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A review by librarymouse
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The narration style of this book was atypical, and I found myself oscillating between fascinated and irritated as a reader. I found each characters' stories compelling in their humanity and the vulnerability displayed in the omniscient narration. I was, however, really disappointed with the way each characters' section and the novel, as a whole, were concluded. The origins of the illness and its biblical ties aren't well fleshed out at all, and I was frustrated by the rapid scene-flashing finish to Erin's story as a human, most of all. While fascinating in the author's ability to write cannibalism(ish) as a metaphor and/or act of love, I was really disgusted with the culmination of Erin and Betty's relationship as they both lost hold of their humanity. Like I'm actively not sure how to rate this book because of how viscerally gross I found it to have Betty have the top of her head surgically detached so her lover could lick her brain while she drank their blood. I have a headache (ironic) thinking about this.
As the novel progressed, the attention to detail faltered. Character motivations seemed to shift to being controlled by an external force, while the external force was never defined. Savannah going full insane was kind of fun, and made some sort of sense, though I thought her (and by proxy the author's) handling of Gregory's dealing with gender dysphoria was tactless.
I found Mareva's story intriguing, with her childlessness being a familial point of contention and the condition that caused her infertility being the reason the angels/gods/aliens wanted to keep her alive. But, unfortunately, the end of her story is unsatisfactory. There is no explanation for the catalyst behind the extinction of humankind, and there is no explanation behind the opposing force that allows Mareva to keep from becoming the amorphous blob-like mother of a new world order. I thought it was interesting character development for Mareva to pick up the creature Gregory at the end of the novel, but it was, once again, and abrupt and unsatisfying end to the character.
There was some social commentary, beyond that of Gregory's character, but again, it felt like it missed the mark. Everyone was hurt, and everyone died, and those with marginalized identities and/or in need of the most help died gruesome deaths on the page. This is advertised as feminist fiction, but I don't know that the commentary on forced contraceptives, forced births, and religious bigotry/gender roles actually amounted to anything when subterfuge free will explored by the novel's female characters lead to the extinction of the human race and the total destruction of their bodies in multiple stages. It just felt like too much was forced into too little space. The escalation of the plot destroyed the character development. The latter sections of the book read as if the author is trying to emulate Lovecraft's cosmic horror, but in doing so, she neglects to remove the problematic aspects of his fear of the unknown, leaving the story weaker in the process.
As the novel progressed, the attention to detail faltered. Character motivations seemed to shift to being controlled by an external force, while the external force was never defined. Savannah going full insane was kind of fun, and made some sort of sense, though I thought her (and by proxy the author's) handling of Gregory's dealing with gender dysphoria was tactless.
I found Mareva's story intriguing, with her childlessness being a familial point of contention and the condition that caused her infertility being the reason the angels/gods/aliens wanted to keep her alive. But, unfortunately, the end of her story is unsatisfactory. There is no explanation for the catalyst behind the extinction of humankind, and there is no explanation behind the opposing force that allows Mareva to keep from becoming the amorphous blob-like mother of a new world order. I thought it was interesting character development for Mareva to pick up the creature Gregory at the end of the novel, but it was, once again, and abrupt and unsatisfying end to the character.
There was some social commentary, beyond that of Gregory's character, but again, it felt like it missed the mark. Everyone was hurt, and everyone died, and those with marginalized identities and/or in need of the most help died gruesome deaths on the page. This is advertised as feminist fiction, but I don't know that the commentary on forced contraceptives, forced births, and religious bigotry/gender roles actually amounted to anything when subterfuge free will explored by the novel's female characters lead to the extinction of the human race and the total destruction of their bodies in multiple stages. It just felt like too much was forced into too little space. The escalation of the plot destroyed the character development. The latter sections of the book read as if the author is trying to emulate Lovecraft's cosmic horror, but in doing so, she neglects to remove the problematic aspects of his fear of the unknown, leaving the story weaker in the process.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
Holy fuck, don't read this if you can't handle even a little bit of body horror. I shouldn't have read this.