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The Slaughter Man
When her identical twin Laurel dies, seventeen-year-old Willow’s life falls apart. With her parents’ marriage faltering, she finds escape at her uncle Joe’s cottage. But even as they begin to know each other, Willow is plagued with memories of her sister. Then, Lucas arrives in her life – troubled, angry and with a dangerous past.
Joe’s cottage is idyllic, but the forest is filled with secrets. What is Joe hiding from her? What events have brought Lucas to her door? And who is the Slaughter Man who steals through Willow’s sleep?
As the lines between dreams and reality become blurred, Willow’s torment deepens. It seems as if her only escape lies with the Slaughter Man.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2019
4 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Parkin
14 books132 followersCassandra Parkin grew up in Hull, and now lives in East Yorkshire. Her short story collection, New World Fairy Tales (Salt Publishing, 2011), won the 2011 Scott Prize for Short Stories and her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.
The Summer We All Ran Away (Legend Press, 2013) was Cassandra's debut novel.
Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. The Beach Hut (Legend Press, 2015) is her second novel.
Visit Cassandra at cassandraparkin.wordpress.com or on Twitter @cassandrajaneuk
The Summer We All Ran Away (Legend Press, 2013) was Cassandra's debut novel.
Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. The Beach Hut (Legend Press, 2015) is her second novel.
Visit Cassandra at cassandraparkin.wordpress.com or on Twitter @cassandrajaneuk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 17, 2019
The Slaughter Man is an intense, beautifully written novel about grief, in this case the peculiar grief following the loss of part of you as Willow goes on a very personal and difficult journey after the death of her identical twin sister.
In fact The Slaughter Man is a novel of identity, of readjusting to a new reality and it is told through a dreamlike quality of prose and an emotionally resonant point of view. The Slaughter Man at the heart of the novel is a person both real and imagined, Willow silent in life, yet talking in other ways leads us down dark and difficult paths. Informed more and more by those around her, including Luca, a damaged soul, her Uncle who is struggling with demons of his own and, of course, the evocative Slaughter Man, slowly but surely Willow works out her pain.
The setting is melancholy and gorgeous, the realities insightful, The Slaughter Man is a very personal, very human tale and I fell into it, a literary gem that holds you in its quirky, heartfelt grip from first page to last.
Recommended.
In fact The Slaughter Man is a novel of identity, of readjusting to a new reality and it is told through a dreamlike quality of prose and an emotionally resonant point of view. The Slaughter Man at the heart of the novel is a person both real and imagined, Willow silent in life, yet talking in other ways leads us down dark and difficult paths. Informed more and more by those around her, including Luca, a damaged soul, her Uncle who is struggling with demons of his own and, of course, the evocative Slaughter Man, slowly but surely Willow works out her pain.
The setting is melancholy and gorgeous, the realities insightful, The Slaughter Man is a very personal, very human tale and I fell into it, a literary gem that holds you in its quirky, heartfelt grip from first page to last.
Recommended.
January 7, 2022
This book did not deliver in the way I expected at all. Anticipating a horror-thriller novel set in the woods, instead I was confronted with a book drowning in grief and isolation from start to finish.
Willow is suffering from mutism as a result of her twin sister’s unexpected death. Willow feels guilt at being the survivor and struggles to live with herself, even down to not being able to look in the mirror because she sees her identical twin. Haunted by abstract dreams, sleepwalking and bed-wetting, she is eventually sent to her uncle’s remote farm. Of course, argue so many around her, a change will help Willow, help her to heal, and encourage her to communicate again.
Except, this does not happen. This book explores Willow’s grief and is largely descriptive. It is densely worded and whilst I appreciated most of the descriptions, I still found the book slow and difficult to navigate. Willow describes her attempts at communicating, but this still results in one-sided conversations with those she interacts with. As such, this book is swamped with sadness as we watch a teenager struggle to come to terms with her grief and how she can move forwards in life.
Yet, it turns out that Willow is not the only one suffering. Her uncle and her new friend, Lucas, also have troubled backgrounds. Coupled with the mysterious Slaughter Man who lives in the woods, it seems like Willow is attracted to these troubled souls. As her relationship grows with both Lucas and her uncle, I felt like she was on the cusp of communicating. However, Willow remains mute until the very final pages of the novel.
There are some scenes which I found quite entertaining, such as how Willow comes to adopt a kitten and goat at her uncle’s farm house. This lightened the mood of what I felt was a rather saddening story. On the other hand, I could not grasp the significance of the Slaughter Man himself and wanted Parkin to have developed his presence more in the story. Instead, he is just a presence in the forest; a ‘boogie man’ who haunts nightmares and should be avoided at all costs.
In conclusion, I think I missed the point of this narrative. It is more a drama, an exploration of how we deal with emotional trauma. A sad, detailed narrative, I think you have to approach this story with strength in order to help Willow heal.
With thanks to Legend Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Willow is suffering from mutism as a result of her twin sister’s unexpected death. Willow feels guilt at being the survivor and struggles to live with herself, even down to not being able to look in the mirror because she sees her identical twin. Haunted by abstract dreams, sleepwalking and bed-wetting, she is eventually sent to her uncle’s remote farm. Of course, argue so many around her, a change will help Willow, help her to heal, and encourage her to communicate again.
Except, this does not happen. This book explores Willow’s grief and is largely descriptive. It is densely worded and whilst I appreciated most of the descriptions, I still found the book slow and difficult to navigate. Willow describes her attempts at communicating, but this still results in one-sided conversations with those she interacts with. As such, this book is swamped with sadness as we watch a teenager struggle to come to terms with her grief and how she can move forwards in life.
Yet, it turns out that Willow is not the only one suffering. Her uncle and her new friend, Lucas, also have troubled backgrounds. Coupled with the mysterious Slaughter Man who lives in the woods, it seems like Willow is attracted to these troubled souls. As her relationship grows with both Lucas and her uncle, I felt like she was on the cusp of communicating. However, Willow remains mute until the very final pages of the novel.
There are some scenes which I found quite entertaining, such as how Willow comes to adopt a kitten and goat at her uncle’s farm house. This lightened the mood of what I felt was a rather saddening story. On the other hand, I could not grasp the significance of the Slaughter Man himself and wanted Parkin to have developed his presence more in the story. Instead, he is just a presence in the forest; a ‘boogie man’ who haunts nightmares and should be avoided at all costs.
In conclusion, I think I missed the point of this narrative. It is more a drama, an exploration of how we deal with emotional trauma. A sad, detailed narrative, I think you have to approach this story with strength in order to help Willow heal.
With thanks to Legend Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2019
This book woo’ed me - I practically devoured it in one session I thought it was going to be completely different from what it actually turned out to be.
The Slaughter Man is a beautifully written, intense, heartbreaking solid read.
Essentially it’s about grief, that of Willow the main character whose twin sister Laurel has recently died.
Through grief - Willow can no longer speak and her family, her mother and father are struggling with their own loss, decide that a change of scenery and location - staying with her uncle Joe might help her to open up and be a teenager again.
As Willow has stopped speaking, the reader is the only person who can actually understand what’s going on in Willows head, what she imagines saying if her voice was not closed because of emotion is narrated on paper.
Once she has unpacked at her Uncles she goes to explore through her bedroom door which leads directly to the outside. There are signs everywhere “No Trespassing” “Private Property” - clearly wanting to feel something to alleviate the numbness of grief she ignores them - of course she does and hides away as the Slaughter Man shows himself.
