Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ninetalevixen 's review for:
The Ash Family
by Molly Dektar
I received an advance review copy through Netgalley. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
2.5 stars.
This was interesting enough that I made it all the way through — though there were multiple moments when I told myself I would just finish one more chapter then DNF and move on — but maybe I've just read too many stories about cults and communes? Because this one had no impact whatsoever; I wasn't invested in any of the characters, or the setup. Beryl/Harmony is naive and lost, with a desire for a family that should be relatable, but for some reason I just couldn't muster much sympathy for her despite being almost exactly the same age and similarly feeling a bit adrift.
A lot is packed into these pages, and I felt like consequently none of it was given due weight. The philosophy isn't really explained ("Get relativity" still doesn't make sense to me), and even accounting for brainwashing and dissociation this felt more like a thought experiment than a novel.
content warnings:
2.5 stars.
This was interesting enough that I made it all the way through — though there were multiple moments when I told myself I would just finish one more chapter then DNF and move on — but maybe I've just read too many stories about cults and communes? Because this one had no impact whatsoever; I wasn't invested in any of the characters, or the setup. Beryl/Harmony is naive and lost, with a desire for a family that should be relatable, but for some reason I just couldn't muster much sympathy for her despite being almost exactly the same age and similarly feeling a bit adrift.
A lot is packed into these pages, and I felt like consequently none of it was given due weight. The philosophy isn't really explained ("Get relativity" still doesn't make sense to me), and even accounting for brainwashing and dissociation this felt more like a thought experiment than a novel.
content warnings: