The Unmothers

by Leslie J. Anderson

In this emotionally raw and propulsive folk horror-mystery, a journalist goes to a small town and unravels a dark secret that the women have been keeping for generations.

Marshall is still trying to put the pieces together after the death of her husband. After she is involved in a terrible accident, her editor sends her to the small, backwards town of Raeford to investigate a clearly ridiculous rumor: that a horse has given birth to a healthy, human baby boy.

When Marshall arrives in Raeford, she finds an insular town that is kinder to the horses they are famous for breeding than to their own people. But when two horribly mangled bodies are discovered in a field—one a horse, one a human—she realizes that there might be a real story here.

As she’s pulled deeper into the town and its guarded people, her sense of reality is tipped on its head. Is she losing her grip? Or is this impossible story the key to a dark secret that has haunted the women of Raeford for generations?

Unbearably tense and utterly gripping, this atmospheric tale of female rage, bodily autonomy, and generational trauma hails the arrival of a masterful storyteller.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Fantasy, Adult

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2024

About the author

Leslie J. Anderson’s writing has appeared in Asimov’s, Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons, Daily Science Fiction, and Apex, to name a few. She writes for the popular podcast The CryptoNaturalist. She also hosts and produces Cartoon Crosstalk Columbus for Cartoon Crossroads Columbus.

Her collection of poetry, An Inheritance of Stone, was released from Alliteration Ink and was nominated for an Elgin award. Poems from it have won 2nd place in the Asimov’s Reader’s Awards, and were nominated for Pushcart and Rhysling award.

Leslie has a Creative Writing MA from Ohio University and currently works as a marketing and communications manager for a financial consulting firm. She lives in Ohio in a small, white house beside a cemetery, with three good dogs and a Roomba.

Reviews

[Hannah (hngisreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book for horse girls who hate men

[Jillian B · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the wake of her husband’s tragic death, newspaper reporter Marshall is given a clear softball assignment: travel to the tiny town of Raeford and investigate claims that a horse has given birth to a human child. Everyone at the paper knows it’s a hoax. It’s an oddball human interest piece, at best. But upon arriving in the isolated community, Marshall can’t help but feel that something is off. The locals are intensely guarded. There are strange local traditions no one will explain, like bowls of milk placed on tombstones at the graveyard. Worst of all is the screeching sound seemingly coming from inside the walls of her hotel room. It doesn’t take long for Marshall to realize this town is keeping secrets…big ones.

I loved this book. It was full of surprising twists, and the ominous vibe throughout the book kept me at the edge of my seat. It also had a surprising feminist message, pointing to real concerns about reproductive care in rural American communities. The sense of place in this book is so strong, and I could vividly picture the setting. It paints a picture of an odd, isolated community without stereotyping or demeaning the characters living there. I would absolutely recommend this one to horror fans. I had a great time reading it!

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, it seems like I’m in the minority when I say I was a little bored with this book. I loved the prose and thought the atmosphere of the small town was well captured- this alone is what kept me going. But I didn’t really connect with the characters and because the pacing was incredibly slow and took a long while before anything was revealed, I wasn’t entirely pulled into the story. It could also be that I was caught off guard with this being marketed as Horror when the horror elements were very few and far between - I’d say this is more of a Mystery/LitFic. What I did LOVE was the idea of a ritual that transfers the birth of a baby to a horse - that’s a cool idea! And without giving away spoilers, there was just something lacking for me.

Overall it’s a solid read and I did enjoy its theme of grief, generational trauma and feminine rage. I just wish the author pumped the gas a little more and really amped up on the Horror. I’d still be intrigued to read more by this author in the future because she does have unique and interesting ideas.

Many thanks to Quirk Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars it was okay.
This started off strong, but the pace did slow down after about 30%(ish). I think I just went into this book with different expectations. I thought the horror & folklore would be center stage, but this is more of an investigative mystery more than anything else with the horror and folklore elements lightly sprinkled in.

I really loved the concept of this book. It's unique and had some reflective messages within it. Some that I understood, and I think a few that went over my head.

There was a lot of POV. 10, if I counted correctly. Some occur more often than others. For me personally, it seemed a little excessive? I feel like I can see what the author was after, but to me, some of the information just became repetitive and made the story feel like it was progressing at a snails pace.

I find myself struggling with what to rate this book. I really loved the start of this book, but I had to really push myself to get through some parts of the book towards the end.

Read this if you enjoy: literary fiction, police procedural fiction, mystery, many POVs. Horses.

[Brandon Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange, literary folk-horror novel about an urban legend influencing a small town, and the reporter with a dark past tasked with uncovering it all.

This was a weird, eerie, and sometimes dark slow burn that was ultimately a little bit underwhelming in the end, but I still really enjoyed my time with this novel overall. I loved the prose and thought it was a very tightly written story.

"In this world, angry women were just being practical."

"Don't take it all too seriously, we're all just a little lost."

[hope h. · Rating 5 out of 5]

got this as an ARC and i'm so glad i was able to get my hands on it early because it was a THOROUGHLY enjoyable read! really impressive not only as a work of horror but also especially impressive given that it's the author's debut - leslie anderson is definitely one to watch!

i told basically everyone i knew about this while i was reading it and i have to say, getting to chant "horse horror horse horror horse horror" at people is extremely fun. i looooved that this was a horror book for horse girls because oh my god that is a niche i need more of?? also just did a fantastic job of exploring the ecology of small towns and how interwoven everyone's lives. while i can usually take or leave a lot of POVs, this worked really well to showcase the story from every angle and highlight the complex plot threads. the town almost takes on a life of its own, with the monster from the woods acting as a personification of the poverty and generational trauma that haunts everyone living there. it's just so well done and i am SO IMPRESSED.

reads super easily - it's just mystery/thriller enough to make it hard to put down while keeping the harsher edge of horror. the character development flows really well, too, in an almost untraceable arc - i went back to the beginning after finishing so i could underline a few quotes i liked and i didn't realize until i did that how much the POV of the main character, marshall, had changed. that's definitely a sign of a good author to me and i loooove an author who can manage character development and complex plots at the same time. and i mean, small-town rural folk horror with lots of horse gore and creepy forest monsters that also explores the opioid crisis and economic downfall of rural america AND lack of access to reproductive healthcare?? this could not be MORE specifically written for me. 10/10 i loved it and i highly encourage horror fans to check it out when it is released in august!

[Tucker Almengor]

dnf @ 15% - life's too short for boring horror

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting folk horror set in a small rural town NEED I SAY MORE this is an amazing debut and I'm blown away by Leslieswriting, this was suspenseful, evocative and atmospheric, a horsey horror with an undeniably strong feminst streak, reading the synopsis you may think (like me) this was going to be a fun supernatural read, a horse giving birth to a human, giddy up were in for a good time, *however*  Anderson weaves a devastating tale of generational trauma, small town poltics and womanhood that results in female rage, anguish and empowerment that seeps into the very bones of this book, Leslie writes with such fluidity and ease I found the multiple POVs easy to follow (there's quite a few) however the narrative isn't bogged down by this but rather propelled forward, it helped to solidify the insular claustrophobic nature of the town. A mesh of horrors both real and other worldly this was an emotional, slow burn, introspective read for those who like to be challenged, themes of
bodily autonomy, pregnancy, religion and grief are explored. Shelved as horror I'd say it heavily leans into thriller/suspense/literary fiction, fans of Sharp Objects or The Handsmaids Tale would enjoy.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folk horror, a creepy forest and feminine rage boil over in a town that seems to have given up on itself. The Unmothers was a good choice for this horror show of a week when many of us want to run screaming into the woods forever.

I don’t have it in me to write a complete review so I’ll just say that I thought it had a few too many POV’s and dragged a bit in parts but those complaints are minor ones. It delivered what it promised and the author nailed the ending A+.

Available on Spotify, Nov Horror Spotlight Readalong on Discord.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unmothers
By Leslie J. Anderson
This is a unique horror story. A journalist from the city comes out to a small town to track an obscure story about a horse birthing a human baby. When the journalist gets there, she is certainly not welcome, and the town folks are hiding something.
Soon after she settles in, a murder and animal killings happen.
The author was very good at creating an eerie atmosphere. Good creepy story!

[gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so terribly lacking. The first 30% had me hooked but the multiple POVs plus the fact that there was nothing really happening till the last 15% of the book only served to make me bored. It didn't deliver on the horror aspect but I can appreciate the prose and the messages woven into it.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird and good!

[Raymie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the driest book I think I have read for 2024

Marshall’s husband died and to help her cope. Her boss sends her on a journalist assignment to a small town where strange things are happening.

Maybe I am too dumb to read this book but I understood nothing. I felt like nothing was happening. Marshall was going there to write a story about a horse giving birth to human baby but nothing really happens until 80-90% of the book. It is the slowest burn in a horror book I have ever read.

There is so many POVs with little to no explanation on who or why these people are involved with the storyline. I felt like this book was all over the place.

The last 90% of the book was the best part.

I was wanting spooky, dark with old folklore and I did not get that.

Genre: Horror
APK: Ebook
Pages: 323
Rating: ⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

[Christina Dalcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the prose, the plot, the horses, the horror, and the humanity. Definitely a book that should be on everyone’s radar this year.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent horror novel, both of the psychological and physical kind. The main character is a reporter sent to a small town to investigate a silly tabloid-like report of a horse giving birth to a human. She's suffering deeply from grief and the truth is that her editor has sent her away as a kind of therapy, which is actually the most unbelievable part of the set-up. We're told her name is Carolyn Marshall, but she's called and known only as Marshall throughout, which illustrates the distance she feels from herself and the world. (Or maybe there's more to it and I missed something.) Her character is developed very slowly and subtly throughout the book, and the changes are distinct, but you have to look for and think about them. The viewpoint shifts around through several other characters, but everything revolves back around to Marshall. The story is set in a small rural town where the only pastimes seem to be opioid use and horse training. It's an excellent example of regional folk-horror, and at times it reminded me of Thomas Tryon's Harvest Home and Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories. It's a bleak and depressing picture of poverty and hopelessness, very detailed in the description of the human-horse relationships. I wasn't crazy about the title or the cover; if it didn't say it was a horror novel, the mystery/suspense as to what exactly was happening would have lasted right through to near the end. It's an excellently written book, with very carefully layered and lyrical language, and leaves clues in descriptions without revealing too much, which serves to build the suspense. I recommend it highly.

[Syn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastically weird. A horse gives birth to a human baby... Maybe... This is the premise of the book and it is wonderfully strange and Lynchian and I loved it. There may also be an ancient creature in the woods that is causing havoc as well. If you like books that are weird, go get this book now!

Dark, disturbing, and delightfully deranged. An addictive read that kept me turning pages as if I were driving through a fog and the strangest things would appear and happen when not expected.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t say that The Unmothers met my expectations because this story wasn’t anything I had expected it to be. There is so much to appreciate in what it was, though.

In fact, it was almost a perfect read for me. The author takes a rather subtle route in depicting female rage, quietly examining the way men have harmed women, the way that even the best of them can make choices that indelibly scar the females they encounter. It becomes more apparent as the story deepens, but I wouldn’t say it was ever explosive. I like this, though. I like a message that discreetly reveals itself, and I like obscurely meaningful content I can carefully chew away at.

While this falls into the folk horror category, the horror is not an ever present aspect. For a while, I was unsure how forcefully it would surface. Even the folklore of this subgenre seemed mostly dormant as we get to know the characters early on. Of course, there is this suspicious horse birthing a human story, but even the townspeople cast a shadow of doubt upon it. I’d wondered if I’d misunderstood the synopsis, but eventually the characters gave voice to a belief passed down from generation to generation, and this lore began to shine a light upon the way women are able to reclaim their bodies.

I wouldn’t call the horror unsettling, though, and I do not mean that in a critical way. There are some grisly murders, but we are privy only to the aftermath, rather than spectators in the hunt and kill. These scenes, I suspect, are more likely to produce sadness than fear. I also think we have enough information near the end to understand what needs to happen for the looming horror to abate, so it proves to be more suspenseful than scary. The core of its terror is the very knowledge that women are left behind too often to deal with the irresponsibility of men (and I do not mean all men, which is even clear in the text). This is something that will be painfully familiar for many ladies, and that will be the component that haunts them as readers.