I can’t tell you much more about him without spoiling it for you.
She also meets Luca another troubled soul who is staying at the nearby farmhouse - he immediately tells her in his own words he is dangerous and as their friendships grow - so did their stories.
When the reveal came at the end re Luca’s issues I hadn’t guessed correctly and was hoping more to unravel - now they had connected. We simply ran out of book.
As the novel progresses Willows real life and her dreams are her minds attempts to deal with grief, the unsaid, the unfinished. The dreams are in her head very real and can be disturbing. They are vivid and leave you totally drawn into the scene.
With the subject matter of intense grief you would think it’s a difficult read but somehow it isn’t and leaves you feeling for the characters as they retract into their own darkness.
What a writer Cassandra Parkin is - unique, excellent, well paced and definitely up there with my favorites this year.
It’s a emotion filled book that grabbed my attention when I was least expecting it. Such a different style of writing creating a story that stays in your head for days afterwards.
I highly recommend this author and book.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Slaughter Man is a beautifully written, intense, heartbreaking solid read.
Essentially it’s about grief, that of Willow the main character whose twin sister Laurel has recently died.
Through grief - Willow can no longer speak and her family, her mother and father are struggling with their own loss, decide that a change of scenery and location - staying with her uncle Joe might help her to open up and be a teenager again.
As Willow has stopped speaking, the reader is the only person who can actually understand what’s going on in Willows head, what she imagines saying if her voice was not closed because of emotion is narrated on paper.
Once she has unpacked at her Uncles she goes to explore through her bedroom door which leads directly to the outside. There are signs everywhere “No Trespassing” “Private Property” - clearly wanting to feel something to alleviate the numbness of grief she ignores them - of course she does and hides away as the Slaughter Man shows himself.
I can’t tell you much more about him without spoiling it for you.
She also meets Luca another troubled soul who is staying at the nearby farmhouse - he immediately tells her in his own words he is dangerous and as their friendships grow - so did their stories.
When the reveal came at the end re Luca’s issues I hadn’t guessed correctly and was hoping more to unravel - now they had connected. We simply ran out of book.
As the novel progresses Willows real life and her dreams are her minds attempts to deal with grief, the unsaid, the unfinished. The dreams are in her head very real and can be disturbing. They are vivid and leave you totally drawn into the scene.
With the subject matter of intense grief you would think it’s a difficult read but somehow it isn’t and leaves you feeling for the characters as they retract into their own darkness.
What a writer Cassandra Parkin is - unique, excellent, well paced and definitely up there with my favorites this year.
It’s a emotion filled book that grabbed my attention when I was least expecting it. Such a different style of writing creating a story that stays in your head for days afterwards.
I highly recommend this author and book.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 10, 2019
What an intense, emotional, haunting and unforgettable book. Essentially, it is about grief - that of Willow whose twin sister Laurel recently died. But it is also about recovery, about the power of our dreams, about the violent acts that shape us, and about the strangers who are not always what they seem. I devoured this in days, and can't forget it.
December 19, 2020
That was not what I was expecting. And honestly, I didn't like it. From the blurb I thought it was going to be a horror thriller. It was actually a long, slow meditation on grief and loss.
I feel like I can be honest, because this isn't a self-published/tiny publishing house offering where my thoughts actually mean something or could have some bearing on the author's success. Parkin is going to do well with this no matter what I rate it, so... no guilt.
So, yes. This is one to return. It was a slog, made even worse by the curse of "lush prose." Some folks dig it, but that kind of overly descriptive, aren't-I-cute-and-clever-and-etherial thing gives me a stomachache.
And nothing happened!
Spoilers here on out:
Nothing happens. Teen girl's identical twin dies, she becomes mute because of the trauma, and her parents ship her off to visit her uncle on his "farm" for a month to see if it will help, because they haven't been able to. She sleepwalks and has weird dreams and starts to get confused between dream and waking life. She meets a teen boy who has rage issues and is being fostered by her neighbor. He nearly beat his mom's boyfriend to death because he was sexually abusing him, and now he might go to jail.
They break into the local animal slaughterer's house, twice. He is mythologized, but is actually your garden variety prepper type.
The books ends with the two teens making out in his slaughter room, getting caught by him, him locking them in, and then the girl has a cathartic dream and feels like she might be able to start healing, believing that the scary guy is just going to go get their guardians, locking them up to protect them from themselves, because of course he isn't going to kill them.
I hope that's the case.
At any rate, this was in no way enjoyable.
I feel like I can be honest, because this isn't a self-published/tiny publishing house offering where my thoughts actually mean something or could have some bearing on the author's success. Parkin is going to do well with this no matter what I rate it, so... no guilt.
So, yes. This is one to return. It was a slog, made even worse by the curse of "lush prose." Some folks dig it, but that kind of overly descriptive, aren't-I-cute-and-clever-and-etherial thing gives me a stomachache.
And nothing happened!
Spoilers here on out:
Nothing happens. Teen girl's identical twin dies, she becomes mute because of the trauma, and her parents ship her off to visit her uncle on his "farm" for a month to see if it will help, because they haven't been able to. She sleepwalks and has weird dreams and starts to get confused between dream and waking life. She meets a teen boy who has rage issues and is being fostered by her neighbor. He nearly beat his mom's boyfriend to death because he was sexually abusing him, and now he might go to jail.
They break into the local animal slaughterer's house, twice. He is mythologized, but is actually your garden variety prepper type.
The books ends with the two teens making out in his slaughter room, getting caught by him, him locking them in, and then the girl has a cathartic dream and feels like she might be able to start healing, believing that the scary guy is just going to go get their guardians, locking them up to protect them from themselves, because of course he isn't going to kill them.
I hope that's the case.
At any rate, this was in no way enjoyable.
September 21, 2019
I'm surprised by the amount of negative reviews this easy to read thriller novel had received because it really wasn't all that bad. Sure it's not great since there were a little more than a few flaws that I disliked but the authors writing style allowed the story to run smoothly and emotionally driven storyline that showcased the reality of grief impressed me greatly. I loved the dynamic between Lucas and Willow, and how he pushed her towards the end. I will notate that I wasn't exactly impressed with the ending which left me with a lot of unanswered questions but despite that, it was an overall decent mystery thriller.
November 14, 2019
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Seventeen-year-old Willow Tomms has just lost her identical twin sister. Her world is irrevocably changed. Not only were they womb mates, they had shared everything in their lives - including their face.
"They belong together, and their sudden cleaving into separateness has made a wrong place in her soul that will never, ever heal."
Now, the trauma of losing her sister has rendered Willow mute. Her voice is lost along with her sister Laurel. She suffers from debilitating social anxiety. She is loathe to look into mirrors because the face that stares back at her is that of her sister. Sometimes she is unsure who she is. Which is the live sister and which is the dead? Willow thinks she wants to die - to join her sister.
Willow has troublesome and frightening nightmares in which she see's Laurel, sometimes at Laurel's funeral. Except in her dreams the people all have bird heads...
Her parents are finding it horrendously difficult as well. Every time they gaze at Willow they are reminded of the daughter they so recently lost...
They hatch a plan to send Willow off to live for a short while at Willow's Uncle Joe's house. Hopefully there Willow can heal and Joe will have some company.
Though supportive, loving, and kind, Joe has deep seated troubles of his own - though he is secretive about this to Willow so as not to upset her further...
Willow meets the woman farmer next door who has a teenage foster son named Luca. Luca, who is around Willow's age, is in trouble with the law. They strike up a strange friendship.
Also... Willow wanders at night barefoot through the nearby forest. It is here that she encounters the scary man who lives alone there.
They call him "The Slaughter Man".
"They tried to tell us we were different people, but we both knew better. We're the same. We have one heart between us. And that's why we're both broken."
MY THOUGHTS
My first acquaintance with the writing of Cassandra Parkin came about when I read her novel "Underwater Breathing". The second work of hers I read was "The Winter's Child". I was so impressed by both of those that I've come to realize that I will endeavor to read everything she has written - as time permits.
The cover of "The Slaughter Man" might lead a prospective reader to think that they were about to read a horror novel or a thriller. They would be incorrect. Although Cassandra Parkin's books have elements of other genres, they are all well-rendered literary fiction. "The Slaughter Man" is no exception.
This is a novel about the many facets of grief. Sounds like a downer you say? No, that was not the case here. Though I'm a crier, this novel did not make me weep. On reflection, I believe it was because the entire story had a subtle underlying feel of hopefulness.
The surreal nature of Willow's dreams added much to the overall narrative. Also, the setting was rich in detail and easily imagined.
Memorable due to its fully fleshed-out characters, "The Slaughter Man" tells us what all good literary fiction tells us. It speaks to the human condition and how we are all an amalgam of emotions - despair vying with hope on a daily basis. This novel reaffirms the advice that we all must attempt to find as much joy as we can.
Highly recommended!
Seventeen-year-old Willow Tomms has just lost her identical twin sister. Her world is irrevocably changed. Not only were they womb mates, they had shared everything in their lives - including their face.
"They belong together, and their sudden cleaving into separateness has made a wrong place in her soul that will never, ever heal."
Now, the trauma of losing her sister has rendered Willow mute. Her voice is lost along with her sister Laurel. She suffers from debilitating social anxiety. She is loathe to look into mirrors because the face that stares back at her is that of her sister. Sometimes she is unsure who she is. Which is the live sister and which is the dead? Willow thinks she wants to die - to join her sister.
Willow has troublesome and frightening nightmares in which she see's Laurel, sometimes at Laurel's funeral. Except in her dreams the people all have bird heads...
Her parents are finding it horrendously difficult as well. Every time they gaze at Willow they are reminded of the daughter they so recently lost...
They hatch a plan to send Willow off to live for a short while at Willow's Uncle Joe's house. Hopefully there Willow can heal and Joe will have some company.
Though supportive, loving, and kind, Joe has deep seated troubles of his own - though he is secretive about this to Willow so as not to upset her further...
Willow meets the woman farmer next door who has a teenage foster son named Luca. Luca, who is around Willow's age, is in trouble with the law. They strike up a strange friendship.
Also... Willow wanders at night barefoot through the nearby forest. It is here that she encounters the scary man who lives alone there.
They call him "The Slaughter Man".
"They tried to tell us we were different people, but we both knew better. We're the same. We have one heart between us. And that's why we're both broken."
MY THOUGHTS
My first acquaintance with the writing of Cassandra Parkin came about when I read her novel "Underwater Breathing". The second work of hers I read was "The Winter's Child". I was so impressed by both of those that I've come to realize that I will endeavor to read everything she has written - as time permits.
The cover of "The Slaughter Man" might lead a prospective reader to think that they were about to read a horror novel or a thriller. They would be incorrect. Although Cassandra Parkin's books have elements of other genres, they are all well-rendered literary fiction. "The Slaughter Man" is no exception.
This is a novel about the many facets of grief. Sounds like a downer you say? No, that was not the case here. Though I'm a crier, this novel did not make me weep. On reflection, I believe it was because the entire story had a subtle underlying feel of hopefulness.
The surreal nature of Willow's dreams added much to the overall narrative. Also, the setting was rich in detail and easily imagined.
Memorable due to its fully fleshed-out characters, "The Slaughter Man" tells us what all good literary fiction tells us. It speaks to the human condition and how we are all an amalgam of emotions - despair vying with hope on a daily basis. This novel reaffirms the advice that we all must attempt to find as much joy as we can.
Highly recommended!
October 16, 2019
With a striking title like this, you could be fooled to think this book is a tale of horror and gore. But, the cover and blurb will bring you to realise that this book has hidden depths and is much more than a thriller.
Willow's identical twin sister Laurel has died. A part of her has been taken away. They were close and did everything together, the sisters were the ultimate two peas in a pod. So, when Laurel dies, Willow is left with a gaping hole in her life.
We get to see not only the emotional impact but also the physical impact that Laurel's death has on Willow. She has lost the ability to speak and finds it hard to look in the mirror, because she's not just seeing her reflection but that of her sisters face.
Her parents are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their daughter. Their marriage is disintegrating as they struggle to deal with Willow. What I found a masterpiece here was that Willow's mother is actually a grief counsellor. She is trained and spends all her time helping people with grief. Yet, when it comes to her own personal experience and that of her daughter she doesn't know how to cope. This emphasises the fact that grief hits people in different ways.
The decision comes for Willow to spend some time at her uncle Joe's house. However, laid back Uncle Joe gives her a room with stairs leading to the outside an independent entrance, not the best idea given one of Willow's grieving strategies is sleepwalking. Willow has been dealing with haunting dreams that blur the lines of reality. And, her first night staying at Joe's is when she comes across the Slaughter Man.
The Slaughter Man is feared by the locals, an urban myth per se. Willow's dreams and reality start to merge. Does the slaughter man hold the key to Willow's recovery.
Willow meets Luca, a troubled soul. He is in his own words dangerous. There is an air of mystery within the other characters in this story, we realise they all have their own troubles to deal with. I enjoyed how their stories unfolded and how Parkin tackled very sensitive issues beautifully.
The only negative I have about this book is that it was too short, I would have loved to read more and maybe delved deeper into the backstories of the characters.
Willow's identical twin sister Laurel has died. A part of her has been taken away. They were close and did everything together, the sisters were the ultimate two peas in a pod. So, when Laurel dies, Willow is left with a gaping hole in her life.
We get to see not only the emotional impact but also the physical impact that Laurel's death has on Willow. She has lost the ability to speak and finds it hard to look in the mirror, because she's not just seeing her reflection but that of her sisters face.
Her parents are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their daughter. Their marriage is disintegrating as they struggle to deal with Willow. What I found a masterpiece here was that Willow's mother is actually a grief counsellor. She is trained and spends all her time helping people with grief. Yet, when it comes to her own personal experience and that of her daughter she doesn't know how to cope. This emphasises the fact that grief hits people in different ways.
The decision comes for Willow to spend some time at her uncle Joe's house. However, laid back Uncle Joe gives her a room with stairs leading to the outside an independent entrance, not the best idea given one of Willow's grieving strategies is sleepwalking. Willow has been dealing with haunting dreams that blur the lines of reality. And, her first night staying at Joe's is when she comes across the Slaughter Man.
The Slaughter Man is feared by the locals, an urban myth per se. Willow's dreams and reality start to merge. Does the slaughter man hold the key to Willow's recovery.
Willow meets Luca, a troubled soul. He is in his own words dangerous. There is an air of mystery within the other characters in this story, we realise they all have their own troubles to deal with. I enjoyed how their stories unfolded and how Parkin tackled very sensitive issues beautifully.
The only negative I have about this book is that it was too short, I would have loved to read more and maybe delved deeper into the backstories of the characters.
