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A review by shutkicrew
(a girl called) Karma by S.M. Thomas

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was very different than I expected—in a good way.

The story follows Karma Anne Jones, who was born and raised in a cult. She escapes at the age of 11 and helps rescue 49 other children. Now, as an adult, she's being interviewed by Zoe, the host of a true crime podcast, to share her story.

The book is told from multiple points of view, mainly Karma’s and Zoe’s. Despite the shifts, it was surprisingly easy to follow. My only gripe was that some chapters were in first person while others were in third, which threw me off a bit at first—but I adjusted quickly.

One of my favorite aspects was the vigilante network and their targets—really intriguing and unique. Some twists I saw coming, but others genuinely surprised me.

That said, I wish the story went deeper into the cult background. Some plot points felt unresolved—particularly the situation with Harry, which left me wanting more.

I also wasn’t a fan of the romance element; it felt unnecessary and would’ve worked better as a platonic relationship.

On a more critical note, the repeated use of the phrase “Indian skin tone” stood out. As someone of South Asian heritage, I found it a bit offensive—it’s overly general and doesn’t reflect the wide range of skin tones among Indian people. A more thoughtful description could’ve been used. 

At the start, I was confused about the setting—British English was used, but then terms like “kindergarten” popped up, which felt out of place. It became clear later that the story is set in England, but that initial confusion could have been smoothed out.

Overall, this was a well-paced read with a compelling storyline. Zoe was a bit infuriating at times, but I loved Karma and her character development. I would’ve liked more about the Medusa network, but I’m still glad I read it.

3 stars feels too low, but 4 feels a bit generous—if I could, I’d give it a 3.5 or 3.75 but I'm not a fan of .5 or .75 ratings.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

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