And here is another NetGalley review of Andrew Joseph White's novel! I have been enjoying all of AJW's novels so I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Daphne Press for giving me access to another e-arc to review.
I won't say anything else, so here is my review:
It messes with you, growing up like this. Knowing someone wants to hurt you for the hell of it.
Sixteen-year-old Miles Abernathy, a socialist and proud West Virginian, came out as trans to his parents. That same night, he snuck off to a party carrying evidence that may finally turn the tide of a blood feud plaguing Twist Creek.
Image taken from GoodReads.
That evidence is images of the county's Sheriff Davies being responsible for the so-called "accident" that injured Miles' dad, killed others and crushed their grassroots effort to unseat him.
The blood feud began a hundred years ago when Miles' great-great grandfather, Saint Abernathy, incited a miners' rebellion that ended with a public execution by law enforcers. Now, Miles is the latest victim of this feud when the sheriff's son and his friends nearly beat Miles to death to get that evidence.
In the hospital, a ghost visits Miles' bedside while the Sheriff threatens him into silence. But then Miles accidentally kills one of the boys who hurt him, Miles learns of the other folks in Twist Creek who want freedom from the Sheriff's control. So, to free their families from a cycle of cruelty, those families are willing to put everything on the line, but is Miles willing to do the same?
As I said, this was another amazing novel from AJW.
Starting with the main theme and plot, like most of AJW's novels, there is a strong focus on belonging and fighting back against injustice. With the theme of belonging, I want to say that I LOVE reading about Miles' family. His parents and family members were so loving and supportive of him when he came out as trans to them (very early on in the novel). It was nice knowing that Miles has a strong family unit and is supported throughout the story. And regarding the injustice, there are so many issues this novel brings up. Set in the American 2016 political background, we have Miles and Cooper seeking revenge for past atrocities (and rightfully so!). It is a very satisfying and unapologetic LGBTQI+ revenge story.
Branching off from the theme, there were a lot of depictions of the working class, poverty and class wars which again, all link back to the theme of fighting for justice. Miles is from a working-class family so we have a lot of instances of him or his parents worrying about money, their livelihood and their future.
This novel did not have a lot of horror or body horror as the other AJW novels but there was still plenty of murder, thrill and action which kept the story moving. There are still a few trigger warnings to keep in mind such as:
- transphobia
- graphic violence
- police violence
- opioid use and withdrawals
Miles and Cooper were the standout characters for me (as well as the lovely dog, Lady).
Cooper was always a bit of an odd character. I loved that he was accepting of Miles when he came out and that he was generally a "safe" person for Miles to feel comfortable with. However, as their revenge plot progressed, Cooper and Miles' relationship progressed with a bit of aggression mixed into it (which I am still analysing and dissecting).
Miles is your classic AJW character. He is hurting, angry and driven. While he lives in a society which is not accepting of his identity, he refuses to back down and hide himself. He stands up for what he believes in and is ultimately a very compelling character.
Overall, this was another great read and I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read AJW's novel but wants a little less horror in it.
So, that is all for my review, thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a lovely day.
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