elliemaiblogs's review
5.0
There is nothing about The Dark Matter of Natasha that I didn’t enjoy, I was captivated entirely from the first page and I just sat there until I’d finished. It’s not a long book and as much I would like to say it’s short & sweet, it’s very much a long way from that. It’s an incredibly powerful coming-of-age story full of emotion, trauma and just overall darkness. Despite this being such a bleak story, it will still completely grip you until the end.
The story starts off with our un-named 17 year old, a horny teenage guy going through life, trying to get his girlfriend to speak to him after she starts to ignore him. When he meets Natasha, the mysterious girl with a haunting past, he becomes fascinated by her, this is where the story starts to take a darker more intriguing turn. Not knowing what he wants to do with his life, he takes a page out of her book and he starts hanging out with Natasha smoking weed and having sex to see if he can find the appeal of this life. The more he hangs out with her, the more he learns about her heart wrenching life and also how other’s trauma can affect you. Even writing this review now, my heart is heavy and all I can think about is the trauma that these characters go through.
Overall, The Dark Matter of Natasha is a story that will simply stay with you days after reading. I love a good dark, psychological thriller and this is no exception. It can be quite a heavy read at times and a lot to take in but I love it when a book can really make you feel all the raw emotion coming from the characters. I just really love a good dark, thought provoking story, what can I say. This is one you will definitely have to read for yourself to get the full impact!
Rating: 5/5
The story starts off with our un-named 17 year old, a horny teenage guy going through life, trying to get his girlfriend to speak to him after she starts to ignore him. When he meets Natasha, the mysterious girl with a haunting past, he becomes fascinated by her, this is where the story starts to take a darker more intriguing turn. Not knowing what he wants to do with his life, he takes a page out of her book and he starts hanging out with Natasha smoking weed and having sex to see if he can find the appeal of this life. The more he hangs out with her, the more he learns about her heart wrenching life and also how other’s trauma can affect you. Even writing this review now, my heart is heavy and all I can think about is the trauma that these characters go through.
Overall, The Dark Matter of Natasha is a story that will simply stay with you days after reading. I love a good dark, psychological thriller and this is no exception. It can be quite a heavy read at times and a lot to take in but I love it when a book can really make you feel all the raw emotion coming from the characters. I just really love a good dark, thought provoking story, what can I say. This is one you will definitely have to read for yourself to get the full impact!
Rating: 5/5
pbanditp's review
5.0
“Don’t tell me it’s wrong, that life is beautiful. It’s fucking not. So much easier now I don’t give a shit. Nothing hurts anymore.”-Natasha
I can’t express how this hit me correctly but I’ll try.
Told in the first person without ever given his name made me become the main character. This one is DARK because I see how rape changes people for the rest of their lives. It affects the victim and those close to them.
The longing for an apathetic Natasha who is overburdened with mental scars and absolutely drips sexuality.
Fuck…I became a teen again…you know it’s wrong, your head says no but then your mouth says “yeah, sure, I’ll follow you anywhere.” It was just so damn relatable.
You want to be in her presence, to help, to fix something that is so badly damaged. Her indifference to everything let’s you go where you never imagined, leaving you with a frustration of no reciprocation of feelings. You know she is wrong for you but you are helplessly drawn in.
The only thing Natasha expresses interest in is the band Slayer and the author drops a couple of song titles in the book like Easter eggs.
I started this yesterday and found myself not able to stop thinking about her and why good kids get lured in. I had to finish today as I could not let her haunt my thoughts anymore. I don’t think I’m free though.
Dance with the dead in my dreams,
Listen to their hallowed screams,
The dead have taken my soul,
Temptations lost all control.
SLAYER-Dead Skin Mask
I can’t express how this hit me correctly but I’ll try.
Told in the first person without ever given his name made me become the main character. This one is DARK because I see how rape changes people for the rest of their lives. It affects the victim and those close to them.
