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A review by minimicropup
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Defiant, suspicious, philosophical.
We follow two POVS. Our 2010s MC moves with their single parent from a big city to an inherited northern lakeside property hoping for a new start, but the seemingly peaceful property holds deep secrets. Our 2020s MC has a historical-paranormal investigative YouTube channel with their Bestie that now falls under the purview of a short-sighted media company.
π¨π¦ Set in Timmins (Kenogamissi Lake) and Toronto, Canada
πΊπ Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
π This is YA but I forgot. I loved it and am A. There are deep, lonely struggles that made my teenage (and current) self feel seen, and it expanded my empathy for others. The writing style doesn't 'talk down to' or dilute the story for <18 readers.
π¨ This gave me nightmares?! Because of the depth I think. The writing style is so atmospheric and sensory, and we feel what it would be like day-to-day growing up with paranormal abilities to see the dead or know the thoughts of others. The mixture of pride, loneliness, annoyance, and terror hits hard.
π IRL settings done to perfection. If you are familiar with the locales, it's more atmospheric. If not, you can armchair travel to all the places. And if you just want to imagine it for yourself, it is detailed without being point-form-overly-descriptive, but also not name-dropping random places w/o context.
π𧩠The alternating POVs were very well timed. When I felt like I was starting to lose interest in one of them, the other took over. And the clues and reveals are balanced between the two POVs where we sometimes know more or less than any given character and timeline. Ultimately we are puzzle-solving along with Brittney and Daisy.
πΉ Realistic amateur sleuthing! The investigators don't bark out questions and get instant answers. They struggle with how to ask difficult things, feel confused, embarrassed, etc. The interviewees also question their motives, hold back, or seek them out.
π©βπ§ "Toxic mother-sad daughters club" rep. So. well. done. We need stories recognizing that there are people who have kids to expand their assets - their child is an object to use and own - not a person. We also see how unhealthy behaviours aren't always toxic and incurable, and how difficult it can be to navigate that in relationships and friendships.
π€― Truly a "supernatural ecosystem". There is a sort of world-building here where the different forms of 'dead' and 'living' have unique interactions and roles. And how imbalances could lead to what we consider the paranormal. If you believe in the paranormal or are spiritual, this story offers a thoughtful perspective for how irl experiences could happen.
π¨ This gave me nightmares?! Because of the depth I think. The writing style is so atmospheric and sensory, and we feel what it would be like day-to-day growing up with paranormal abilities to see the dead or know the thoughts of others. The mixture of pride, loneliness, annoyance, and terror hits hard.
π IRL settings done to perfection. If you are familiar with the locales, it's more atmospheric. If not, you can armchair travel to all the places. And if you just want to imagine it for yourself, it is detailed without being point-form-overly-descriptive, but also not name-dropping random places w/o context.
π𧩠The alternating POVs were very well timed. When I felt like I was starting to lose interest in one of them, the other took over. And the clues and reveals are balanced between the two POVs where we sometimes know more or less than any given character and timeline. Ultimately we are puzzle-solving along with Brittney and Daisy.
πΉ Realistic amateur sleuthing! The investigators don't bark out questions and get instant answers. They struggle with how to ask difficult things, feel confused, embarrassed, etc. The interviewees also question their motives, hold back, or seek them out.
π©βπ§ "Toxic mother-sad daughters club" rep. So. well. done. We need stories recognizing that there are people who have kids to expand their assets - their child is an object to use and own - not a person. We also see how unhealthy behaviours aren't always toxic and incurable, and how difficult it can be to navigate that in relationships and friendships.
π€― Truly a "supernatural ecosystem". There is a sort of world-building here where the different forms of 'dead' and 'living' have unique interactions and roles. And how imbalances could lead to what we consider the paranormal. If you believe in the paranormal or are spiritual, this story offers a thoughtful perspective for how irl experiences could happen.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Magical (paranormal/occult, not Satanic) realism + speculative fiction (day-to-day if one could have paranormal abilities) mystery
- Coming-of-age story learning about yourself, toxic relationships, mother-daughter struggles, and the effects of generational trauma on family dynamics
- Paranormal, ghostly, psychological, isolated Airbnb haunted cottage-core horror
- Investigative journalism (YouTube) sleuthing
- Themes and commentary on the different forms of resilience, toxicity, trauma, boundaries, romanticizing, and strengths
Content Heads-Up: Narcissistic abuse from parent/relationships. Emotional and verbal abuse; gaslighting. Good rep for being "big" and body image. Child abuse (sexual; memories on page). Sexual violence (relationship; memories on page). Racist characters (fake allies/support). Body horror/sacrificial animal killing maggots and goats for protection .
Format: Kindle
π₯° This was one of my most captivating reads of 2023
π₯° This was one of my most captivating reads of 2023