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A review by ashtheaudiomancer
Woodworm by Layla MartÃnez
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A tense, disturbing, lyrical haunted house story, in which the ghosts, angels, and saints are constant residents, invited there by their own rage and sorrow. I'm still not entirely sure what happened in the end. The dual narrators, both of whom are to some degree unreliable, is part of it, but that seems intentional. The impression I get is of two people with wildly different perspectives pleading for the readers' understanding and sympathy.
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Murder, and Classism
FYI, I'm choosing "moderate" for the content warnings here because the book is written in this heavily poetic style that makes all the events feel a bit distant, but they are heavy, unavoidable themes throughout.