maggie_ackbooks's Reviews (170)

Excellently written. Story was told in such a fascinating and honest way that didn’t shy away from the horror and trauma of the Main Character. 

I only gave it a 4.75 as the body horror was more explicit than what I was comfortable with

I usually read about 50 pages per hour, it took me half an hour to get through the explicit depiction of the self mutilation/body horror in chapter15

. 

Due to the very explicit depictions of

self mutilation

I don’t think I can stomachs a second read but I don’t think I can ever forget this book. It is a masterpiece not for the faint of heart. 

Recommend by my queer librarian friend for Sapphic September. So glad I listened. As a bi women from a conservative community I found parts of my former self reflected in this book and I found my current self healing in others. 

The mystery of the Dark was well written and I was so excited as the pieces started to come together for me in real time with the characters. Do check the content warnings but I would recommend this book 1000%.

I went in expecting a ghost story and this book did not quite deliver. As someone who believes in ghosts I found myself skeptical from the get go

as such the ending was no surprise

. I can see why people like the book and concede it just isn't for me. I wish it was but after the big twist about half way through and watching everything go in a direction I was less than thrilled about, I finished it for the sake of finishing. There were parts of the book I enjoyed. The prose was excellent and I loved how the news articles were sprinkled throughout! I def kept flipping back and forth as things were revealed to check on what was reported publicly vs what us the readers know.

The worst aspect of the book is the MC, our very unlikable and unreliable narrator. The MC was lovable at the start but by the end of the story she had evolved from "unlikable narrator" to just despised for me. 

I hated that she got away with everything in the end. The most sympathetic, likable character that actually tried to help her ended up murdered and MC made off like a bandit stepping into her persona in a new town. Seriously MC is an actual criminal and I so wanted to see her face justice not be rewarded with a "fresh start".

 

The best book I read this summer. I bought my copy through BoTM and was not disappointed. 

This book is strange, it’s world weird and yet logical. I liked that the process of mutating into an animal cannot be easily substituted for a real world condition which lends well to the strength of Habeck’s writing and world building. I found the characters tragic, sympathetic, and lovable. Best way I can describe this book without spoiling everything that is golden is that this books is the quote “History does not repeat itself, it rhymes” personified as a singular person’s life story. And it is within the rhymes of Wern’s life that so much beauty can be found.  

I am counting down to next summer when I can reread.