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A review by mallorypen
The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
That was a delightful romp of a ghost story and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
The pacing was great - the author didn't sacrifice character development for plot momentum, or vice versa. I had a good idea of everyone's personality and motivation, all while the mystery unfolded. I did figure out who the true villain was about halfway through the book, but in a way that still made the telling of the story wholly fun and believable.
Though I didn't love the "had to turn tricks to keep myself afloat" storyline - in this context, it felt a little cheap in the added-for-the-trope kind of way, and Blue's halfhearted trauma response was underwhelming for someone who had to go to extreme measures to survive. That said, it was a factor of the relationship as it developed between Blue and Levi, and I liked the confrontation wherein Blue was firm that he was able to make his own decisions, no matter the circumstances.
The ghost story was fun - perhaps a tad melodramatic in the descriptions of the haunting and the grand reveal, but still enjoyable. It didn't give me the same creeping sense of horror from other gothic novels, but it was a fun narrative arc that moved the story along at a nice clip with lots of room for storytelling.
The pacing was great - the author didn't sacrifice character development for plot momentum, or vice versa. I had a good idea of everyone's personality and motivation, all while the mystery unfolded. I did figure out who the true villain was about halfway through the book, but in a way that still made the telling of the story wholly fun and believable.
Though I didn't love the "had to turn tricks to keep myself afloat" storyline - in this context, it felt a little cheap in the added-for-the-trope kind of way, and Blue's halfhearted trauma response was underwhelming for someone who had to go to extreme measures to survive. That said, it was a factor of the relationship as it developed between Blue and Levi, and I liked the confrontation wherein Blue was firm that he was able to make his own decisions, no matter the circumstances.
The ghost story was fun - perhaps a tad melodramatic in the descriptions of the haunting and the grand reveal, but still enjoyable. It didn't give me the same creeping sense of horror from other gothic novels, but it was a fun narrative arc that moved the story along at a nice clip with lots of room for storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence