A review by katwhiskerz
Horrid by Katrina Leno

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Overall, a quick book to help you get in the swing of reading! I thought the author did a good job at keeping the tension throughout most of the book; there were moments when I felt my own skin prickle with anticipation. I also liked how visceral some elements of the book were, especially the recurring roses. Definitely creepy. I loved it. Things I did not love though: the third person omniscient voice of the narrator (I just did not like, not my cup of tea, also if you're gonna focus on Jane, why not keep her voice in the third person limited? Also, who calls their parents by their first names??), how much this book felt like it had been written by an amateur writer (the job at a coffee shop, the move to a new town, the long post-plot twist explanations), and the addition of unnecessary elements (Will could have not shown up at the end or not be in the book at all and the story would have been the same). I also felt like this book was a missed opportunity to further explore the twisted relationship between grief, anger, and horror. I liked where it was going with Ruth's darker backstory but everything felt a little flat to me and I never could connect to Jane's grief over her father. Worth the read if you're interested, but don't expect a new favorite!