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A review by bobinsbooknook
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A very dark book that left me with the feeling of “what the f*** did I just read” …
The writing style itself was very gritty and created a very dark and twisted atmosphere which left me feeling uncomfortable as a reader … but in a way that felt intentional and appropriate for the plot and it’s characters. I particularly like the writing choice of not forgiving the “Nightbitch” a true name and is just referred to as mother or Nightbitch as a reflection of her lack of identity outside being a mother.
That being said, this felt like it should have been a short story that was drawn out far too much. A lot of the book is reiterating the same dark thoughts of this wolffish-aggression tendencies brought on by the loss of self and struggles of motherhood…which whilst interesting to start just brought the book to standstills as nothing was really happening and just felt like random points of sudden development rather than a slow growing change in the mother.
The amount of animal death/attack - particularly the outright violent murder of their pet cat … in this book and the detail did make me feel quite uncomfortable - though I understand it being used a tool to show this frowning animal instinct, I feel like a lot of the time it was just used to create shock for the reader.
Overall whilst the writing style was intriguing, the premise of the book and its pacing just didn’t work for me. Not one I would read again.
The writing style itself was very gritty and created a very dark and twisted atmosphere which left me feeling uncomfortable as a reader … but in a way that felt intentional and appropriate for the plot and it’s characters. I particularly like the writing choice of not forgiving the “Nightbitch” a true name and is just referred to as mother or Nightbitch as a reflection of her lack of identity outside being a mother.
That being said, this felt like it should have been a short story that was drawn out far too much. A lot of the book is reiterating the same dark thoughts of this wolffish-aggression tendencies brought on by the loss of self and struggles of motherhood…which whilst interesting to start just brought the book to standstills as nothing was really happening and just felt like random points of sudden development rather than a slow growing change in the mother.
The amount of animal death/attack -
Overall whilst the writing style was intriguing, the premise of the book and its pacing just didn’t work for me. Not one I would read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pregnancy