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thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
Meredith Strand returns to her childhood home in Cape Disappointment with her young daughter, Alice, after separating from her wife.
The women in her family are said to be cursed, pulled to the call of the water. This story mainly focuses on Meredith, in the present, but the stories of the women you came before are woven in, creating a multi-timeline story that slowly comes together.
A dark, creepy, gothic atmosphere prevails throughout the book. The several different, non-linear timelines and characters can be confusing at times, and the pacing was a bit too slow at times. Over-all an enjoyable read though.
Meredith Strand returns to her childhood home in Cape Disappointment with her young daughter, Alice, after separating from her wife.
The women in her family are said to be cursed, pulled to the call of the water. This story mainly focuses on Meredith, in the present, but the stories of the women you came before are woven in, creating a multi-timeline story that slowly comes together.
A dark, creepy, gothic atmosphere prevails throughout the book. The several different, non-linear timelines and characters can be confusing at times, and the pacing was a bit too slow at times. Over-all an enjoyable read though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
breezer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pitched as part modern gothic, part ghost story, They Drown Our Daughters follows Meredith as she returns to her family home at the supposedly haunted Cape Disappointment with her young daughter. This was beautifully written with a chilling (no pun intended) atmosphere both in and out of the ocean. I don't think I've read a book before that explores the relationship between generations of mother's and daughter's with such outstanding depth.
"Like her father and her husband, he knew what was best by virtue of his gender. Grace aspired to be so confident in her ignorance."
Although I absolutely loved the first two thirds, the last third threw me out of the story a bit with its change in tone/pace. The ending did cause some mixed feelings and at the time I wished it had ended on a different message but I do understand the choice behind it.
"Could a person see with their soul? Hear with their heart? She believed so."
This was a queer, feminist story of grief, heartbreak and the love that binds families together set around the chilling power and beauty of the ocean. Although there was some parts that didn't work for me I will probably be checking out Katrina Monroe's future works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced reader's copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief
CW: Drowning