My only complaint regarding Anderson’s vagueness is that I never felt I fully understood Emma’s connection to John Daily, or why he foolishly took a certain matter into his own hands. I think, particularly in reference to their connection, that more development here would have helped the potency of the message. Of course I could see that he was not a good man - essentially the human representation of an all consuming monster. I could also see what needed to happen to save the town. But I couldn’t quite feel what lurked in Emma’s heart, nor could I fully grasp why. Knowing he was awful wasn’t enough, as I wanted something demonstrated on a more personal level between them.

The Unmothers hits hard emotionally, and it does challenge the reader to think about what they’re being shown. These aspects mean so much to me in a book, and they are always my preference. Perhaps if I ever revisit this, I’ll see things differently, in terms of Daily’s relationship with Emma. This is the type of book that conceals nuggets for rediscovery, so I think it is an excellent option for discussion.

I am now a fan of Anderson’s writing. I’d like to read her previously published poetry and I have faith that her storytelling ability will only flourish with her next novel.

4.5 stars

[Mikala · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is for you if you love....
× horses
× women taking their power back
× folk legends and monsters that live in the woods

The premise is different from anything I've read before. While the story didn't impact me as much as I'd hoped, I still found the themes of desperation, and women trying to carve themselves a choice in a space where few options are given, to be well executed.

Reading notes along the way...

30% I love the horse appreciation in this. The story itself, I'm still waiting to hook me. It's kind of dull so far.

40% the part about being a girl and always being sexualized was really well written

The atmosphere of this small town is so yucky (on purpose, I know, but the author is doing a good job convincing that this would be a terrible place to live)

51% I'm not sure who all these different men are, there's too many characters in this small town, and I can't keep track of who's who.

71% it's getting more interesting the more details come out about the folk legend. This is the most interesting aspect of the story, and so far, it's only been sprinkled into the narrative.

88% I'm kind of ready for it to be over for some reason. I still haven't fully connected to this yet. It's not that it's bad, but for me, it's lacking something. And I'm still not retaining any of the side characters' names, so some chapters are confusing, and i feel like i dont care...

100% the ending felt a bit anticlimactic, and there wasn't much horror present, but overall, I found the story to be new, and I liked the themes explored.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Booooring! Ok, at least the first 3/4 were a slog to get through. Then suddenly it ramps up at the very end. I had such high hopes for this one, but it chose the dullest road to travel despite having such a fascinating plot.

A folkloric creature, a ritual where children are birthed by horses, monsters in human skins, a journalist who stumbles into a murderous mystery; sounds like the perfect thrilling horror right? Well somehow it meanders, follows the most uninteresting features of the land/lore, and the characters are yawn worthy and flat.

Giving this one 2 stars for at least the cool link between women and horses.

[Colton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to begin by saying that the story was very good despite my three star rating. The idea and the creativity and the plot were all so good and exciting. The execution wasn’t the best, though. And I think that the medium of a novella would have suited this more.

A grieving journalist is sent to a small rural town to look into and write a piece about a horse that gave birth to a healthy baby boy. That’s really all you need to know to go into this one. The rest of the story will unfold from there. You’ll be introduced to a large (almost too large, in my opinion) cast of characters. You’ll glimpse into the culture and the folklore and the legend of the things that lurk in the shadows of the woods. You’ll meet the women and be taken into their secret lives in order to make sense of it all.

I wish this book was shorter. Really, the first third of this book was not necessary for the development of the plot, and it almost felt like work that was not needed. The constant switching between POV’s and the effort of trying to remember who everyone was made getting to the meat and potatoes of the story a slog. I loved the idea, and I loved some of the characters. It just didn’t work well for me. However, if you’re a person who these things do work for, then this will likely be a home run urban legend novel for you.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite! I absolutely loved this. I tried not to read it too quickly, but it was honestly such a joy that I kept going back to it. I feel like no matter what I write in this review it's not going to do the book justice, and I also don't want to spoil anything, so I'm probably going to keep it sort of brief.

