A review by kathleenww
The Vanishing by Sophia Tobin

2.0

I have no idea where I came across a blurb for this book, or heard about it, but I was intrigued enough to read it as soon as I got a copy. While the first half of the novel is clearly an homage to the Brontës, things went slightly awry in my view about half was thought the book. I felt consistently confused about the main character's motivations and personality; Annaleigh is an adopted child, innocent but intelligent, but her first person narration often leads you to think she was a London urchin, street-wise and savvy. There are lots of fake foreshadowings and dead ends in the plot. It isn't terrible writing, it is actually quite good, although a lot of the dialogue is markedly anachronistic. The second half of the book is unexpectedly violent. I couldn't help but be reminded of Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye, a wacked-out take on Jane Eyre where she becomes a murderess. I felt like I forced myself to read this book after the half way point. It has gotten plenty of resounding endorsements here, But I am not a fan.