A review by litty_lydi
Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

“Don’t remember limping home through the trees, believing them empty.
They were always full of ghosts.
You were already becoming one.”

Bettina Scott has spent the past few years living a relatively simple, some may say "mundane" life. After her father and brother left suddenly one night she has been attached to her mothers side, trying to be the perfect daughter and perfect lady, as her mother has taught her. One day, Bettina receives a letter, and a sign that makes her realize that her brothers and father may be out there, and they may need help. Bringing along two old friends, Gary and Trish, they seek out answers to what happened that night her family disappeared and find out that not everything, or everyone, is as it seems.

The story of Flyaway unravels through the first person perspective of Petunia, with inserted short stories about the legends and creatures that haunt their town. Jenning's prose are excellent and easily suck you into the haunting landscape that is the Inglewell bush. The legends/stories that are told set continue to build on that atmosphere with tales that would be told around the campfire, or by parents to keep their children out of the woods. 

This set-up is both a fault and a merit of the story. It certainly adds to the creepy atmosphere, but in the beginning can be very confusing. There are quite a few names that need to be remembered for the story to really make sense and properly unfold. I found myself getting lost pretty easily and having a hard time linking the stories to current day people/events. I listened to the audiobook for this one, and at the end felt like I had definitely missed something. I went back and re-listened to the stories and the last few chapters and was then able to fully grasp the story. This may have been different if I had actually read it instead of listening to it... 

The characters are ok; I wasn't particularly attached to any of them. This book is definitely more plot/atmosphere driven than character development. 

If you are in the mood for quick (4 hour audiobook, <200 pages book) read with a haunting atmosphere steeped in legends of the monsters that watch you from the forests at night, definitely check out Flyaway.
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