A review by shilo1364
Hush by Dylan Farrow

2.0

This book.... this book. I was into it at first, but it lost me as I went along and I almost dnfed. Then it picked up a bit at the end so I finished it. But honestly I don't even know what happened for most of the story. There is so much withheld information, and hazy worldbuilding, and mysterious characters who suddenly do 180s in how they react to Shae, not to mention the whole 'am I going mad or is this some sinister illusion?' thing that was the latter 50% of the book.

The characters were flat, with the only depth provided by rapid 180s in how they reacted to and interacted with Shae and their many many layers of being 'mysterious'. The plot made literally no sense, and any sense I managed to grasp was thrown out by that ending. WTF even happened?

We have Ravenod seemingly kinder / less aloof than other bards to her. Then Ravenod cold and dismissive. Then Ravenod freaked about her crush and disappearing. Then Ravenod helping her. Then becoming aloof again. Then rapelling down a cliff??? to write 'danger' on her window. Then seeming to understand. Then swooping in and spoiling her plans at the end and disappearing.

There was so much back and forth in the story that it felt less like a madness vs illusion plot and more like a 'we have no idea wtf is going on either' plot. I won't be reading the sequel.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an e-arc for review