September 16, 2019
I was kindly sent a copy of this book from the publishers at legendpress as i took part in the book tour over on Instagram, all views are my own.
This book really blew me away! it was so different from what i guess i initially thought it was going to be like, i had thought maybe it would be quite a supernatural vibe but i couldn't have predicted how emotional it was!. From the start i was just instantly taken by the story, and by Willow! what a brilliant character!.
I adored learning all Willows thoughts all the way through this story, often heart breaking and just so honest. I was willing her to speak up but i think it's such a sign of really powerful lead character when you can be so taken by them despite their silence!. I loved seeing her with her uncle Joe, another character dealing with his own demons, i wish we could have delved a bit more into his story but i did really enjoy what we did find out.
Another character that needs a mention in Luca, he was quite hard to figure out initially but when the heartbreaking reveal about his troubled past came to light i could totally see why he was the way he was. That really shocked me, when that reveal came it wasn't what i expected at all, even though i am never any good at guessing correctly, but i in no way would have thought that anyway. That moment when he opened up and told Willow what he went through was really touching. I would have liked a bit more on the after of that, to see what happened next between them etc.
This has instantly gone into my favourites of the year books! , i loved everything about it from the beautiful , descriptive and gripping writing , to it's brilliant and powerful characters , and mostly it's absolute rollercoaster of emotion that i went on while reading it.
My only complaint...i wanted more! , it could have easily been about 100 pages longer and i would have stayed glued to it. That ending though, that was perfect!!
I highly would recommend this one to anyone honestly, a really solid beautiful read, one that is touching and heartbreaking but also covering the light that comes from the dark too. I will say be warned if you are uncomfortable reading about self harm , suicide mentions etc , because their are a few quite graphic self harm instances and they could be very triggering for certain people ,so tread lightly and as always don't go into something if you don't feel 100% sure about it.
This book really blew me away! it was so different from what i guess i initially thought it was going to be like, i had thought maybe it would be quite a supernatural vibe but i couldn't have predicted how emotional it was!. From the start i was just instantly taken by the story, and by Willow! what a brilliant character!.
I adored learning all Willows thoughts all the way through this story, often heart breaking and just so honest. I was willing her to speak up but i think it's such a sign of really powerful lead character when you can be so taken by them despite their silence!. I loved seeing her with her uncle Joe, another character dealing with his own demons, i wish we could have delved a bit more into his story but i did really enjoy what we did find out.
Another character that needs a mention in Luca, he was quite hard to figure out initially but when the heartbreaking reveal about his troubled past came to light i could totally see why he was the way he was. That really shocked me, when that reveal came it wasn't what i expected at all, even though i am never any good at guessing correctly, but i in no way would have thought that anyway. That moment when he opened up and told Willow what he went through was really touching. I would have liked a bit more on the after of that, to see what happened next between them etc.
This has instantly gone into my favourites of the year books! , i loved everything about it from the beautiful , descriptive and gripping writing , to it's brilliant and powerful characters , and mostly it's absolute rollercoaster of emotion that i went on while reading it.
My only complaint...i wanted more! , it could have easily been about 100 pages longer and i would have stayed glued to it. That ending though, that was perfect!!
I highly would recommend this one to anyone honestly, a really solid beautiful read, one that is touching and heartbreaking but also covering the light that comes from the dark too. I will say be warned if you are uncomfortable reading about self harm , suicide mentions etc , because their are a few quite graphic self harm instances and they could be very triggering for certain people ,so tread lightly and as always don't go into something if you don't feel 100% sure about it.
September 20, 2019
The first thing I have to say about this book is that it contains some of the most beautiful, lyrical writing that I’ve ever read. With such an original concept and haunting, dream-like prose, The Slaughter Man is definitely a very special book.
We follow Willow, a 17 year old girl struggling with grief following her twin sisters death. Since Laurel’s death, Willow no longer speaks and is finding it difficult to carry on with her life. It’s decided that she should spend some time away from home and stay with her Uncle Joe in his remote cottage. The Slaughter Man is filled with extremely interesting and complex characters. Joe is dealing with many problems of his own and so is Luca, a teenage boy staying at the local farm. Willow is warned to stay away from the man who lives alone in the woods (known as The Slaughter Man) but in her dreams she feels drawn to him and as though he will be the one to end her pain.
I loved the way that this story was told in both the present and through Willow’s dreams, which felt so real and raw. The setting was perfect and the atmosphere was chilling.
The personification of grief and pain, as well as Willow’s dark dreams and visions made this book both creepy and compelling. I wish that we were given some more information as to what happened to each character at the end of the story and unfortunately, in some parts of the book I felt the plot was quite slow. Despite this, The Slaughter Man was an incredibly touching and important read and I very much enjoyed it - 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Legend Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Willow, a 17 year old girl struggling with grief following her twin sisters death. Since Laurel’s death, Willow no longer speaks and is finding it difficult to carry on with her life. It’s decided that she should spend some time away from home and stay with her Uncle Joe in his remote cottage. The Slaughter Man is filled with extremely interesting and complex characters. Joe is dealing with many problems of his own and so is Luca, a teenage boy staying at the local farm. Willow is warned to stay away from the man who lives alone in the woods (known as The Slaughter Man) but in her dreams she feels drawn to him and as though he will be the one to end her pain.
I loved the way that this story was told in both the present and through Willow’s dreams, which felt so real and raw. The setting was perfect and the atmosphere was chilling.
The personification of grief and pain, as well as Willow’s dark dreams and visions made this book both creepy and compelling. I wish that we were given some more information as to what happened to each character at the end of the story and unfortunately, in some parts of the book I felt the plot was quite slow. Despite this, The Slaughter Man was an incredibly touching and important read and I very much enjoyed it - 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Legend Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2019
As a portrait of grief, this book is quite exceptional. The loss of an identical twin – that other self you constantly see in the mirror – only makes that loss even more inescapable. And this is grief felt so deeply that it has a physical impact – Willow can no longer speak. But this book takes us inside her head, sharing her thoughts and imagined conversations – and sharing her disturbing dreams, and their aftermath. It’s an uncomfortable place to be – and the whole experience is an emotional one, intensely disturbing and unsettling.
But this book is so much more than a wallow in the emotions of a devastated seventeen year old – it also looks at the dynamics of families (making her mother a grief counsellor, struggling with her own loss, was a real masterstroke), the making of new relationships, and the possibility of moving on. Willow leaves home for a while to stay with her uncle Joe – and his relationships, personal and familial, expose another facet of those dynamics. The telephone calls with her mother are wonderfully handled – one party always silent, the connection only the sound of her breathing, with a sharing of random thoughts and a lot of love in return. Her new friend, Luca, is also disturbed (what an inadequate word that is…), but their relationship builds – and perhaps brings the faintest glimmer of hope that there may be some hope for Willow’s future.
The dreams… oh my goodness, the dreams. They’re so vivid – and they have that disturbing quality of half reality, half imagination, drawing on the material available from the real world. I’ll leave the whole character of the Slaughter Man himself to your imagination until you read the book – but the threat and terror is real and palpable.
Something else I really liked about this book was the drawing in of the natural world – the goats, the kitten, the birds, the meadows, the dark woods and the pathways through it. Maybe not a rather pivotal scene in the barn, on the haystacks – but it certainly had a powerful impact.
