Ellin isn't a great storyteller: she jumps around, she doesn't flesh things out, she pretends to be self-deprecating but comes across as incredibly vain. Nevertheless, this was still an interesting look at lies and liars and is valuable reading for anyone needing a wake up call.

Well over 600 pages of what was essentially a D&D backstory that should have been summed up in three sentences. The rampant sexism made me roll my eyes more times than I could count, and ensured that I will not be reading any more Rothfuss.

Welp, it's been 7 years and this is still a 2 star read for me. I read Nathaniel Philbrick's Why Read Moby Dick? before embarking on the journey this time, so I was much more excited. Unfortunately, my excitement waned quickly because the text is so dry, even when he's cracking jokes. I enjoyed it slightly more with the backstory Philbrick provided, but I still can't recommend it.

I watched Netflix's Making a Murderer and like many viewers was horrified by the lack of protocol, the clear bias of the police, and the devastating lack of justice.

This book made my dismay over Steven Avery look like a stubbed toe compared to two broken thigh bones.

There is a small afterword at the end, published nine years after the book's original release, letting the reader know that the three were freed. But after 18 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit, how can they ever recover?

As the author points out, this is a story about children. About how they can be taken advantage of, hurt, tricked, and tied in a "devil's knot" by adults. But it's also a story about justice and responsibility. About standing up for what is right. I don't know if they ever would have been freed without the media attention surrounding the case. What a terrifying thought.

The only thing I liked about this book was the line "your best quality is also your worst."

Spoiler

Overall this book was trite. Everything was forced, the characters were flat, the entire plot was predictable. There is no magic here. It stretched credulity that Roy could be sent to jail without DNA evidence after he was accused of rape. It was eye-rollingly lame when his wife slept with her childhood friend. It was nauseating when his mom died of cancer while he was in jail. I hated him when he wanted to rape his wife and then actually beat the hell out of her lover. I hated every interaction these characters had. I hated that a solid chunk of the novel was letters between Roy and Celestial, especially because it referenced letters that weren't included. Purple prose snooze fest.

This book fulfilled my cult obsession while also making me horrified at the fact that everything in its pages is true.