Hello Readers,
I recently listened to this book on Spotify. At 16 hours
and 18 minutes, it slightly exceeds Spotify's free 15-hour limit. This marks
the fourth book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by Grady Hendrix, and once
again, he delivers a chilling, thought-provoking story that lingers long after
the final page.
Grady’s book takes us back to 1970, following four
pregnant teenage girls Fern, Rose, Zinnia, and Holly who are sent away by their
families to Miss Wellwood’s Home for Wayward Girls. Stripped of their
independence, they’re expected to carry their pregnancies to term before their
babies are taken for adoption. However, their time at the home takes a strange
and unexpected turn when a mysterious librarian introduces them to witchcraft.
Though marketed as supernatural horror, I think this
novel leans slightly more toward psychological horror, relying on an eerie
atmosphere and unsettling themes rather than traditional scares. The most
disturbing moments don’t come from ghosts or spells but from the harsh reality
of how these young women are treated. The childbirth scenes are intense and
graphic, making for a difficult reading experience.
The true horror lies not in the supernatural but in the
brutal loss of their rights, mirroring real historical institutions that
exploited vulnerable young women. Yet, beneath the witchy, supernatural
elements, the book carries a powerful theme women’s strength has always
endured, even in the face of oppression.
One of the novel’s biggest strengths is its cast of
characters. Hendrix’s signature wit and sharp dialogue make Fern, Rose, Zinnia,
and Holly feel real, and it’s easy to get emotionally invested in their
stories. Their friendship, formed through hardship, is the heart of the book,
making it as much a coming-of-age story as it is a horror novel.
Overall, this book is a gripping, thought-provoking mix
of historical fiction, horror, and feminist commentary. It lingers because the
most terrifying horrors aren’t always supernatural, they’re woven into the
world we live in.
Other books I have reviewed by Grady Hendrix
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