series, with elements of Blackbird & Butcher. As a fan of dark, twisted, and morally grey characters, I had high hopes for this book, especially after loving the Mindf*ck series and Ninth House.
The premise of two rival serial killers competing in their “hunting territory” was promising. The snappy dialogues, academic setting, and initial plot setup grabbed my attention. The two doctors involved in the body farm program were fascinating, and I was particularly interested in Jack's obsession with the hyoid bone and his anatomical drawings. However, the momentum quickly waned.
Wolfe's and Weaver's research is evident, but the collaboration between the authors lacked cohesion, and the writing lacked the depth needed to immerse me in the story. The darkness felt superficial, relying on graphic killings without the intentionality seen in "Ninth House" or the Mindf*ck series. The poetic writing might appeal to some, but it didn’t resonate with me.
Jack, initially intriguing, became increasingly underdeveloped. His transformation from a lifelong sociopath to someone willing to abandon his principles for a girl he initially wanted to murder felt unrealistic. His feelings seemed too humane for a sociopath, similar to the mistakes seen in Ana Huang’s Alex Volkov and Sophie Lark’s characters. Additionally, his backstory was cliché. The use of Danish felt cringeworthy and tokenistic. It seemed like a quirky addition without meaningful integration, detracting from his character.
Kyrie felt like a carbon copy of Lana from the Mindf*ck series, with a similar MO and backstory. The trope of female serial killers with trauma and PTSD is overdone. Sometimes, I just want to see an unhinged character without a traumatic past.
The romance felt underdeveloped and poorly paced, with characters obsessing over and lusting after each other rather than building a believable connection. Certain elements, like having sex in someone’s blood, felt questionable and distracting. Concerns about diseases and discomfort, along with Jack’s "hardware," detracted from the scene’s impact.
I would have preferred a more suspenseful dark academia focus. My initial excitement dwindled to skimming pages before giving up on the book. It’s morbid but lacks the necessary gloomy and dark atmosphere, often coming off as unintentionally funny. Connecting with the characters was difficult due to their lack of depth and the plot’s predictability. The smut scenes seemed to be the book’s focal point, holding my interest more than the actual story.
The premise of two rival serial killers competing in their “hunting territory” was promising. The snappy dialogues, academic setting, and initial plot setup grabbed my attention. The two doctors involved in the body farm program were fascinating, and I was particularly interested in Jack's obsession with the hyoid bone and his anatomical drawings. However, the momentum quickly waned.
Wolfe's and Weaver's research is evident, but the collaboration between the authors lacked cohesion, and the writing lacked the depth needed to immerse me in the story. The darkness felt superficial, relying on graphic killings without the intentionality seen in "Ninth House" or the Mindf*ck series. The poetic writing might appeal to some, but it didn’t resonate with me.
Jack, initially intriguing, became increasingly underdeveloped. His transformation from a lifelong sociopath to someone willing to abandon his principles for a girl he initially wanted to murder felt unrealistic. His feelings seemed too humane for a sociopath, similar to the mistakes seen in Ana Huang’s Alex Volkov and Sophie Lark’s characters. Additionally, his backstory was cliché. The use of Danish felt cringeworthy and tokenistic. It seemed like a quirky addition without meaningful integration, detracting from his character.
Kyrie felt like a carbon copy of Lana from the Mindf*ck series, with a similar MO and backstory. The trope of female serial killers with trauma and PTSD is overdone. Sometimes, I just want to see an unhinged character without a traumatic past.
The romance felt underdeveloped and poorly paced, with characters obsessing over and lusting after each other rather than building a believable connection. Certain elements, like having sex in someone’s blood, felt questionable and distracting. Concerns about diseases and discomfort, along with Jack’s "hardware," detracted from the scene’s impact.
I would have preferred a more suspenseful dark academia focus. My initial excitement dwindled to skimming pages before giving up on the book. It’s morbid but lacks the necessary gloomy and dark atmosphere, often coming off as unintentionally funny. Connecting with the characters was difficult due to their lack of depth and the plot’s predictability. The smut scenes seemed to be the book’s focal point, holding my interest more than the actual story.