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catacosmick 's review for:
My Darling Dreadful Thing
by Johanna van Veen
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Johanna ven Veen’s debut is a sapphic Gothic horror set in the postwar Netherlands. 21-year-old Roos Beckman performs fake séances with her abusive adopted mother. While all the other spirits she conjures up are fake, she has one true companion and ghost following her since she was a young child - Ruth, a long dead young woman buried in a bog many centuries ago. Her life is changed forever when Agnes Knoop, a half Indonesian, half-British young widow visits Roos and her mother to summon her deceased husband.
A relatively good debut that occasionally gets boring and with Mama and Willemijn feeling a bit flat. The notes kept by Dr. Montague were the definite highlight of the book, along with Roos’ and Agnes’ relationship. Van Veen also creates great atmospheric tension :)
A relatively good debut that occasionally gets boring and with Mama and Willemijn feeling a bit flat. The notes kept by Dr. Montague were the definite highlight of the book, along with Roos’ and Agnes’ relationship. Van Veen also creates great atmospheric tension :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Self harm, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Vomit