A review by allymute
Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

I'm grateful to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC! Chrysalis, by Anna Metcalfe, follows three people - a former lover, a mother, and a friend - whose lives are influenced by an unnamed woman that transforms herself through spiritual and physical wellness. The three sections of the novel follow each person in their history with the woman. While this novel starts off strong and subtly addresses the entitlement of the male gaze, the novel loses some steam in the second part of this book. The novel finishes stronger in the third half, where it contemplates influence and women's friendships. Overall, this read a strong debut and is fascinating to see unfold.