The writing is just so good. This is a book in which every paragraph is carefully crafted, and there is zero filler. You are immediately pulled into this atmospheric world, full of dread and death. Marshall, the reporter, is a main character you can root for. The small town feels frighteningly familiar and claustrophobic, and from the moment Marshall gets there the danger is palpable. This is the sort of place that knows everybody’s business but will typically turn a blind eye even if someone is desperate for help. The further I read, the more I found myself thinking, “Boy, I sure hope this turns out okay, somehow.”

There are many alternate POV chapters, (bordering on too many but Anderson is capable), and the characters that she chose to follow surprised me a little bit. You will get to know a LOT of people. Anderson does something I really admire, which is show me a person that first comes across as very unlikable and then later reveal another, more personal side of them that completely changes my perspective. For a little while I did have some trouble remembering who everyone was because there were so many townspeople involved, but eventually I had it all straight. Rather than do first person perspective she also opted for third person, so it feels more like the camera just follows one character for a few minutes and then smoothly shifts over to another.

The way Anderson describes horses and how magical they seem to little girls is powerful. If you are a fan of horses I think this book will resonate with you specifically, though please be aware that awful things also happen to horses in this story so it is a double edged sword of the most literal kind. I don't want to say too much about this novel, because I want people to read it and enjoy it like I did. But there are several complicated themes that are handled, such as Grief, Motherhood/Pregnancy (both wanted and unwanted), and Addiction. It’s absolutely horror, but it’s also a crime/mystery story. I would maybe call it a little bit of a slow burn, but it’s not boring in any way. I couldn't really guess where things were heading, nor did I want to try. It's one of those books with A24 vibes. Bizarre and creepy and surprising!

There were a couple of things about the town lore that I found a little confusing, but it was still so weird and interesting to me that I was completely on board. And by the end, I had a pretty good grasp on it. I think Anderson is extremely talented both as an author in general, (that prose!), and as a creative storyteller. If she releases another horror novel I will be first in line to read it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Animal death (violent), Substance abuse, Racism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal Ideation, Mention of Miscarriage

[Rmplift, Rachel Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Unmothers

I received this book for free from NG.

Reporter who just lost her husband is sent to a small town for a week to cover a teenager with a baby. Per usual, The towns people aren’t welcoming to an outsider. The book at first leads you to believe that the weird behavior from locals is due to poverty and opioid addiction. The life of the town is centered around horses. Around a quarter way through the book is when you finally start to see what the “mystery” is. The writing purposely makes it seem that there is incest or beastiality as a tactic to keep you glued in. About a third way through the book, the mother is finally identified and it’s not an animal or family member. The middle of the book is very frustrating because it is a LOT of POV switches to a lot of characters, but they are leading nowhere and don’t contribute to the story. At halfway through the book there is nothing but small town fights of the cliché “you were supposed to do better” (there are multiple young pregnancy’s within the town). Further into the book, it kinda starts to quicken up. Philip’s mom is contacted to reveal how she performed “the ritual”, to which it turns out that someone is paying her rent. Then it’s another round of small town drama. FINALLY, the monster makes an appearance (it’s the same monster from the Novel Her Soul to Take by Harley Larmoux). Someone messed up the ritual and now the monster is angry.

Some of the things didn’t line up. Like Agatha’s dad being “top dog” in the town yet Agatha and Roth were suffering and couldn’t afford to upkeep their houses, and an extremely poor town yet everyone had horses and paid for riding lessons,
Also, there was just too many POVs. My limit is 3, if the writing is organized. This book has way more than that.

I shouldn’t have to read half of a book to get some sort of substance from the pages. Until the 54% mark, there is maybe 3 pages of importance. The rest doesn’t do anything but bore and drag the reader. Seriously, we get it. They’re in a small town. We don’t need a hundred pages and 5 POVs to redundantly go over that. This book really let me down. I sped read it at the end it was so bad.

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unmothers
By Leslie J. Anderson

Thank you so much partner @quirkbooks @librofm for the gifted ARC and audiobook.

Blurb:
In this raw and lyrical folk horror novel, a journalist sent to a small town begins to unravel a dark secret that the women of the town have been keeping for generations.

