The Stepmother: An emotional and suspenseful novel packed with family secrets

by Ros Carne

After a series of heartbreaking miscarriages, Kate’s marriage is hanging by a thread. When her husband Michael tells her he has shocking news, at first, she thinks the worst – he’s been having an affair. It would explain why he’s been so distant. Instead, he reveals that the daughter he abandoned twenty years ago is coming to stay.

Kate is blindsided by the sudden arrival of Imogen mere hours later. Her new stepdaughter is beautiful but troubled and seems wary of her own father. All the same, Kate is pleased to find herself connecting with Imogen, until one day, Imogen reveals a disturbing secret to her stepmother, making her swear never to tell a soul.

With Kate already keeping secrets of her own, she worries her marriage will crumble under the weight of another. But perhaps it’s not Imogen’s intrusion Kate should be worried about. Perhaps it’s Michael’s past she should have been looking at all along…
A completely addictive thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. Perfect for fans of The Stepdaughter, Shalini Boland and K.L. Slater.

Genres: Thriller

331 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2021

Reviews

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stepmother is more a domestic thriller than one that pinpoints at psychological. It tells a story of Kate, a woman who is suffering after the loss of multiple babies. The miscarriages are draining her, and the only thing that really has her focus is her work, sculpting. The prologue opens with a shock – someone being lowered into a makeshift grave. It had me intrigued especially as the narrative leads you to believe that the person being put into a grave is who is deeply loved. What is the story behind it? It’s a great opener and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

I’ve been mulling over just how I would review The Stepmother. It had a great premise, and it is just the kind of book that I enjoy time and time again. The cover is instantly eye catching and I loved the premise of a stepmother meeting her husbands’ child and the secrets that would span from that thread, but it unfortunately fell slightly flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was itself was excellent and I did read the novel very quickly it was more the plot and characterization that I struggled with.

The story of The Stepmother is one about Kate and Michael. There is an obvious age gap between them, but Kate has never let that bother her. She has enjoyed being in a relationship with someone that is already established and with a good career. The obvious next step for them was to have a baby but for reasons unknown Kate and Michael have suffered miscarriages. Its obviously had an impact on their relationship but even so, Michael is a very distant and emotionally unavailable character. He is a barrister and often stays in Bristol for work, in the flat that they own.

Things start to go awry when Kate meets Steve, a butcher in town. He’s a dog lover like her. There is an instant appreciation for his looks. She’s a sculptor and has this indescribable urge to sculpt his head. She convinces him to sit for her. Then Imogen turns up, Michael’s daughter from a previous relationship. She is obviously messed up but just why is she that way? What has happened? Stepmother and stepdaughter quickly get along with each other and develop a bond, when a secret is revealed about her husband, she is left dazed and blindsided.

The Stepmother is more about the story of one woman’s actions and how that spirals into a catastrophic mess. It’s the domino effect, one she takes one course of action it affects everyone around her. I did think the synopsis was a bit misleading, the secret is a minor subplot and wasn’t really what the story was about. Its one of those stories that I wanted to love more than I did.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

After a series of heartbreaking miscarriages, Kate's marriage is hanging by a thread. When her husband Michael tells her he has some shocking news, she thinks he's been having an affair. Instead he reveals that the daughter he abandoned twenty years ago, is coming to stay. Kate is blindsighted by the sudden arrival of Imogen mere hours later. Her stepdaughter seems wary of her own father. kate is pleased to find herself connecting with Imogen, until one day, Imogen reveals a disturbing secret.

** TRIGGER WARNING** The story covers miscarriage, violence against animals and attempted suicide.

This is more a story of a dysfunctional family rather than a thriller. Each character has their own secrets. It's not long before we see Kate and Michael's marriage begin to crumble. I did not like any of the characters. There was something misssing from this story, It didn't quite gel together. There were parts that were quite good but it also ended quite abruptly. I'm sure there will be lots of readers that will really enjoy this story but, unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Canelo and the author #RosCarne for my ARC of #TheStepmother in exchange for an honest review.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stepmother was a brilliant read. We start off 2 months ahead of time and two women are burying a body. The rest of the book is helping us work out who it is and who they are burying.

The protagonist Kate is married to Micheal their relationship looks perfect on the outside they have the big house the dog the cars a second home in Bristol Michael is a barrister Kate is an artist and has an amazing room attached to the house to make her sculptures. But there Kate is unhappy. She can't seem to carry a baby and now is questioning whether or not she wants to. Her husband earns all the money and yet she is lonely in that big house. She truly loves their dog Timba. She seems to be a very submissive wife and yet her personalty is very out going.
When she is told her step daughter Immy Is coming to stay she feels out of her depth. But the relationship between the two of them is just so amazing to read but also slightly strange. However it just fits well with Kates personality and Immy being 22 obviously makes it easier for them to get along.

So I really had no idea where this book was going I was waiting for the burial in the woods. This book honestly went from 0 to 100 in seconds and I loved every part of it. I honestly knew there would be a few cliché elements in this story and true to form there was. But it honestly had some wild moments that I did not see coming. It was like quiet quiet quiet insane, honestly I was hooked.

I think this book although called the step mother is more about appearances things never being quite as they seem. Michael the barrister is a clear example of not portraying all of himself. He isn't a great husband nor father yet I felt a pull towards his character he definately adds to the story.

