90 pages and… what for?

I understand what the author is trying to convey. This idea was actually interesting, I dove into this blind because I have seen this being recommended multiple times already so I was expecting a bit. It was rather underwhelming. I get that this depiction of hell’s point of torture is the eternal pointlessness of it all but the points the book driving were coming up empty as well. It’s like they’re introducing concepts that they were not finishing.

I am staring at these conversations and nothing was conjured enough for me to be taken or be much in awe. I find it interesting on how this author is perceiving race as well. And religion actually, it’s like somebody’s describing them away from just reading the title pages. And of course, the way the author has written the women…. come on.

Right… anyway. I had read books with much simpler concepts that are able to drive their point very well. Ambition in a few pages that did not play out the way it was intended too.

“She turned to the roses.”

T. Kingfisher had done what they are exceptional good at again. Comedy horror. This time it’s domestic (?) botanical. I had no idea what I was going to dive into looking at that cover and title for honestly, it barely had relevance to it. But the cover made sense. It was cute. The pattern is the same here with the slowburn and the underlying creeping sense of being haunted. However, this one worked out on the issue I had been having with them for a while with their previous work to which it had kept my attention through and through.

I had fun consuming this and I know and understand that there are a lot of things that could use a lot of expansions in terms of plot and characterisation. And a lot of questions that needs answers. But it pretty much did well given it’s short length. I like the characters and I think I can go on and want to learn about them more. This would stand as a nice feel good horror movie that you can rewatch if you want comfort during holloween season.

I really like how Kingfisher is always original with how they play around their creatures. How flexible their mind is with the whimsy and how they utilise their imagination. Junji Ito-like silliness catching onto day-to-day items and opening up a whole new world for one’s imagination.

This could actually run as a series like The Sworn Soldier one but, this within itself is already fine. No way perfect but I was sincerely entertained.

I feel completely torn about rating this book but it certainly feels like this is a good placing.

The concept of having to put the perspective of a child is really interesting and they had done it in a way that it did not downplay the child’s mind and how it works at all. To which it played the role of an unreliable narrator so well and the possible connotations of what she is seeing and hearing are what makes my heart and stomach clench in a way.

The horror in this is not what only lies with this so-called “Other Mommy” but what also lies in that very house they call a home. The pacing of the story within itself was fast paced and not a dull moment happened there. The imagery was vivid that it certainly feels like a reoccurring nightmare that happens to continue no matter how times you wake up. A child’s imagination is an interesting place all the more how can it be perceived by adults.

It was all coming so well up until the climax and the ending. I feel like the author was talking out loud about how they ran out of ideas about the resolution. The philosophical aspect felt like it was dragging and rather corny. I don’t mind corny if it was done well but it sounds rather anti-climactic and makes absolutely no sense. It’s like the author does not really know how to play around their side characters as well as just gave up to think of ways to create an original solution.

But otherwise the scare factor was effective. The absolute dread and worry you feel for the child is there and it’s working. I wish it had more heart in it towards the end.