A review by libraryoflanelle
Withered by A.G.A. Wilmot

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

5.0

‘Withered’ follows 18-year-old Ellis and their mum as they move into a house in a small town. Throughout the book, Ellis gets to know those around them, including…the house itself..?

The representation in this book feels incredibly safe; I'm not sure any other word can quite explain what I mean. The non-binary representation felt authentic and not at all forced, and the same goes for the fat representation. The relationship between the main character and their therapist was spot on, illustrating an incredible example of true acceptance and solid rapport. Not to mention the safe and understanding parental relationship(s).

Despite being a horror book, I felt comfortable and safe while reading it, and I truly hope that others can have the same experience. Thank you to the author for creating this sense of safety in such an intentional way.

I will say at this stage that our main character is in the process of recovery from an eating disorder, which they do reflect upon often. Be gentle with yourself if this could be a trigger for you. As always, be sure to check all content warnings.

Another thing I loved about this book was the authentic dialogue, which genuinely felt like listening to a real conversation.

This book truly played the movie in my head. The suspense, the depth of the story, and the truly horrifying moments had my eyes glued to the page, all leading to a perfectly beautiful and appropriate ending.

If this book sounds like your vibe, I highly recommend giving it a go. I'd particularly recommend it to lovers of queer horror and anyone interested in a non-traditional haunted house story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own. 
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