A review by amybibliophile
Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Kin is deeply disturbing, raw and unsettling story set in Alabama, naturally I adored this book, I just couldn't put it down. Being 280 pages I was convinced I'd fly through it but I found I read it pretty slow as there was so much happening on every page I needed to take everything in and take my time.
From the get-go the book throws you straight into the brutal action of a girl that's had horrific acts carried out on her and guides you through her escape to freedom, only her freedom means the demise of many others.
The synopsis made me think I was going to be following numerous characters separate journeys and why yes this is the case to some extent, I didn't expect them to all be so intertwined and linked from the start. I enjoyed reading their personal journeys and perspectives, it gave the book some flesh and feeling rather than just a stabby-stabby tale from start to finish, I was more than surprised to find I developed feeling towards some of the characters, specifically farmers boy Peter Lowell.
This book is not for those squeamish to gore and brutal detail, and it portrays human-nature unapologetically. However if you like that sort of thing this will leave a mark on you way after you finish the last page. I have a feeling this will be one of my top reads of the year already.

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