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A review by elwirax
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found the plot to be very meandering and while I usually enjoy quiet, character driven books, it was not enough for me to be truly invested.
I think it is was good in its discussions of grief and the idea of grieving someone who is not really gone but who has substantially changed. For this reason, the choice to remain vague about what really happened during the expedition was much more impactful than leaning fully into monster/ creature horror.
The prose was nicely balanced, it was both lyrical and simplistic. However, it was also quite 'clinical' at times which significantly distanced the reader despite elaborately recounting Miri and Leah's history. I also found the characters to be very passive and their voices very similar.
Overall, I think this book is for a niche audience of which I am not. That being said, I did not hate it.
I think it is was good in its discussions of grief and the idea of grieving someone who is not really gone but who has substantially changed. For this reason, the choice to remain vague about what really happened during the expedition was much more impactful than leaning fully into monster/ creature horror.
The prose was nicely balanced, it was both lyrical and simplistic. However, it was also quite 'clinical' at times which significantly distanced the reader despite elaborately recounting Miri and Leah's history. I also found the characters to be very passive and their voices very similar.
Overall, I think this book is for a niche audience of which I am not. That being said, I did not hate it.