A review by wyabook234
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Sharpson can be applauded for Knock Knock Open Wide, in which he managed to infuse Irish folklore involving the myth of the Puca and the biology of changelings into the meat of his story. It's too bad that the meat had to be distorted to give Ashling a deus ex machina so that she could come alive at the end. It can be argued that the logic of the plot completely collapses on itself by the end, with how Ashling gets away with murder and then comes completely unscathed as a reward.

There are a lot of eerie moments within the timelines of the Larkin family, and it manages to hook you within the mystery of members involved in the problem. The font change can be interesting regarding the presence of Fitts and how it interacts with the mortals. Even when there are still questions that feel unanswered, if you choose to ignore the small details, like the identity of the hit-and-run victim or what happened to Feidhlim by the end, whether he was dead or not. The romance between Ashling and Betty is sweet but not gripping when feeling their turmoil through the second half. This transfusion of ancient Celtic horror within a story of the plaguing curse is good but not great in execution. 
 
One of the most distressing moments of this story involves the appearance of an undead Gerry Land, who is making breakfast in the kitchen. This ghoul increases the dread for the end of the story and foreshadows a dark answer for Ashling's missing sister. This scene is tied with the one of the Changeling giving birth to Ashling at the end of the book in being the most unnerving within Knock Knock Open Wide, if still unsatisfying, for readers like myself. 
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