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A review by thisislauraw
It's Not a Cult by Joey Batey
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was so excited to see that Joey Batey had written a book, and even more excited to receive a review copy, so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before release.
I loved the mythology of the Solkats, who are minor gods of small things (a couple of my favourites: Spelk, 'Solkat of cramps and forgotten bruises' and Scran, 'Solkat of bar tabs, reckonings and squander').
No spoilers here - I went into this knowing just the brief synopsis, and I think that's an excellent way to experience the book.
The characters were well crafted and fleshed out. I didn't find Mel particularly likeable at first, although she did grow on me as the story progressed, despite her melodrama and affectations. Callum was intriguing, and I loved the descriptions of his appearance. Al, our narrator, is an anxious soul who lives life through a camera lens, filming the band's every move. Al's Gran was also an interesting character.
This book is beautifully written and the prose is engaging. It’s atmospheric, exciting and often funny. The ending was perfect.
I'll definitely be re-reading this in future because I already want to revisit Al's world and I think I'll get even more out of it a second time around.
I loved the mythology of the Solkats, who are minor gods of small things (a couple of my favourites: Spelk, 'Solkat of cramps and forgotten bruises' and Scran, 'Solkat of bar tabs, reckonings and squander').
No spoilers here - I went into this knowing just the brief synopsis, and I think that's an excellent way to experience the book.
The characters were well crafted and fleshed out. I didn't find Mel particularly likeable at first, although she did grow on me as the story progressed, despite her melodrama and affectations. Callum was intriguing, and I loved the descriptions of his appearance. Al, our narrator, is an anxious soul who lives life through a camera lens, filming the band's every move. Al's Gran was also an interesting character.
This book is beautifully written and the prose is engaging. It’s atmospheric, exciting and often funny. The ending was perfect.
I'll definitely be re-reading this in future because I already want to revisit Al's world and I think I'll get even more out of it a second time around.