🐎 My thoughts:
I honestly can’t decide which version I enjoyed more. If I wasn’t reading it, I was listening to it. Another book that was a sinister and completely insane. To say this story is deeply unsettling would be an understatement but it was so good. Don’t get me wrong, it was weird but weird in a good way. I’d consider this to be a slow burn but the story telling was impressive and I didn’t notice the pacing too much. This story is unique and introspective… and I think I love folk horror. What a great debut! If you enjoy off the wall stories, the ones that make you think, and mixed with horror… this is the one you need to read! The Unmothers is out TODAY!

Happy reading 📖 🐎

[Agrippina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! While the writing is at times uneven and tiny bit repetitive (some of it will probably be smoothed out by the final edits), this story of a depressed reporter following a bizarre lead in a small town known for its horse business (and superstitions) is excellent.
The sounds, smells, and the atmosphere of the foggy roads and the small town with its old church - it all worked really well. You may think you know where it’s going, but you don’t.
A very enjoyable, creepy read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I read it, so there’s that.

This was so different than anything I’ve read, and the folklore was cool. The book was just so confusing and dry. I felt like I was waiting, and waiting, a little depressed and waiting some more.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Words That Describe This Book: folk horror, strong sense of place, interesting characters

Things of note here:

*Strong debut
*Horse frame: this is important to note because for some readers this will be the reason to read or to avoid.
*not just gothic-- folk horror-- real monster
*PArt of the THERE IS SOMETHING IN THER WOODS trope
*small town, in country with a opiate problem but portrayed well-- honestly, no corners cut, no blaming, not resorting to stereotypes. That was nice to experience.
*MANY points of view-- different readers will decide if that is for them or not, but it does allow for a depth of the townsfolk.
*outsider protagonist who is broken in her own ways. Her journey is interesting an unique
*Centered around women, teen pregnancy, how women often bear the burden of well so much.

[Lisa Loving · Rating 2 out of 5]

A confusing struggle

The story never quite coalesced for me. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, however, any direction the plot was meant to go was lost as it bore up under the weight of too many words, and too many characters. I think that if more central themes and characters had been flushed out, and some of the detritus cleared away, a more meaningful story could have come about. As it stands, this book was in need of editing.

It’s as if someone let a couple of wild horses run through the forest with a typewriter. I can’t say I hated it, because again the story was really interesting, just not very well executed.

[Keri M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debut novel by Leslie J Anderson. I was impressed that she was able to convey the intricacies of small town life. Everyone is in everyone’s business and I’m here for someone else’s drama. You get a creepy monster in the woods that is a metaphor so so much more. I enjoyed this novel and can say well done on your debut!

[Carissa | the.grim.readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I requested it, but "folk horror" piqued my interest, and on the whole, the book didn't disappoint. I very much enjoyed the insular and secretive female community here, and the general feel of the not-quite-rightness of things. I liked the explanation given for the lore of the town, and that not everything was explained. Some things just were.

I was very intrigued and kind of horrified by the ritual that girls in this town can perform, and not because of the sacrifice required for it, but because of what it is supposed to do. And I'm with Roswell on this... I don't really see how anyone could continue living life normally knowing what they knew. Like... could you look at a horse that has your eyes and just... not go insane? I don't know if I could.

Anyway, there was a lot I liked about this - mainly in the tone and feel and lore. I liked the writing well enough for the most part. There were some really insightful and beautifully grim passages that I was into.

But the plotting and overall conflict left quite a bit to be desired for me. At one point a character is showing just how ruthless and cold they are, after killing several others already, and saying that they would kill far more if necessary to save themselves... but then... just goes along docilely? That seemed out of character. Though it's entirely possible that there was another explanation that was hinted at. Which is plausible, actually. Hmm.

One thing that I didn't love was the audiobook reader. She kept pronouncing "foal" and "full" "fool" and "fall" interchangeably and it threw me off every single time. In a book with foolish teen girls, and horses and women/girls birthing young, and taking place in the season after summer... it was a little bit of a challenge to track. But weirdly, everything else about her narration was fine... just four letter F words that are not THE four letter F word... yeah those I never quite knew which one she was saying. LOL

Anyway, I did like this, and I think I'd definitely read more from Anderson in the future.