The writing is quite wonderful – although recounted in the third person, Willow’s internal voice is clear and unequivocal throughout. Almost bizarrely, it isn’t a difficult read, other than its content – the author’s writing has a fluidity and eloquence that enables you to totally immerse yourself in the story, and the whole is perfectly paced. Does it all sound a bit intense and unrelenting? It really isn’t, and there are moments – just here and there – of unexpected and welcome lightness.
Don’t miss this one – another definite addition to my books of the year, and very highly recommended.
But this book is so much more than a wallow in the emotions of a devastated seventeen year old – it also looks at the dynamics of families (making her mother a grief counsellor, struggling with her own loss, was a real masterstroke), the making of new relationships, and the possibility of moving on. Willow leaves home for a while to stay with her uncle Joe – and his relationships, personal and familial, expose another facet of those dynamics. The telephone calls with her mother are wonderfully handled – one party always silent, the connection only the sound of her breathing, with a sharing of random thoughts and a lot of love in return. Her new friend, Luca, is also disturbed (what an inadequate word that is…), but their relationship builds – and perhaps brings the faintest glimmer of hope that there may be some hope for Willow’s future.
The dreams… oh my goodness, the dreams. They’re so vivid – and they have that disturbing quality of half reality, half imagination, drawing on the material available from the real world. I’ll leave the whole character of the Slaughter Man himself to your imagination until you read the book – but the threat and terror is real and palpable.
Something else I really liked about this book was the drawing in of the natural world – the goats, the kitten, the birds, the meadows, the dark woods and the pathways through it. Maybe not a rather pivotal scene in the barn, on the haystacks – but it certainly had a powerful impact.
The writing is quite wonderful – although recounted in the third person, Willow’s internal voice is clear and unequivocal throughout. Almost bizarrely, it isn’t a difficult read, other than its content – the author’s writing has a fluidity and eloquence that enables you to totally immerse yourself in the story, and the whole is perfectly paced. Does it all sound a bit intense and unrelenting? It really isn’t, and there are moments – just here and there – of unexpected and welcome lightness.
Don’t miss this one – another definite addition to my books of the year, and very highly recommended.
October 6, 2019
First of all, DO NOT let the title of the novel fool you into thinking this is a King-style horror, hatchets flying from the hand of some demonic woodsman. It is nothing like that. There have been some reviewers who have mused on appropriateness of the title, Slaughter Man for this reason. Well, in this blogger's opinion, that's what synopses are there for, and I like the title.
Anyway... enough about that.
What this novel is, rather than being a hatchet horror, is a beautiful meditation on the effects of grief, loss and finding yourself again. Willow, the main protagonist, is reeling from the loss of her twin sister, Laurel. Opening at the scene of the funeral, Willow is dreaming... each of the mourners' heads have been replaced with that of a bird, the coffin is the wrong colour and the 'Death Bird' comes to collect Willow... and she wakes.
The novel flips, chapter-by-chapter, between Willow's real life and her dreamscapes as her mind attempts to process the grief, the unsaid, and undone. She's, quite understandably, not coping well with her loss, and so she goes to stay with her uncle for a while. On the journey, she spots a crow at the service station - and her nightmares about the funeral return...
Once settled into her uncle Joe's house, she goes wandering through the woods - of course she does - and comes across a property. There are signs everywhere saying 'PRIVATE PROPERTY', 'NO TRESPASSING' - you'd think she'd heed the warnings .. and that's when we meet 'The Slaughter Man' stood at the window - and Willow promptly scares herself silly.
As we move through the chapters, still switching between reality and dreams, Willow meets a selection of characters who slowly but surely become part of her new life. I won't tell you what happens with 'The Slaughter Man', but I can tell you that Cassandra's writing is excellent. The switch between real and imagined becomes blurred at times, violent and sad on occasion, but a very real musing on grief and diminished mental states in such trying times. I think we can all admit to having particularly vivid and sometimes violent dreams when we are stressed/over-tired/grieving, and Parkin's depiction of these states is authentic and touching.
I highly recommend The Slaughter Man, a very powerful narrative on the effects of grief.
Anyway... enough about that.
What this novel is, rather than being a hatchet horror, is a beautiful meditation on the effects of grief, loss and finding yourself again. Willow, the main protagonist, is reeling from the loss of her twin sister, Laurel. Opening at the scene of the funeral, Willow is dreaming... each of the mourners' heads have been replaced with that of a bird, the coffin is the wrong colour and the 'Death Bird' comes to collect Willow... and she wakes.
The novel flips, chapter-by-chapter, between Willow's real life and her dreamscapes as her mind attempts to process the grief, the unsaid, and undone. She's, quite understandably, not coping well with her loss, and so she goes to stay with her uncle for a while. On the journey, she spots a crow at the service station - and her nightmares about the funeral return...
Once settled into her uncle Joe's house, she goes wandering through the woods - of course she does - and comes across a property. There are signs everywhere saying 'PRIVATE PROPERTY', 'NO TRESPASSING' - you'd think she'd heed the warnings .. and that's when we meet 'The Slaughter Man' stood at the window - and Willow promptly scares herself silly.
As we move through the chapters, still switching between reality and dreams, Willow meets a selection of characters who slowly but surely become part of her new life. I won't tell you what happens with 'The Slaughter Man', but I can tell you that Cassandra's writing is excellent. The switch between real and imagined becomes blurred at times, violent and sad on occasion, but a very real musing on grief and diminished mental states in such trying times. I think we can all admit to having particularly vivid and sometimes violent dreams when we are stressed/over-tired/grieving, and Parkin's depiction of these states is authentic and touching.
I highly recommend The Slaughter Man, a very powerful narrative on the effects of grief.
September 16, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
At seventeen, Willow loses the most important person in her life: her twin sister, Laurel. Now, with nightmares haunting her every night and her life a complete mess, she has to learn how to cope without her soul sister. When things get incredibly rough, her uncle will take her away for a change of scenery. But in a cottage, away from the largest part of civilization, can Willow handle the secrets she will find?
Being a big fan of Cassandra Parkin's previous books, I had high expectations for The Slaughter Man. And, although some parts of the story were incredibly depicted and narrating (like the pain and loss Willow feels without her sister, or her road to recovery), this story felt quite disappointing. First of all, the title makes you expect something that doesn't quite come. For spoiler reasons, I won't get in depth on that. Willow's story built up my expectation as I kept reading. Instead of a crescendo, it offered me a disappointing ending that had little to show compared to the rest of the story.
Willow's character was very well constructed and the in-depth depiction of her thoughts and dreams was marvelous. But other than her, the characters were shallow and lacking. All in all, it wasn't a book that left a great impression on me.
At seventeen, Willow loses the most important person in her life: her twin sister, Laurel. Now, with nightmares haunting her every night and her life a complete mess, she has to learn how to cope without her soul sister. When things get incredibly rough, her uncle will take her away for a change of scenery. But in a cottage, away from the largest part of civilization, can Willow handle the secrets she will find?
Being a big fan of Cassandra Parkin's previous books, I had high expectations for The Slaughter Man. And, although some parts of the story were incredibly depicted and narrating (like the pain and loss Willow feels without her sister, or her road to recovery), this story felt quite disappointing. First of all, the title makes you expect something that doesn't quite come. For spoiler reasons, I won't get in depth on that. Willow's story built up my expectation as I kept reading. Instead of a crescendo, it offered me a disappointing ending that had little to show compared to the rest of the story.
Willow's character was very well constructed and the in-depth depiction of her thoughts and dreams was marvelous. But other than her, the characters were shallow and lacking. All in all, it wasn't a book that left a great impression on me.
