Review by maddie_can_read - Private Rites

maddie_can_read 's review for:

Private Rites by Julia Armfield

3.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

BEWARE and proceed with caution reading some of the reviews below - I'm glad I read them after I already finished the book because they're literally filled with spoilers. The one right under me and the the fourth and the thirteenth one under my review (click show written reviews only) refer to the ending and one spoils it if you've seen the movie they compare it to!

I think the tagged genres really threw off my expectations for this book (I don't read blurbs, I like going in blind aside from genre). That and it being nominated for an Arthur C. Clarke science fiction award (I came across this book because I wanted to read all the shortlisted books for the prize this year). I prefer more science in my science fiction and it's pretty light on the science fiction. It's more like a drama with a speculative fiction backdrop and the horror aspect is extremely mild

until all of a sudden it isn't. I prefer books that are the opposite - more science fiction and more horror. The DRAMA of it all (the sisters being really mean to each other and SO ANNOYING!!!!) was too much for me. Also, I don't think a therapist could be that out to lunch regarding her own interpersonal relationship with her sister, but she does reference that she is being a bad therapist, so maybe she's just unhinged. I think it would've been stronger with more built-up to the end and with more of an explanation describing what the people were trying to do at the end. Like it was spooky, but it was also very unclear. I also would've enjoyed seeing what the sisters' relationship was like after the event.

Content Warnings