Interesting premise with lots of body horror but rather thin in terms of characterisation and character relationships. Needed more meat into it, maybeInteresting premise with lots of body horror but rather thin in terms of characterisation and character relationships. Needed more meat into it, maybe a 100 more pages to give us a better idea of the school's environment and a stronger impression of the cast. As typical of US YA, it's big on violence (lots and lots!) and includes only one brief kiss. The ending doesn't provide much closure; I imagine a sequel is in the works?
On the plus side, it's fast-paced and it flows; it features a f/f romance and a very atmospheric setting and worldbuilding. It's certainly one of the most unique YA books out there.
Overall, a fast, easy read with decent prose, an intriguing premise, but with paper thin characters and a touch too much violence for my tastes....more
It's not horror by modern standards, but the atmosphere was wonderfully creepy and foreboding. Most scenes took place in the night or in the midst of It's not horror by modern standards, but the atmosphere was wonderfully creepy and foreboding. Most scenes took place in the night or in the midst of thick fog, or at least that's how it felt to me. A truly noir work. I liked Stevenson's prose a lot too; though, like his contemporaries, he relies on epistolary fic and nested narratives, which can create distance between story and reader. ...more
A mix between The Yellow Wallpaper and the film Get Out, this is a superb horror novel in which colonialism, sexism and eugenics are inextricably ingrA mix between The Yellow Wallpaper and the film Get Out, this is a superb horror novel in which colonialism, sexism and eugenics are inextricably ingrained in the horror element....more
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