A review by gia0203
Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book is devastating. it's about the trauma behind the fairytale. the double-edged sword of revenge. how hatred can turn inwards and outward. how love can bloom from pain. there was something deeply comforting about winterset hollow despite how disturbing it is. the tiny snippets of banter and comedy and love are almost a healing balm against the brutality of the animals' existences.
there are a few particular things that struck me. the first example of violence in the book is runny mutilating his ear in self-hatred. it was so jarring and unexpected, so sad and desperate, that the image still sticks in my head. and the aftermath - blood dripping from his bandaged ear onto the dining table, or runny itching his ear every now and then - struck me too. it was such a poignant example of self-harm. and when eamon tries to hurt him and is disturbed by how much runny enjoys it... that's always going to stick with me.
i really loved how sympathetic the 'villains' were. their deaths were particular were really satisfying. i cried when eamon lay runny next to flackwell and their hands fell together. and the image of finn coming out of the burning maze with his fur burned from his body was beautiful and harrowing. bing's character arc was also really upsetting and sad, and olivia's occasional appearances were interesting too.
there was also a parallel i really liked. eamon says that he used to run away from his foster homes as a kid and go back to the forest. then at the end of the book, he returns from the mainland to the island. his perspective shows how easy and comforting it is to return to trauma. and when he realises his fate was inescapable and he can't let another child fall into the same pattern? it was beautiful. similarly, finn states at the start of the book he loves to play the game because he always wins, even if the game is fixed. his arc was about reclaiming power through violence. when you've always lost, finally winning must be intoxicating.
this was a stunning book. runny, flackwell, bing and finn are all forgivable. their deaths don't feel just, or fair. in fact, their lives are tragedies. whether they choose mercy or not, they're still trapped in their respective imaginary cages, each of them banging their heads against the bars and praying for a release that never comes.
Spoiler
there are a few particular things that struck me. the first example of violence in the book is runny mutilating his ear in self-hatred. it was so jarring and unexpected, so sad and desperate, that the image still sticks in my head. and the aftermath - blood dripping from his bandaged ear onto the dining table, or runny itching his ear every now and then - struck me too. it was such a poignant example of self-harm. and when eamon tries to hurt him and is disturbed by how much runny enjoys it... that's always going to stick with me.
i really loved how sympathetic the 'villains' were. their deaths were particular were really satisfying. i cried when eamon lay runny next to flackwell and their hands fell together. and the image of finn coming out of the burning maze with his fur burned from his body was beautiful and harrowing. bing's character arc was also really upsetting and sad, and olivia's occasional appearances were interesting too.
there was also a parallel i really liked. eamon says that he used to run away from his foster homes as a kid and go back to the forest. then at the end of the book, he returns from the mainland to the island. his perspective shows how easy and comforting it is to return to trauma. and when he realises his fate was inescapable and he can't let another child fall into the same pattern? it was beautiful. similarly, finn states at the start of the book he loves to play the game because he always wins, even if the game is fixed. his arc was about reclaiming power through violence. when you've always lost, finally winning must be intoxicating.
this was a stunning book. runny, flackwell, bing and finn are all forgivable. their deaths don't feel just, or fair. in fact, their lives are tragedies. whether they choose mercy or not, they're still trapped in their respective imaginary cages, each of them banging their heads against the bars and praying for a release that never comes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Self harm