A review by emmjay
Hide by Kiersten White

challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very interesting reading the author’s note at the end about this being partially inspired by
the Minotaur myth
. This book was a real punch in the gut with its message of older generations and the wealthy pushing sacrifice onto the young, the poor, the disenfranchised. Reading this after a recent horrible school shooting, and the books non-subtle references to such acts, was really devastating.

I also really enjoyed our ragtag group of characters and the sweet love story that blossoms, but I’m also a sucker for a band of misfits with buckets of trauma.

Ava (not other Ava) is the hot angry veteran badass we all deserve.

That being said, maybe because it was so short or I read it in one go or my previous experience with the author was a trilogy, this did feel a bit more like a creative essay on violence and capitalism than a novel. Like I was reading a very creative and well written reflection as opposed to a fully fleshed out story.

Kiersten White continues to do imagery, horror, and a tinge of sadness for the monsters and victims a like so well. But also holy crap
absolutely monstrous fathers and familial abuse
.

Also reading a genre novel in which a character with an MFA trashes genre writing for a genuine laugh from me, having met all too many of those people myself.


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