A review by bookingwithjanelle
Direwood by Catherine Yu

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 I love that this is set in the 90s with all the great references to that time (80s baby here). It felt nostalgic but with a largely creepy undertone as the reader is described what is slowly happening to this town. I empathized with the main character and how she felt within both her family dynamic and within the residents of the town.

From there, it just got creepier & the some of the descriptions of the things she sees and hears made a chill run down my spine. At the same time though, I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it. It was both sad & hopeful with a little uneasiness thrown in that made it a great read.

Catherine Yu is definitely on my reading radar now!