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A review by laurel00
Where Black Stars Rise by Nadia Shammas, Marie Enger
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I am so eternally, deeply OBSESSED with the character design in this oh my god. How do I, as a living breathing human being who exists on the three-dimensional physical plane, embody the exact look of either of these main characters? I am so serious, I need an answer asap.
I don't even think I read the synopsis of this book before diving in and I absolutely loved it, Shammas and Enger did a phenomenal job! I connected so strongly to both of our main characters right from the get-go, so I felt immediately completely involved in their storylines, and it was such an emotional experience to follow them through their journeys. I cried so much in those last 20 pages or so, I didn't want to have to face the fact that the book was coming to an end and it was such a beautifully nuanced way to conclude each of their stories. As much as it broke me, I adored it so wholeheartedly.
I loved the conversations surrounding family and culture and how they affect the ways you view and discuss your mental health. I really appreciated the way that schizophrenia was discussed, especially considering the history that the horror genre has of misappropriating or misusing mental health issues to advance or build a plot. Finding out afterwards that Enger has schizophrenia made a lot of sense to me, because of how raw and vulnerable and honest the book felt as a whole.
Shammas and Enger built a truly memorable story, with one of my favourite quotes of all time:
I don't even think I read the synopsis of this book before diving in and I absolutely loved it, Shammas and Enger did a phenomenal job! I connected so strongly to both of our main characters right from the get-go, so I felt immediately completely involved in their storylines, and it was such an emotional experience to follow them through their journeys. I cried so much in those last 20 pages or so, I didn't want to have to face the fact that the book was coming to an end and it was such a beautifully nuanced way to conclude each of their stories. As much as it broke me, I adored it so wholeheartedly.
I loved the conversations surrounding family and culture and how they affect the ways you view and discuss your mental health. I really appreciated the way that schizophrenia was discussed, especially considering the history that the horror genre has of misappropriating or misusing mental health issues to advance or build a plot. Finding out afterwards that Enger has schizophrenia made a lot of sense to me, because of how raw and vulnerable and honest the book felt as a whole.
Shammas and Enger built a truly memorable story, with one of my favourite quotes of all time:
Most of all? I love that in horror, our storytellers are always right. They're never believed, they're cast aside and undermined and left to face the cosmic cruelty alone. But they weren't wrong. And the readers, the audience? We bear witness to them. We listen, and by merit of their narrative or performance, we believe them in that short burst of time. I want to write that feeling into being. I want to be believed.
I read this passage a dozen times before moving onto the next page, and I know I will be coming back to it dozens of times more in the future. As a huge fan of horror, this a truly beautiful sentiment.
I cannot recommend this enough, I am so excited to check out both of these creators' other work. If you're a fan of horror or comic books or you struggle with mental health or you know people close to you who struggle with mental health or you're an artist or a fan of art... this book is for you.