September 11, 2019
2.75 stars
Completely confused on how to rate this.
Some parts were very creepy,particularly the bird bits and some of the slaughter man bits,some bits were so heartfelt that I almost felt Willows grief.... and for me,some bits just weren't very interesting.
A mixed bag is the best I can say.
Completely confused on how to rate this.
Some parts were very creepy,particularly the bird bits and some of the slaughter man bits,some bits were so heartfelt that I almost felt Willows grief.... and for me,some bits just weren't very interesting.
A mixed bag is the best I can say.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
A really interesting take on the concept of grief and the things that go unsaid between humans, but poorly executed at the end.
November 8, 2020
This book is beautifully written, and I can say I read it in less than a day. It’s an excellent book on the subject of grief, and the dream sequences have potentially to be quite spooky. However, as a horror fan- the cover, title and synopsis completely threw me off. The story would have been the exact same if not better without the concept of the Slaughter Man. I’m not too sure where the significance of this was. Overall, I enjoyed it- just thought it wasn’t advertised potentially how it should have been.
October 11, 2019
I don't even read the synopsis before selecting a Cassandra Parkin book as I know I'm in for a unique and evocative read. With her emotive writing, Cassandra Parkin is able to make the most mundane things into something dark and menacing to highlight the feelings of her characters. Just the name of this book itself, The Slaughter Man, gave me the creeps and I only meant to have a quick peek at the book but before I knew it, I was half way through!
I absolutely adore the cover of this book; it has a fairytale feel about it reminds me of the witch's cottage deep in the wood. Most of us wouldn't venture somewhere so creepy but after her twin dies, Willow has nothing to be scared of as the worst thing has already happened to her. Usually I would say that I couldn't begin to imagine Willow's pain at losing her twin but I could actually feel it when reading; Willow's pain was so palpable that it felt as if smoky tendrils of emotion-filled words were seeping out of the page and wrapping themselves around my heart.
Willow's pain is made worse by her inability to speak after her twin died; it's as if her words died with Laurel. Willow's inability to voice her pain meant that it presented itself in other forms, some more dangerous than others as she struggled to release her feelings. Where she once looked in a mirror and saw herself, now Willow only sees Laurel looking back at her and she experiences her loss over and over again until she can no longer bear to look at her own reflection.
It was really interesting to read how people experience grief differently. I can understand her parents needing alone time, and their loss must have hit them every time they looked at Willow, but it felt as if they were hiding their own mirrors by sending Willow off to stay with her Uncle Joe, who she barely knew. I judged a little too quickly I think, as staying with Joe and making a friend on the neighbouring farm helped Willow to heal in a way that she would never have managed at home surrounded by memories of Laurel. I loved the character of Willow and felt totally invested in her progress as she navigates her way through the dark land of grief and despair. As her subconscious mind takes her on a journey in search of Laurel, she is drawn to the mysterious 'Slaughter Man' and I felt like she was on a race against time to find herself before she flirted too much with danger.
The Slaughter Man is simply stunning. It's a haunting, emotion-filled book that hooked me from the start; remember that quick peek I mentioned earlier that turned into half a book! So beautifully written, it's an emotive story of a family in pain after a devastating loss and their journey to find each other again. Highly recommended.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I absolutely adore the cover of this book; it has a fairytale feel about it reminds me of the witch's cottage deep in the wood. Most of us wouldn't venture somewhere so creepy but after her twin dies, Willow has nothing to be scared of as the worst thing has already happened to her. Usually I would say that I couldn't begin to imagine Willow's pain at losing her twin but I could actually feel it when reading; Willow's pain was so palpable that it felt as if smoky tendrils of emotion-filled words were seeping out of the page and wrapping themselves around my heart.
Willow's pain is made worse by her inability to speak after her twin died; it's as if her words died with Laurel. Willow's inability to voice her pain meant that it presented itself in other forms, some more dangerous than others as she struggled to release her feelings. Where she once looked in a mirror and saw herself, now Willow only sees Laurel looking back at her and she experiences her loss over and over again until she can no longer bear to look at her own reflection.
It was really interesting to read how people experience grief differently. I can understand her parents needing alone time, and their loss must have hit them every time they looked at Willow, but it felt as if they were hiding their own mirrors by sending Willow off to stay with her Uncle Joe, who she barely knew. I judged a little too quickly I think, as staying with Joe and making a friend on the neighbouring farm helped Willow to heal in a way that she would never have managed at home surrounded by memories of Laurel. I loved the character of Willow and felt totally invested in her progress as she navigates her way through the dark land of grief and despair. As her subconscious mind takes her on a journey in search of Laurel, she is drawn to the mysterious 'Slaughter Man' and I felt like she was on a race against time to find herself before she flirted too much with danger.
The Slaughter Man is simply stunning. It's a haunting, emotion-filled book that hooked me from the start; remember that quick peek I mentioned earlier that turned into half a book! So beautifully written, it's an emotive story of a family in pain after a devastating loss and their journey to find each other again. Highly recommended.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
September 18, 2019
I was able to get my hands on an advance copy of the book thanks to Legend Press & Net Galley. While I was given this to read, the opinions are mine and not influenced.
The book itself an easy to read thriller. Which is why I've given it a 4/5, as this is my favorite type of book to read. I started it around 9 AM and it took me a solid 5 hours of dedicated reading time to finish.
There were moments where moments where I had chills run down my back with anticipation of what would happen. The main character, Willow, got herself into quite a situations (in her dreams and in her real life) that lead me to keep reading in anticipation. I liked that it wasn't full throttle thriller, and it gave you breaks in between to wrap your head around what had happened.
Additionally, the format of the story was interesting as chapters skipped in and out of reality. I found this to be a good way to keep the story progressing, without bogging us down in the details. It really let us know just how much Willow was suffering internally. In her waking self we saw SOME of Willow's struggles, but the dreams drove the point home overall.
The reason I only gave it 4/5 stars was the resolution to the story. We had a lot of build up to the The Slaughter Man only to have the main characters break into his house TWICE, and get no REAL consequences. When he locks him in the house at the end, I figured we'd get more resolution but it just doesn't come. We get a long story from Luca that seems to open the main character up to another persons sadness and thus help push her through her own stuff. But we never get resolution with the fact that they're locked in the spooky mans house?
If anything the slaughter man plot points feel like an after thought. While I liked the tension of her dreams, and being in the woods and the crows, I could have done without the scary man who lives at the end of the lane. Seems like it just didnt belong.
The book itself an easy to read thriller. Which is why I've given it a 4/5, as this is my favorite type of book to read. I started it around 9 AM and it took me a solid 5 hours of dedicated reading time to finish.
There were moments where moments where I had chills run down my back with anticipation of what would happen. The main character, Willow, got herself into quite a situations (in her dreams and in her real life) that lead me to keep reading in anticipation. I liked that it wasn't full throttle thriller, and it gave you breaks in between to wrap your head around what had happened.
Additionally, the format of the story was interesting as chapters skipped in and out of reality. I found this to be a good way to keep the story progressing, without bogging us down in the details. It really let us know just how much Willow was suffering internally. In her waking self we saw SOME of Willow's struggles, but the dreams drove the point home overall.
The reason I only gave it 4/5 stars was the resolution to the story. We had a lot of build up to the The Slaughter Man only to have the main characters break into his house TWICE, and get no REAL consequences. When he locks him in the house at the end, I figured we'd get more resolution but it just doesn't come. We get a long story from Luca that seems to open the main character up to another persons sadness and thus help push her through her own stuff. But we never get resolution with the fact that they're locked in the spooky mans house?
If anything the slaughter man plot points feel like an after thought. While I liked the tension of her dreams, and being in the woods and the crows, I could have done without the scary man who lives at the end of the lane. Seems like it just didnt belong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2019
I've been a fan of Cassandra Parkin's writing for quite a few years. She's one of those authors who writes stories that linger in your head for days and days afterwards. Each and every one of her books are so very different, yet her own beautiful style shines through in each of them.
The Slaughter Man is really quite wonderful. It's a heartbreaking, yet quite frightening story of grief and loss, and how the strongest of emotions can affect a person physically.
Willow is bereft. Her twin sister Laurel is dead. She cannot cope. Her parents cannot cope, and despite the fact that her mother works as a grief counsellor, there's nothing that she can do to ease Willow's pain; because her own pain is overwhelming too.
Willow has stopped speaking. The reader is the only person who knows what is happening in Willow's head; what she wants to say, but what she cannot vocalise. Travelling along with Willow, privy to her innermost thoughts and her increasing despair is heartbreaking, but so beautifully detailed. It almost feels voyeuristic at times, as though we shouldn't be there and that we should let Willow heal on her own.
When Willow's Uncle Joe offers to take her to stay with him, it's a release for her, but it doesn't stop the intense and terrifying dreams that plague her. These dreams often feel as though they are blurring into reality and at times I wasn't sure if the characters she encountered were real or dreamt.
Willow, The Slaughter Man, Uncle Joe and Luca are four of the most incredibly drawn characters that I've encountered for a long time. Each is delicately and intricately described; dark and intense; emotionally draining and often disturbing. This astute and talented author deals with the darkest of themes within her story.
Highly recommended by me. Once more Cassandra Parkin has proved that she's a masterful and truly talented storyteller
The Slaughter Man is really quite wonderful. It's a heartbreaking, yet quite frightening story of grief and loss, and how the strongest of emotions can affect a person physically.
Willow is bereft. Her twin sister Laurel is dead. She cannot cope. Her parents cannot cope, and despite the fact that her mother works as a grief counsellor, there's nothing that she can do to ease Willow's pain; because her own pain is overwhelming too.
Willow has stopped speaking. The reader is the only person who knows what is happening in Willow's head; what she wants to say, but what she cannot vocalise. Travelling along with Willow, privy to her innermost thoughts and her increasing despair is heartbreaking, but so beautifully detailed. It almost feels voyeuristic at times, as though we shouldn't be there and that we should let Willow heal on her own.
When Willow's Uncle Joe offers to take her to stay with him, it's a release for her, but it doesn't stop the intense and terrifying dreams that plague her. These dreams often feel as though they are blurring into reality and at times I wasn't sure if the characters she encountered were real or dreamt.
Willow, The Slaughter Man, Uncle Joe and Luca are four of the most incredibly drawn characters that I've encountered for a long time. Each is delicately and intricately described; dark and intense; emotionally draining and often disturbing. This astute and talented author deals with the darkest of themes within her story.
Highly recommended by me. Once more Cassandra Parkin has proved that she's a masterful and truly talented storyteller
September 22, 2019
Firstly I need to say that the prose in this book is stunning! It's lyrical and a portrays grief in such a raw and powerful way.
The storyline follows Willow, a 17 year old girl as she battles with the loss of her identical twin sister Laurel.
Told from alternating times when Willow is Lucid and When Willow is Dreaming this really added something quite unique which really helps the reader connect with Willow and it's clear that grief has completely taken over her life.
Willow has social anxiety to the point where she's mute not just in social situations but also at home.
When her Long Lost Uncle Joe turns up out of the blue he offers to let Willow have a break in the country with him to see if it makes things any better.
But will it?
Okay here's where the plot fell a little flat for me. Nothing much happened after that point. It did keep my interest in that I was completed invested in Willow and whether things would get better for her, but I felt
Like there was a big build up like something terrible was going to happen and then it just didnt.
The ending to me was also a little unsatisfying in that it tied up very neatly but I was expecting more.
I did love the characters in this book I just feel like the plot let it down slightly.
However to me the beautiful structure of this book and the way it's written stands out for me.
Overall I did enjoy this book I just think it needed a little more of something.
The storyline follows Willow, a 17 year old girl as she battles with the loss of her identical twin sister Laurel.
Told from alternating times when Willow is Lucid and When Willow is Dreaming this really added something quite unique which really helps the reader connect with Willow and it's clear that grief has completely taken over her life.
Willow has social anxiety to the point where she's mute not just in social situations but also at home.
When her Long Lost Uncle Joe turns up out of the blue he offers to let Willow have a break in the country with him to see if it makes things any better.
But will it?
Okay here's where the plot fell a little flat for me. Nothing much happened after that point. It did keep my interest in that I was completed invested in Willow and whether things would get better for her, but I felt
Like there was a big build up like something terrible was going to happen and then it just didnt.
The ending to me was also a little unsatisfying in that it tied up very neatly but I was expecting more.
I did love the characters in this book I just feel like the plot let it down slightly.
However to me the beautiful structure of this book and the way it's written stands out for me.
Overall I did enjoy this book I just think it needed a little more of something.
October 3, 2019
The Slaughter Man by Cassandra Parkin was a beautifully written book and portrays grief in such a raw and powerful way that will touch your heart. I have never read anything from this author and it wont be my last. I will be looking out for her books now......Just Beautiful!
Willow is seventeen and loses the most important person in her life who she loves dearly, her twin sister Laurel. Every night she has nightmares that haunt her and has to learn how to cope to live with out her rock and soul sister by her side. Willow's uncle Joe is worried about her and offers her a change of scenery. He offers to to take her away and stay in a cottage away from everything around her. Uncle Joe's cottage is beautiful and has forest all around it. However, the forest is full of secrets.
What is Uncle Joe hiding from Willow?
Can Willow handle all the secrets she will find?
Then, Lucas arrives in her life – troubled, angry and with a dangerous past.
Who is he?
What events have brought Lucas to her door?
And who is the Slaughter Man who steals through Willow’s sleep?
WoW, what a book....I just loved it and didn't want it to end.
Big Thank you to Legend Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Willow is seventeen and loses the most important person in her life who she loves dearly, her twin sister Laurel. Every night she has nightmares that haunt her and has to learn how to cope to live with out her rock and soul sister by her side. Willow's uncle Joe is worried about her and offers her a change of scenery. He offers to to take her away and stay in a cottage away from everything around her. Uncle Joe's cottage is beautiful and has forest all around it. However, the forest is full of secrets.
What is Uncle Joe hiding from Willow?
Can Willow handle all the secrets she will find?
Then, Lucas arrives in her life – troubled, angry and with a dangerous past.
Who is he?
What events have brought Lucas to her door?
And who is the Slaughter Man who steals through Willow’s sleep?
WoW, what a book....I just loved it and didn't want it to end.
Big Thank you to Legend Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 24, 2020
A tense and dark read, the story follows Willow, a teenage girl who is dealing with her grief after her twin sister dies unexpectedly and the trauma causes her to become mute.
This is an emotional read, a very raw portrayal about loss and the impact it has on Willow and her family and the first small steps to moving on.
There were definitely a few things I didn’t quite “get” reading this, in particular ‘The Slaughter Man’ himself as I presumed from the title and the synopsis that he would play a much larger part in the book than he did and wouldn’t categorise this as a horror book (personally)
I thought this book captured grief beautifully and the conflicting guilt of moving on with life in the midst of death.
