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thesaltiestlibrarian's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dystopia? Yes, please. Ireland, the land of my people? Give it to me. Girl trained as ruthless survivor? Want it.
More questions than answers? Don't do this to me.
Orpen was raised by two badass women warriors on an island just off the coast of Ireland. When an expedition of theirs goes awry, Orpen takes it upon herself to make it to the mainland with her adopted mother in tow (in a wheelbarrow) to find more survivors of the plague that scratched out humanity.
Or did it?
No, seriously, did it? Because we're not told. We do know there are monsters that used to be human: the strake. And as much as I love that name--and as much as I LOVE a plague story--I needed some more answers. For all you poo-pooers out there, no, I did not need straight-up hard-and-fast exposition answers. Even a hint from which to extrapolate would have been sufficient. But we have no idea where the plague came from or started, or even if this was a sickness that had already existed and somehow became a pandemic.
For that matter, were other countries hit by strake? I have to know!!! If Davis-Goff wrote a second one, she has me sufficiently interested and invested to continue. Who are the banshees? How long have they been fighting strake? When were they established? What will Orpen do next???
I'm torn. Because I really liked what I got. But I want so much more. This was a fantastic opening to what feels like could be a duology or full-on series in this world. Question is this, though: does Davis-Goff have plans on continuing? I for one am clambering for it.
More questions than answers? Don't do this to me.
Orpen was raised by two badass women warriors on an island just off the coast of Ireland. When an expedition of theirs goes awry, Orpen takes it upon herself to make it to the mainland with her adopted mother in tow (in a wheelbarrow) to find more survivors of the plague that scratched out humanity.
Or did it?
No, seriously, did it? Because we're not told. We do know there are monsters that used to be human: the strake. And as much as I love that name--and as much as I LOVE a plague story--I needed some more answers. For all you poo-pooers out there, no, I did not need straight-up hard-and-fast exposition answers. Even a hint from which to extrapolate would have been sufficient. But we have no idea where the plague came from or started, or even if this was a sickness that had already existed and somehow became a pandemic.
For that matter, were other countries hit by strake? I have to know!!! If Davis-Goff wrote a second one, she has me sufficiently interested and invested to continue. Who are the banshees? How long have they been fighting strake? When were they established? What will Orpen do next???
I'm torn. Because I really liked what I got. But I want so much more. This was a fantastic opening to what feels like could be a duology or full-on series in this world. Question is this, though: does Davis-Goff have plans on continuing? I for one am clambering for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Vomit