A review by mildhonestbonsai
The Changeling by Victor LaValle

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

3.75

I had no idea what I was getting myself into as I started reading this. This was a Discord Book Club pick and I do have one of his novellas on my to-read pile. Reading the synopsis of the book, I may or may not have gotten this book on my own.

I always enjoy when I end up reading a book that isn't in my sights due to book club. I really like Victor's storytelling and how he weaved fairy tale and myth tropes to apply to "real world" circumstances. There really is an otherworldly, fantastical element that is placed onto the setting. I will say that the fairy tale he relies on is definitely the Gothic horror that fairy tales originally intended to be.

I do feel however that the resolution came quick as if he started to realize that the landing strip was getting shorter and shorter. Some things were a little too on the nose but I feel like that was leaning heavily on the campiness that a fairy tale can bring.

Quick read, I enjoyed it.
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