A review by emschields
Appetite for Innocence by Lucinda Berry

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Besides reading her novella One of Our Own, this was my first full length novel by Lucinda and it most certainly won’t be my last! According to the internet, Dr. Berry herself considers this her darkest book she has ever written. 

I read this via audio, and the switch between the POVs of two different girls along with the dual timeline and short chapters kept me intrigued and wanting to see what was going to be revealed next. The concept and plot line makes me absolutely sick to my stomach and my heart just shattered for what these girls went through at the hands of a monster. This story handles trauma and mental health in a very realistic and relatable way.

I enjoyed Ella’s narration and the raw emotion in her voice, but Sarah’s narration really pulled me out of the story (she sounded a lot like a younger version of Siri reading straight from the page). The ending was anti-climatic and I was hoping for more of a heart-racing thrill ride. 

All in all, enjoyable read! Onto the next book!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings