A review by tales_of_a_succubus
Hexis by Charlene Elsby

challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

What's it about? 
Best described as a stream of consciousness, a woman runs into the same man (or maybe multiple) again and again, visualizing how she will murder him. 

Sex and murder are the name of the game in this novella. It explores some of the honest truths women have and is done in a sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying way. It's dark. We never do learn her name or who the man is. It's mainly a narrative, if anything but a fucked one. It's like being in a scattered brain that is clearly struggling with her mental health. It almost reminds me of a character study, and it is a fascinating one at that. We never really know what happens...was it all in her head? Did she actually murder someone? Did the man only die one of these times and are we left to figure out which time it was? 

Going into this blind may be the best way to do it. I wouldn't do too much research, enjoy the ride. 

This is a smart, philosophical book. I loved the physics references. It made me wonder what her particular job was at times, although the details were never revealed. This won't be for everyone but...try it out. You don't need to understand everything. It's a twisted mindfuck and sometimes that's what the doctor called in. 

There were moments that I had a hard time processing or following along so I had to significantly  slow down my reading pace. Some moments got repetitive but I kept in mind that these are real time thoughts. This isn't a bad thing, but he aware it's not a quick read. 

I'd recommend this to: anyone who likes character studies, wants to be in a murderer's mind, and wants something different.