The longing for an apathetic Natasha who is overburdened with mental scars and absolutely drips sexuality.
Fuck…I became a teen again…you know it’s wrong, your head says no but then your mouth says “yeah, sure, I’ll follow you anywhere.” It was just so damn relatable.
You want to be in her presence, to help, to fix something that is so badly damaged. Her indifference to everything let’s you go where you never imagined, leaving you with a frustration of no reciprocation of feelings. You know she is wrong for you but you are helplessly drawn in.
The only thing Natasha expresses interest in is the band Slayer and the author drops a couple of song titles in the book like Easter eggs.
I started this yesterday and found myself not able to stop thinking about her and why good kids get lured in. I had to finish today as I could not let her haunt my thoughts anymore. I don’t think I’m free though.
Dance with the dead in my dreams,
Listen to their hallowed screams,
The dead have taken my soul,
Temptations lost all control.
SLAYER-Dead Skin Mask
bridgets_books's review
5.0
All I knew of this book before reading was that it is a dark psychological thriller, not my normal go-to genre.
I must say I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. Now granted it’s not a long book, coming in at 130 pages or so, but it’s still gripping from start to finish.
The story looks at the bleak life of Natasha as seen through the eyes of a young man grappling with hormones, girlfriend troubles, and a rather nomadic up-raising.
Whether it’s the bombshells Natasha drops like they mean nothing or the intimate look at coming of age in unconscionable circumstances, the backstory of Natasha will break your heart. It also gives you many opportunities to ponder how close you or your loved ones might have come to a life like this. It’s easy to imagine a young girl simply beaten down by her life.
This book is not an easy read, but I think it’s one we can all benefit from reading. It is dark, definitely dark, but quite mesmerizing. It’s kind of like driving past an accident, where you can’t help but look. If we all take a tiny bit of understanding from this tale, perhaps we can help someone down the line that is caught in a similar trap.
Please consider this thought-provoking story for your next read.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
I must say I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. Now granted it’s not a long book, coming in at 130 pages or so, but it’s still gripping from start to finish.
The story looks at the bleak life of Natasha as seen through the eyes of a young man grappling with hormones, girlfriend troubles, and a rather nomadic up-raising.
Whether it’s the bombshells Natasha drops like they mean nothing or the intimate look at coming of age in unconscionable circumstances, the backstory of Natasha will break your heart. It also gives you many opportunities to ponder how close you or your loved ones might have come to a life like this. It’s easy to imagine a young girl simply beaten down by her life.
This book is not an easy read, but I think it’s one we can all benefit from reading. It is dark, definitely dark, but quite mesmerizing. It’s kind of like driving past an accident, where you can’t help but look. If we all take a tiny bit of understanding from this tale, perhaps we can help someone down the line that is caught in a similar trap.
Please consider this thought-provoking story for your next read.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
avoraciousreader68's review
slow-paced
4.0
Book source ~ Tour
Horny teenage boy has a falling out with his girlfriend then unexpectedly meets up with the small town’s local outsider, Natasha. And that’s the moment when the course of his life changes - a pebble thrown carelessly into a pool of deep water that ripples outward in never-ending circles for the rest of his life.
This starts out as a new boy meets local girl in small town nothingville and they become an item, type of nice safe and heartwarming coming-of-age story. Then Caitlin abruptly stops talking to him and because of this he makes some questionable choices that will affect him for the rest of his life. It’s dark, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s something that has stayed with me for days after finishing it. When we’re teens we have no idea that sometimes the choices we make will leave a long-lasting stain on our souls. If you’re lucky enough to have come out of those years relatively unscathed then count your blessings. Natasha’s story will crush you to dust because while she may be fictional, you just know there are those out there like her.
The author paints such a vivid picture with his words that the story doesn’t suffer from the brevity of it. A short story with a large message - one that will linger long after the last page is turned. If you like having your heart cut out and left for the crows then do not pass this up.
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