speedreadstagram 's review for:

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

4.0

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Helena has a seemingly normal life. But she did not have a normal upbringing. Her father kidnapped her mother, and she was raised by him in the remote marshland until her father is ultimately caught and goes to jail. Despite everything, Helena loved her dad, she didn’t know what he had done growing up. She spent plenty of time in nature and learning how to live off the land. Now some twenty years later, her father escapes from prison and kills two guards in the process. As the police begin their manhunt, Helena knows they don’t stand a chance. She engages in a cat and mouse game with him, all in hopes he will leave her family alone.

My friend Ashleigh, @sorryimcanadian.reads, recommended this book to me so I was super excited to start. When I fly, I like to listen to audiobooks because my mind wanders too much to focus on printed words, so I was happy this one was available for a trip I made to Dallas. I put in my headphones and started. Immediately I wondered if this book was going to be like Where the Crawdad’s Sing, but Ashleigh assured me it was not. I quickly learned that it was an entirely different premise and I found myself enjoying it. I loved the story, despite how she came to be. I loved how the book explored the relationship between the father and daughter. It was deliciously flawed but in such a beautifully heartbreaking way.

This story was not what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved it. Thanks so much Ashleigh for recommending this one.