A review by elaichipod
Rouge by Mona Awad

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This story was such an interesting take on mother-daughter relationships. It was unnerving at times but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"What sort of journey?" I ask.
She looks at me like what a question. "The only journey that matters in the end, Daughter of Noelle."
"Retinol?" I whisper.
"The soul. A journey of the soul, of course."

There was never anything to fear. Which is a little disappointing, frankly. Maybe I wanted to be obliterated. 

The day of the week, who needs to know it? Which breakfast ti- sane I favored, a chance to try a new one, n'est-ce pas?
You'll find life is full of lovely little surprises this way, said the Lord.

Memory lives everywhere in the body. Down the back. In the neck and in the hands. Even the feet.

She's gone from me. Nothing but air on my skin. When I open my eyes, she's water. White foaming waves lapping against the shore, against my breathing body. The sun on my face. And my heart beating all by itself.

My face begins to appear in the window glass. No Glow. No Moonbright. Just my old self. My familiar skin with its shade and texture and age. Only my forehead scar seems to have gone for good. Not even a shadow of a shadow remains. My eyes seem open in a new way. Like a fist, long closed, finally opens. Or like a flower opens for the sun. I smile at what I see.

We're still deep in the dark, shining water, but I'm dancing us slowly, surely, to shore.