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A review by sfp85
Where You End by Abbott Kahler
3.0
I enjoy exploring books about cults and characters with amnesia. Where You End has both, so when I read the premise I was immediately hooked. It reminded me of a documentary on Netflix called, Tell Me Who I Am, so I couldn't wait to get stuck in. This book fits in nicely within the genre, reminicient of This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel and Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel. The story focused on realistic characters with tragic pasts but surprisingly, was not as dark and twisted as I'd anticipated. I liked both protagonist's, Kat and Jude, equally and understood both of their motivations. Kat relied on Jude to fill in her past, and Jude (remembering the abuse they'd endured) saw an opportunity to right the wrongs and give Kat a fresh start in her new life.
The story gripped me initially however, after the first act the pace slowed until the final scene ramped up the action again. The flashback scenes are still vivid, including the one involving King Bash losing his eye. The animal masks/costumes felt surreal and at times weren't easy for me to grasp, including the mind control exercises the children were trained to perform. The themes of sisterhood, memory, and trauma are very clear throughout, expressed through the mirror twin concept, the girls' secret language, and their shared trauma. The end made sense once all the characters' true identities were revealed, and the twins completed their "mission" which had started right before Kat's accident. I would have liked to know more about their father's past and what transpired between both parents. The prose was smooth, and the author's voice was very compelling to read. I'll definitely check out more of her work.
For readers who enjoy slow burning suspense, cult themes, and character driven stories.
The story gripped me initially however, after the first act the pace slowed until the final scene ramped up the action again. The flashback scenes are still vivid, including the one involving King Bash losing his eye. The animal masks/costumes felt surreal and at times weren't easy for me to grasp, including the mind control exercises the children were trained to perform. The themes of sisterhood, memory, and trauma are very clear throughout, expressed through the mirror twin concept, the girls' secret language, and their shared trauma. The end made sense once all the characters' true identities were revealed, and the twins completed their "mission" which had started right before Kat's accident. I would have liked to know more about their father's past and what transpired between both parents. The prose was smooth, and the author's voice was very compelling to read. I'll definitely check out more of her work.
For readers who enjoy slow burning suspense, cult themes, and character driven stories.