A review by acouplereadss
Sundial by Catriona Ward

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Rob is a good mother. She’s caring and kind. She loves both her children. She cares for them and her husband. When her eldest Callie starts exhibiting some strange behaviours, collecting animal bones and speaking to imaginary people, Rob decides to take Callie to her childhood home. In the Mojave desert Rob will have to make a terrible choice. Callie has noticed her mother has been looking at her strangely and acting even more odd than she usually does. Callie fears only one of them will make it out of Sundial alive…

After reading Needless Street, which I enjoyed apart from some frustration solely my own due to psychological thriller/horror specifics, I really wanted to give Ward another try. I was mesmerized by this cover and intrigued by the plot line. Mother-daughter relationships are always one of my fave themes to read about and I knew I needed to explore it in horror format. While this book was incredibly multilayered and complicated, it didn’t work for me. Ward is an incredible writer with spectacular atmospheric creation. Not only was the atmosphere on point but bringing together two different time lines and a story within a story together is no easy feat. Only a masterful writer can pull that off! Ward is incredible, there’s no denying it.

What didn’t work for me was the pace, this is a slow build and it takes time to pull you in. Perhaps I wasn’t in the slow pace mood? I did feel the same frustration I felt with Needless Street so I’m wondering if the psychological twist is really what’s backing me up. Totally a me problem though clearly.

I don’t typically outline trigger warnings for horror books because well, it’s horror, the whole genre is a trigger warning. I will say there is heavy animal abuse in this book that was hard for me. Typically I am unfazed, the only other book to throw me into tears over animal abuse was Tender In The Flesh, but I had to really brace myself with this one. 

If you’re looking for horror truly deceptive, layered and atmospheric Sundial is for you! Thank you @tornightfire for sending an advanced copy my way, 3✨.