A review by kathrynk
The Devil's Grip by Lina Wolff

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Well, this kind of went off the rails. This book focuses on Minnie, who's in an abusive relationship with Mickey, who, as we're reminded of throughout the book, is an "ugly fatty." She becomes convinced that there are two demons inside of them and that's why it's so unhealthy (not because Mickey is a horrible person who beats her). It's a fascinating look at the inner thoughts of someone who knows she's in an unhealthy relationship, but is convinced she's not actually. The amount of gas-lighting was unreal. The writing was pretty straight forward and engaging with short chapters. The characters at times all felt like caricatures and the situations unbelievable which made this darkly funny, frustrating, and horrifying at the same time. Then it gets wild at like 60% of the way through. It took me three weeks to read this (mostly bc I had other things going on and didn't have a lot of time to pick it up), but I finished the last 150 or so pages in one sitting. Again, it was so darkly entertaining and horrifying that I wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel.

I think it's worth a read if you're into "wtf did I read" psychological literary horror??? But only 3.5 stars bc I wish it gripped me (haha) more in the beginning. You know from the blurb that Minnie eventually leaves, but it just felt like it too a while to get there.

Thank you to my local bookstore for the ARC!