A review by sarahholliday
Cackle by Rachel Harrison

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I absolutely loved The Return (Harrison's first novel), but Cackle just didn't hit the right note for me. It felt like the story stayed very surface-level, possibly because we never go to really dig into the minds and lives of the other inhabitants of Rowan due to the close first-person narration. 

While I liked that both Sophie and Annie defy categorization as "good" or "evil," and really appreciate the obvious feminist argument being made re: independent, confident women, I also felt like that approach was only possible because Harrison refused to interrogate the moral complexities of the women's choices.

That being said, this was still a delightfully creepy-without-being-scary read focused on female friendship and the importance of finding one's sense of self. Fun, spooky, and perfect for Fall reading!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings