Summary:
In this suspenseful work, we follow the Morrow Family and the secrets that they hide in the Appalachian Forest behind their isolated farmhouse. We are introduced to Micheal Morrow who yearns for normalcy. Micheal meets Alice in a town nearby, and instantly falls in love. She gives him a glimmer of hope of being able to escape the Morrow family ways. His brother, Reb, is scouring in the shadows waiting for his opportunity to remind Micheal of his place in the Morrow Household.
Opinion:
This piece of art was AMAZING!
I was immediately transformed into a fly on the wall that was seeing everything happening in these chapters. From the very first page Ania Ahlborn reels in her reader and keeps them there to soak it all in.
We are quickly introduced to our main players: Micheal, Misty, Momma, Reb, and Wade. This is the Morrow family.
We are immediately shown the family secret, the killing of young adult women, and Micheals place in all of it. Micheal is the guy that does what he’s supposed to despite it being wrong, despite feeling guilty, despite his own consciousness. We see Micheal fight with his own thoughts throughout the chapters, but not in a way that is repetitive or boring, in a way that shows him new clarity for what is going on presently in the Morrow home.
The following chapter we are introduced to another character, Laura Lynn, and their place in all the mess that you’ll read as the book unwinds. Ania Ahlborn uses a different font during these chapters to show that they take place in the past. These chapters that are set in the past reintroduce us to Reb, a mischievous seven year old and how his mind is not that of a child.
The past and present intertwine in order to fill the reader with enough knowledge to understand, but also not enough so they can keep guessing. Each page and chapter was a continuous stream which made one never want to stop reading. Ania Ahlborn is also a genius when describing trauma in this book. She describes it calmly enough that you know what’s happening but also intensely enough to understand the feelings behind the actions.
The romantic part of the books felt off at first. Was it a way to reconnect the brothers? To find some humanity in Reb? To learn of Micheals true intentions with women? But in the end it was understood why it was needed. This book will have your jaw on the floor and not wanting to put it down.
Rating: 4/5
The romance felt weird to me with the vibe of the book. It felt misplaced but as I stated earlier it makes sense in the end.
Micheal’s self misery becomes a little old towards the end, especially when I was rushing to get the book done before work. But that was more a me thing then Ania’s fault.
Overall, i would highly recommend this book.
Discussion Questions: (contains spoilers)
Rebel is one of the brothers in the Morrow household. We are shown a lot about Reb. Wether it pertained to his past or present. Do you think Reb was born “evil” or was he made this way. Why is Misty Dawn, who is blood related, not the same as him?
Momma seems to have a type. Strawberry blonde hair and white. Micheal mentions that he bet his momma had looked just like the girls they were takin many years ago. Why does momma hate women? Or is it not hate? Why does she have a “type”? What is momma trying to do by picking these type of women to murder?
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