There are some graphic parts in this book which could be potentially triggering for some people (rape,sexual abuse, self-harm,animal slaughter) so please beware if you read this book!
This is an emotional read, a very raw portrayal about loss and the impact it has on Willow and her family and the first small steps to moving on.
There were definitely a few things I didn’t quite “get” reading this, in particular ‘The Slaughter Man’ himself as I presumed from the title and the synopsis that he would play a much larger part in the book than he did and wouldn’t categorise this as a horror book (personally)
I thought this book captured grief beautifully and the conflicting guilt of moving on with life in the midst of death.
There are some graphic parts in this book which could be potentially triggering for some people (rape,sexual abuse, self-harm,animal slaughter) so please beware if you read this book!
October 26, 2019
Blog Tour Bus has arrived!!!!
🌘
The Slaughter Man by Cassandra Parkin. Published by @legendpress 🌘
This is book first from this author and I was unsure what to expect.
🌘
The book itself is well written with a good plot and strong characters to start with.
🌘
I found myself warming to Willow and the writing up of her grief and what she is going through is very well executed. However for me when Luca came along I felt that the feel/atmosphere of the story had shifted slightly. Perhaps this is intentional as part of the plot. However for me it almost becomes less about the Slaughter Man and more about the connection between Luca & Willow 🌘
For me this book appeared to be more aimed at an YA audience. 🌘
I’m eager to discover more books written by Cassandra Parkin.
🌘
Thank you @legendpress for gifting me this book.
🌘
The Slaughter Man by Cassandra Parkin. Published by @legendpress 🌘
This is book first from this author and I was unsure what to expect.
🌘
The book itself is well written with a good plot and strong characters to start with.
🌘
I found myself warming to Willow and the writing up of her grief and what she is going through is very well executed. However for me when Luca came along I felt that the feel/atmosphere of the story had shifted slightly. Perhaps this is intentional as part of the plot. However for me it almost becomes less about the Slaughter Man and more about the connection between Luca & Willow 🌘
For me this book appeared to be more aimed at an YA audience. 🌘
I’m eager to discover more books written by Cassandra Parkin.
🌘
Thank you @legendpress for gifting me this book.
February 21, 2023
At first some of the reviews led me to believe that the conclusion to this book wasn't going to be worth it.
I really have to disagree, The Slaughter Man to me represented a manifestation of our traumas and the many issues that come alongside them. Some are blatantly obvious and others are trivial and trigger at the most random times. This book gave an insight into the different perspectives on how we deal with both major and minor events in our lives.
I felt like I was on an adventure with protagonist Willow, although at times frustrating, I felt very connected to her.
Joe made me feel at home and Luca I related to on a deeply personal level.
I felt moved by this book and in the last chapter, although some may see them as cliché, there was some truly tender writing and phrases that I have and will continue to carry with me.
I enjoyed this so much ❤️
I really have to disagree, The Slaughter Man to me represented a manifestation of our traumas and the many issues that come alongside them. Some are blatantly obvious and others are trivial and trigger at the most random times. This book gave an insight into the different perspectives on how we deal with both major and minor events in our lives.
I felt like I was on an adventure with protagonist Willow, although at times frustrating, I felt very connected to her.
Joe made me feel at home and Luca I related to on a deeply personal level.
I felt moved by this book and in the last chapter, although some may see them as cliché, there was some truly tender writing and phrases that I have and will continue to carry with me.
I enjoyed this so much ❤️
October 8, 2019
Well this was not what I was expecting from the book, even after reading the blurb, this is about an older teen trying to process her grief, but the alternating chapters between present day and dream life were a bit jarring and the dream sections way to weird for me.
I think that was my main problem, I shy away from books with the weirder elements in them and so I wasn't prepared for it. I found the introduction of Luca and the subsequent storyline a bit creepy and the whole Slaughter Man thing didn't ever really get off the ground.
I have seen some great reviews for this book but, unfortunately it just wasn't for me and I just didn't get it.
Warnings also for animal slaughter.
Thanks to the publisher for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think that was my main problem, I shy away from books with the weirder elements in them and so I wasn't prepared for it. I found the introduction of Luca and the subsequent storyline a bit creepy and the whole Slaughter Man thing didn't ever really get off the ground.
I have seen some great reviews for this book but, unfortunately it just wasn't for me and I just didn't get it.
Warnings also for animal slaughter.
Thanks to the publisher for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2019
Fascinating read. A story about grief and what Willow goes through after the death of her twin sister Laurel. How she deals with her grief, and survivors guilt, is unique to her and as a part of her healing process she goes to live with her Uncle Joe, to see if a change of scenery will help. The experiences she has, as well as the people she meets, while staying at her Uncle Joe’s help her to navigate the grieving process while learning who she is to become as a person.
Thank you NetGalley, Cassandra Parkin and Legend Press, Ltd. for this advanced reader edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partners
Thank you NetGalley, Cassandra Parkin and Legend Press, Ltd. for this advanced reader edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partners
September 24, 2019
It's a tense read, in which almost everybody seems to be suffering in silence - not just Willow but Luca, her uncle and her parents. When suffering with grief or other emotional issues, people are always encouraged to talk and share their pain, but sometimes, it would appear, listening to others can be just as effective. The book ends with the idea that things will soon be better, but nobody actually has a final solution - just a sense of hope.
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
September 24, 2019
This book went in a complete different direction that what I'd expected but I'm not mad at it. It was FULL of eye-opening, heart wrenching grief and pain and every character appeared to be battling their own demons. Mental health is a huge part of this book and I personally feel that Cassandra Parkin portrayed the every day struggles and pain that grief thrust onto people. Raw emotions lay out left right and center to get caught up in.
Full review here https://georgiabooks.wordpress.com/20...
Full review here https://georgiabooks.wordpress.com/20...
September 24, 2020
This book started off slow, then became really good, then totally died off at the end. I found myself having more questions by the end of the book than what I started with, and none of my original questions were answered.
It was an easy enough read and was alright as a filler book between big books, but I'm not overly impressed. Considering it's called "The Slaughter Man", I genuinely thought the Slaughter Man would feature more. A lot more. Or maybe I've just missed the point of the book.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.
⭐⭐⭐/5
It was an easy enough read and was alright as a filler book between big books, but I'm not overly impressed. Considering it's called "The Slaughter Man", I genuinely thought the Slaughter Man would feature more. A lot more. Or maybe I've just missed the point of the book.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.
⭐⭐⭐/5
October 29, 2025
This was not what I was expecting.
Pace is good and keeps you reading.
The character of the Slaughter Man has a very small part in the overall story.
Genuinely not what I was expecting at all. The ending feels a little unfinished. The plot feels a little bit thin, I get that it is about the grief that the identical twin is dealing with.
The writing on the back cover mentions a character called Lucas, however, in the book the character is called Luca.
I also didn't find this to be a creepy tale, as one review stated.
A quick and enjoyable read though.
Pace is good and keeps you reading.
The character of the Slaughter Man has a very small part in the overall story.
Genuinely not what I was expecting at all. The ending feels a little unfinished. The plot feels a little bit thin, I get that it is about the grief that the identical twin is dealing with.
The writing on the back cover mentions a character called Lucas, however, in the book the character is called Luca.
I also didn't find this to be a creepy tale, as one review stated.
A quick and enjoyable read though.
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