bookishreadsandme 's review for:

Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg

5.0

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it was phenomenal! If you enjoy books based around cults and female rage then this is for you. 

You follow the point of view of Iris as she looks back into her past of what happened during her time in a women’s only cult.The premise of women living in a commune in the countryside to escape from the outside world was fascinating. The relationships that are built and the work these women carry out in the dirt, living in isolation drew me in. 

It is one of the best books I have ever read for a powerful atmosphere. It is tense, unsettling and claustrophobic with a murky feel to it. To Iris, the cult initially appears as a place of safety but then progressively turns into a house full of manipulation, betrayal, insanity and violence.

The psychological side to it was remarkable and made this a masterpiece of a novel for me. It shows you just how easy it is when you are feeling lost to be sucked in and easily brainwashed or influenced. 

Spoilt Creatures is a fever dream of a story all about obsession, trust, desire, loss and anger. It is gritty, moody yet written in a way that is melodic and intoxicating. It is definitely up there as one of my books of the year so far.