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A review by kmartbooks
Bacchanal by Veronica G. Henry
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
In this atmospheric novel set against the backdrop of the Depression-era South, a traveling carnival becomes the stage for a dark and fascinating story.
Eliza Meeks, a young woman with a unique gift for communicating with animals, finds solace and opportunity in the Bacchanal Carnival after having been abandoned by her family. She is trying to find and reunite with her baby sister and traveling with the carnival is a good opportunity to do so. As she becomes a part of this peculiar carnival, she discovers that many there have dark secrets.
Henry skillfully crafts the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of a carnival, with its fortune-tellers, barkers, and otherworldly performers. The Great Depression serves as a fitting backdrop, intensifying the desperation and struggles of the characters. Listen, this is dark. Lots of death, including children.
The pacing, seemingly deliberately slow, allows for a gradual immersion into the intricate relationships and backstories of the characters. The incorporation of African mythology adds depth to the story, creating a rich tapestry of folklore and supernatural elements.
While the romance really didn't do it for me, the overarching themes of identity, destiny, and the battle against primordial evil still offered a compelling narrative. I will say that I did not love the ending, but I can forgive it because I was really enraptured by the rest.
"Bacchanal" is a captivating read for those who appreciate atmospheric horror, historical settings, and stories woven with mystical threads.
Eliza Meeks, a young woman with a unique gift for communicating with animals, finds solace and opportunity in the Bacchanal Carnival after having been abandoned by her family. She is trying to find and reunite with her baby sister and traveling with the carnival is a good opportunity to do so. As she becomes a part of this peculiar carnival, she discovers that many there have dark secrets.
Henry skillfully crafts the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of a carnival, with its fortune-tellers, barkers, and otherworldly performers. The Great Depression serves as a fitting backdrop, intensifying the desperation and struggles of the characters. Listen, this is dark. Lots of death, including children.
The pacing, seemingly deliberately slow, allows for a gradual immersion into the intricate relationships and backstories of the characters. The incorporation of African mythology adds depth to the story, creating a rich tapestry of folklore and supernatural elements.
While the romance really didn't do it for me, the overarching themes of identity, destiny, and the battle against primordial evil still offered a compelling narrative. I will say that I did not love the ending, but I can forgive it because I was really enraptured by the rest.
"Bacchanal" is a captivating read for those who appreciate atmospheric horror, historical settings, and stories woven with mystical threads.