ishouldreadthat 's review for:

Orpheus Builds A Girl by Heather Parry

4.5

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Heather Parry’s debut novel has been on my radar for ages for a number of reasons and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. Based on a very true story, Orpheus Builds a Girl is a gripping, dark, and deeply disturbing tale of obsession, possession, and one woman’s agency.

This story is told in a dual narrative – Gabriela opens the story by telling you you she is going to right the wrongs of her sister’s story and the lies told by Wilhelm. What unfolds is horrifying. Dual narratives are interesting to me because often one perspective is more engaging than the other. While the book begins with Wilhelm being the much more interesting POV, Gabriela’s chapters quickly catch up, especially when their lives collide and entwine. 

The choice to use a dual narrative is rather genius on Parry’s part. The center of this book is Luciana’s lack of agency and autonomy – she’s constantly pushing for freedom throughout her entire life. Notably, her voice is lacking in this narrative, driving home the point that she loses everything.

Parry’s writing is beautiful and compelling – she keeps you reading despite the dark and disturbing content. Orpheus Builds a Girls will make you deeply uncomfortable. It will make you upset and not feel good. It wont be for everyone, but if you like your literary fiction on the darker side I’d highly recommend picking it up.