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A review by n0shelfc0ntr0l
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
3.0
The premise of a serial killer always draws me in—especially one as cunning and intelligent as Jeremy. I’ve always been fascinated by the intricacies of how their minds work, and Jeremy fits the mold of a smart killer with a God complex. However, the author’s messy and unpolished writing style detracted from the experience.
As a native of New Orleans, I was excited to see the city as the setting. Unfortunately, the lack of research on the city stood out. For instance, Jeremy’s house is in a swampy area with a basement—something that would never exist due to flooding risks. The majority of houses does not have basement in Louisiana. The inaccuracies continue with the geography of Tulane Medical School. The medical school and the university are in different locations, yet the way the students’ housing is described doesn’t reflect reality. These details pulled me out of the story.
When it comes to the characters, Jeremy had potential as a compelling antagonist, but his "house of cards" comment felt out of character for someone so arrogant. Wren, the supposed strong protagonist, was hard to relate to because she lacked a developed backstory. The author’s attempt to portray her as a strong heroine fell flat without the foundation to support it.
This novel had an intriguing concept, but it needed more research, stronger character development, and a richer backstory to feel complete. It had potential but left me wanting so much more.
As a native of New Orleans, I was excited to see the city as the setting. Unfortunately, the lack of research on the city stood out. For instance, Jeremy’s house is in a swampy area with a basement—something that would never exist due to flooding risks. The majority of houses does not have basement in Louisiana. The inaccuracies continue with the geography of Tulane Medical School. The medical school and the university are in different locations, yet the way the students’ housing is described doesn’t reflect reality. These details pulled me out of the story.
When it comes to the characters, Jeremy had potential as a compelling antagonist, but his "house of cards" comment felt out of character for someone so arrogant. Wren, the supposed strong protagonist, was hard to relate to because she lacked a developed backstory. The author’s attempt to portray her as a strong heroine fell flat without the foundation to support it.
This novel had an intriguing concept, but it needed more research, stronger character development, and a richer backstory to feel complete. It had potential but left me wanting so much more.