A review by cassiecollins
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

It took me a while to get into this. The prose itself was lovely and the horror eerie, but there wasn't much that was grounded enough for me to hold onto. Miri's perspective in particular drifted between the strange liminality of Leah's deterioration and various flashbacks that often went on a tad too long. These moments weren't bad, per se, but it made my experience as a reader feel...like I was above the goings-on of the narrative rather than in the midst of it. Now, all of that could absolutely be intended, considering the ultimate reveal. But, for me, it made it hard to settle in to the story and engage with the characters.