Syndrie
Although “Wolf Worm” definitely isn’t going to be the book for those with genuine insect phobias, those without will be able to find a great mix of creepy atmosphere and other gothic horror charms alongside a strong female main character who is filled with some charmingly sardonic and dry humor.
I really loved Sonia as a character and her inner monologue and little quips throughout had me snickering at quite a few times throughout the novel—her personality really shines through and she feels like a believable character that you want to root for. Honestly all of the characters here were really well done with strong personalities and clear motivations. The first half of the novel really comes in at a slower pace, but I really enjoyed that since it gave plenty of time to really flesh out all the characters and to slowly build up all the mystery and tension in the plot. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong at first, but as we follow along with Sonia on her days living in Halder’s mansion we start to piece the mystery together with her—and she’s the kind of woman who will do everything she can to sate her curiosity. I can definitely say this is one of those novels where I had an inkling of what was actually going on here, but the reality was not something that I was able to guess at all! So for the readers who are happy to sit through the slower paced portions: you’ll definitely be rewarded with an interesting plot climax, a satisfying ending, and perhaps a new fear of botflies.
I listened to the audiobook for this one and I have to say that Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job with narration. She has great enunciation and really nails shifts in tone and inflection, as well as keeping up a great tempo. She also makes an effort to give each character a unique voice—and accent—during their dialogue portions which I found to be a great help at keeping track of all the characters. I will say that the men’s voices did get a bit similar at times, but overall it was still a very well-done effort.
If you’re already a fan of T. Kingfisher’s horror, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as well. But I’d say this is also a good choice for gothic horror readers in general, especially if you like to have a bit of body horror in the mix—just as long as you can get past the creepy crawlies! And I’m sure audiobook fans won’t be disappointed with Kowal’s performance here, so if you’re on the fence on which version to get I’d say go ahead and go for the audio.
(Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance listener copy via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)
Although “Wolf Worm” definitely isn’t going to be the book for those with genuine insect phobias, those without will be able to find a great mix of creepy atmosphere and other gothic horror charms alongside a strong female main character who is filled with some charmingly sardonic and dry humor.
I really loved Sonia as a character and her inner monologue and little quips throughout had me snickering at quite a few times throughout the novel—her personality really shines through and she feels like a believable character that you want to root for. Honestly all of the characters here were really well done with strong personalities and clear motivations. The first half of the novel really comes in at a slower pace, but I really enjoyed that since it gave plenty of time to really flesh out all the characters and to slowly build up all the mystery and tension in the plot. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong at first, but as we follow along with Sonia on her days living in Halder’s mansion we start to piece the mystery together with her—and she’s the kind of woman who will do everything she can to sate her curiosity. I can definitely say this is one of those novels where I had an inkling of what was actually going on here, but the reality was not something that I was able to guess at all! So for the readers who are happy to sit through the slower paced portions: you’ll definitely be rewarded with an interesting plot climax, a satisfying ending, and perhaps a new fear of botflies.
I listened to the audiobook for this one and I have to say that Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job with narration. She has great enunciation and really nails shifts in tone and inflection, as well as keeping up a great tempo. She also makes an effort to give each character a unique voice—and accent—during their dialogue portions which I found to be a great help at keeping track of all the characters. I will say that the men’s voices did get a bit similar at times, but overall it was still a very well-done effort.
If you’re already a fan of T. Kingfisher’s horror, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as well. But I’d say this is also a good choice for gothic horror readers in general, especially if you like to have a bit of body horror in the mix—just as long as you can get past the creepy crawlies! And I’m sure audiobook fans won’t be disappointed with Kowal’s performance here, so if you’re on the fence on which version to get I’d say go ahead and go for the audio.
(Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance listener copy via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)