A review by jyan
When Darkness Loves Us (Paperbacks from Hell) by Elizabeth Engstrom

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

These are two VERY dark stories, each examining the effects of trauma on the psyche, both told in wildly different ways. I adored quite  bit of the first story, "When Darkness Loves Us", a back-pricking, heartbreaker of a tale of a woman forced to change her life in horrific ways after a horrifying accident, though it devolves into a subject that always turns my stomach (and not in a good way). The second "Beauty Is...", leaves me a little puzzled, as the metaphor at its center can feel a little exploitative (and its depiction of mental illness is questionable). Still, both have bomb blast endings and I'm looking forward to exploring more by this author. 
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