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Leah Arden "Mara and Morok" (december, 2022)
SHADOW AND BONE x SLAVIK MYTHOLOGY
— slavik mythology — warring kingdoms — enemies to lovers — hidden identity — dual timelines — betrayal — resurrction — the undead — lots of intrigues and secrets — marked by the goddess of death
**Flood Damages by Eunice Andrada (2018)**
Andrada’s debut collection covers themes of immigration and displacement, colonial occupation, violence in its many forms and more. The body - particularly the brown female body - becomes the battleground where events (both personal and political) are most keenly felt.
I read this in one sitting, after having it on my shelf for literal years, bought during a Melbourne Writer’s festival several years back. I’d seeing Andrada speak and was touched by her words. I’ve now got her second collection lined up to (hopefully!) read much sooner than I did this one.
Content warnings for domestic violence and sexual assault.
Rating: 5/5
Book Blurb: A girl confronts Death—and her own deathly powers—to solve a murder in this Gothic-infused, romantic young adult fantasy. Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa Farrow has been raised by a string of guardians more interested in her wealth than her well-being—all of whom have died of mysterious circumstances. Her last remaining relatives are the Hawthornes, an eccentric family who live at Thorn Grove, a manor as glittering as it is gloomy. Thorn Grove’s patriarch, Elijah, mourns his late wife, Lillian, through liquor and wild parties, while son Percy grapples to maintain the family’s waning reputation and daughter Blythe suffers from the same mysterious illness that killed her mother. But when Lillian’s spirit confronts Signa and claims it was poison that killed her and not an illness, Signa realizes that Blythe will be next to die unless the murderer is found. Signa's best chance of uncovering the culprit and solving Lillian's murder is an alliance with Death himself—the very man she hates most. And Death, that fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side, shows her that their connection may be more powerful than she ever dared imagine.
Review:
A girl who cannot die and is cursed to see Death is given a new mystery to solve in order to find the potential murderer who is trying to kill her new family. Signa Farrow has always had the ability to see Death and to survive death. No matter how many times she has tried to kill herself... she just can’t die. Orphaned as a baby she has spent the last 19 years of her life moving from guardian to guardian, whose only interest is in her wealth. When Signa arrives at her last remaining relatives, the Hawthornes she discovers a mystery brewing. The Hawthornes are an eccentric group of people who live at Thorn Manor. Elijah, the patriarch of the family is mourning the loss of his dead wife and throws parties to hide it while his son Percy is struggling to just maintain the family’s reputation, and the daughter Blythe is suffering from the same mysterious illness that killed her mother. When Death begins talking to Signa more and offering to help her with her mysterious abilities... she begins to find that maybe she isn’t as alone as she thought and that maybe Death isn’t the enemy she thought him out to be. Soon they come together to solve the mystery of Thorn manor before more of Signa’s relatives die... and maybe Signa might discover who she really is and what it means to be able to be so close to Death. This was a beautiful gothic romance mixed in with a murder mystery. I had so much fun reading this book and AM JUST SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT ONE ALREADY!!! I adored how strong Signa was, despite everything that has happened to her, she was determined to protect those she loved and she is so caring. Death, now I swooned for Death. Sign me up. I loved their dynamic so much, definitely my favorite trope of Enemies-to-Lovers mixed in with two star crossed lovers with a splash of “I hate you but i need your help” trope. Seriously this book was just perfection. Signa and Death? i absolutely need more of these two together. I love their playful and teasing banter and how they love. So if I haven’t gotten it across enough, yes please read this beautiful book!
*Arc was given to me for being part of the Street Team and all my opinions are my own*
