Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Narrow

A poignant meditation on the difference between love (for yourself and others) versus possession and abuse, this book surprised me in how it created an atmospheric gothic Dark Academia story while also punching in some bittersweet truths that will last long after finishing the book. Also, shoutout to the marvellous representation of the strength of female friendship.

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bunky_jones's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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ralla95's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad

Loveable characters? No

4.25

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lalunitalee's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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darquedreamer's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Narrow was beautiful, haunting, and breathtaking. It was atmospheric, emotional, and deeply satisfying. It was eerie, elegant, and thrillingly captivating.

I devoured this one in a day. I was pulled under from page one and held there until the very end, where I was finally able to catch my breath again. It was everything I had wanted it to be, and so much more!

There was so much to love about The Narrow. The writing was descriptive and gripping and really painted a creepy picture. The plot was well developed and it was full of twists that I did not expect. The setting was isolating, full of fall vibes, and very well detailed. But, it was the characters that really made this one stand out.

I loved each and every one of them (well, except for a couple obvious ones, but no spoilers). The author put so much effort in to their storylines, even the "non-main" characters. They were diverse, authentic, unique and extremely fleshed out. And, the friendship/sisterhood felt between Eden and her friends was astounding. I lived for it!

This one has easily become one of my top reads this year. I don't think I had any complaints. If you love creepy boarding school settings, haunting ghost stories, powerful friendships, and mystery, then this is the one for you!

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avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A haunting, a love story, and a mystery.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it wasn't predictable. As well as how it dealt with mental health and dysfunctional relationships.
The only thing I didn't like was the "I'll die for love" mentality of quite a few characters. I know teenagers are overall dramatic, but that part was a bit over the top.
Overall, an amazing book!

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bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

"The truth is a vicious thing, and so am I. It's why I lie so much."

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers, TBR and Beyond Tour, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital Arc in exchange for an honest review! All quotes are taken from the Arc and therefore subject to changes.

➽ The Narrow is the perfect YA horror to read this summer! It's set at Atwood, a private boarding school with its own legends and ghost stories. The titular 'Narrow' is a small, but viciously deep river that the students jump over for a dare at the beginning of the school year - no one who fell in has ever survived. Except for Delphine, a student who's been sequestered in the infamous Abigail House ever since the incident as she's severely ill and cannot be near any water. There are more stories surrounding the Narrow, such as the Drowning Girl and her tragic love story. I loved the atmosphere of the boarding school and the mysteries of the Narrow, Kate Alice Marshall has a way of setting up places within her books that feel real and deep with history!

➽ The protagonist is Eden, a complicated girl who I immediately rooted for. Eden's parents are rich but financially irresponsible, so she starts her time at Atwood with the news that her tuition hasn't been paid. Atwood is Eden's refuge from her difficult home life, so she's devastated and yet not hopeful to receive any help from her parents. An unconventional solution presents itself, as Delphine's mother will pay her tuition if she moves into Abigail House and keeps Delphine company. Eden has her own history with the girl but agrees as it's her only option. Eden was a great, well-written character. She has her friend group, but never opened up to them about her problems and has gotten good at lying to them. Her Atwood and home lives are kept separate for a reason and Eden couldn't bear to tell them her story. She's always been invisible to her parents, as her brother is mentally ill and requires a lot of their energy. I liked that the author didn't demonize the brother - Eden has a complicated hate/love relationship with him - but also showed that it's not safe for Eden to be at home. She's such a kind person and always tries to sacrifice her own happiness for others.

➽ I also loved the focus on Eden's friendships! Her friends Veronica, Zoya and Ruth aren't happy that Eden won't live in their dorm for senior year and they have no idea about her money troubles. As Eden gets sucked deeper into the mysteries of the Narrow, Abigail House and Delphine, she keeps drifting away from her friends. They aren't thrilled and also grow concerned, as they don't understand why Eden's so obsessed with solving the mystery of Delphine's sickness and the story of the Drowning Girl. This is made more difficult by the fact that Eden has always been keeping secrets from them and easily feels backed into a corner. I really liked how Eden was confronted with the difficult choice of opening up and being vulnerable with her friends, who really want to help!

”We're whole again, as long as you don't look too close. As long as you don't notice the cracks.”

➽ Last but not least, Eden's connection with Delphine was super interesting! Eden knows her briefly from before her accident but hasn't really spoken to her since. Now, she's supposed to keep her company and immediately feels drawn into Delphine's orbit. Delphine cannot ever leave her house and all water has to be purified, otherwise she'll get severely ill and die, so she's trapped in Abigail House. She appears fragile at first, but I liked that there was a sharp wit within her and a sense of cunning. She's not the helpless Damsel you'd expect her to be and one of her first requests to Eden is to never lie to her. Both girls quickly grow closer together and Eden is determined to solve the mystery of the Drowning Girl in the hopes that it'll help Delphine's condition, as it seems to have been caused by the Narrow. They had great chemistry and their romance was sweet, especially as Eden found it easier to open up to Delphine, compared to her friends!

The ending is a bittersweet one though 😔 Since Delphine and Grace's ghost were inhabiting the same body, she becomes very different once Grace is removed. She falls out of love with Eden because of it and had no choice in the matter. That kind of broke my heart as Eden still loves her the same 😭 I'm glad she's got her friends support now and can count on them to get her to a safe space that isn't home though!

”Sometimes I think it has to be a tragedy. Sometimes I think I can't bear any ending but one in which they're happy and in love.”

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brucethegirl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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