In summary I have to stop talking about this book otherwise I will reveal all its secrets. But I will say its worth a read. I found myself wanting to rush through it so that I knew what happened and to who. I enjoyed each character and although Kate has a lot to answer for I still really liked her character. Immy as well was fascinating and I would happily read a follow up book. I happily rate 4 stars

Thanks to netgalley the author Ros Cane and publisher for the digital advanced copy of the stepmother in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a slow moving book and I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. It was choppy throughout and I am asking myself why is it named “The Stepmother”. DNF at 75% so I gave it plenty of time to pick up speed. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate is married to Michael ... and not happily. She's suffered a series of miscarriages and Michael has grown quite and distant. She thinks that maybe he's having an affair. Not even the news that his young 20+ daughter will be staying with them awhile puts a smile on his face. Of course, he hasn't seen her since she was a young child.

Imogen (Immy), Michael's daughter, is beautiful and easy to like. But Imogen, like her father, has secrets ... and Kate is horrified when Imogen shares that secret and makes her swear not to tell anyone.

Kate has secrets, too. When that secret is revealed, it will most certainly be the end of her marriage. What will Michael do when he learns her secret?

I wouldn't call this a psychological thriller .. more like a family drama. Honestly, I didn't like any of the characters .. except for maybe the dog. Lies, secrets, cover-ups ... it's all here. It's fast-paced .. but not particularly suspenseful.

Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE STEPMOTHER. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Harriet Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed the author's previous book, The Pupil, a psychological thriller about a barrister and her scheming pupil. This novel was quite different but no less enjoyable. After an intriguing opening chapter, we meet the main character, Kate, a sculptor married to Michael who is a successful barrister working in the field of medical negligence. There's a considerable age gap between them, but this doesn't trouble Kate. We learn that her early adult years were often rootless and difficult financially so she's glad to have the security Michael can provide which includes a beautiful old farmhouse in Somerset, complete with a large purpose-built studio where she can work.
Life should be idyllic, but when we meet Kate and Michael, things are not going well. Kate has suffered several miscarriages and Michael is becoming distant and withdrawn. A chance meeting with a handsome local man on a dog walk leads to Kate starting an affair. Then Michael announces that his former wife has told him she needs him to look after their daughter, Immy, a dance student who has suffered a knee injury and has other problems.
I won't spoil the story for others by going further . Suffice to say that the way the plot developed from there held my interest to the end and I devoured the book in a couple of sittings.
Regarding the characters, Kate had her flaws but I felt sympathy for her. I was glad that Michael was given a bit of space to tell the story from his own point of view as he might otherwise have been a little stereotypical. Immy was an appealing character. Kate's lover, Steve, was portrayed as a challenging, sometimes enigmatic person and the attraction between them was convincing.
I really enjoyed all the detail about Kate's work and also the atmospheric descriptions of Somerset. This is a well-written family drama and if that's your kind of book, I recommend it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this it had me gripped pretty quickly, great story line.
Couldn’t put it down .

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate, 36, is a sculptor and is married to Michael, 48, a lawyer. She is recovering from her third miscarriage and is concerned when the doctor mentions that Michael’s weaker sperm may be a reason for their problem.

Out walking her dog one day, Kate meets a young man who works at the local butcher. Chatting with him, she is interested in the structure of his face and asks him to model for her. Unfortunately, this leads to an affair.

Michael has been married before and is the father of Imogen, now 22. She had moved from Canada to London to take a dance course. However, she had an accident and her mother wants Michael to take her in for a time saying it’s his turn. When she arrives, she and Kate get along, but Kate sees the young woman has some problems. She gets a job at a cafe and then moves in with someone.

Kate and Michael have their ups and downs but there is more pressure between them. Kate is hiding the secret of her affair and Michael is worried about something he is keeping close to himself. Is there trouble ahead for their marriage?

Oh my. I absolutely did not like nor respect Kate. It wasn’t just her affair but her selfishness of demanding the perfect workshop for her to work in clay. That was when she felt herself. Well, I guess if we all had a huge home, housekeeper, and a husband supplying what money we want, we would certainly be content. Michael wasn’t a perfect guy either, so it’s really a good thing they didn’t have children. OK. I’m giving away too many spoilers, but these characters were awful. The poor dog nearly made me stop reading the book in disgust. I did not care for this book at all. Sorry.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Marilyn Boyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very strange novel, indeed. It seems more a character study than anything. Unfortunately in showing the complexity of the two main characters, I found I disliked them both; you have to be able to root for the main character even if they are flawed. Others perceived Kate as interesting and kind, even gentle and although the author shows some of those characteristics, I never quite felt the connect with her behaviour. The complexity has to make sense. I think the author was trying for balance in all her characters, but it didn’t work for me.

[Linda Leone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not call this book a thriller at all. More like a family drama. This book is more about Kate and how what she does will have lasting impact than it is about her relationship with her stepdaughter.
This was all over the place at times with random events thrown together to make a book. I didn't care for any of the characters and only a few times did I care about what happens to them. Just not the book for me.

Thanks to netgalley and Canelo for the arc

[Kerryrosalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but the title and the blurb are really misleading… the step-mother element is a really small part of the story and not really related to the main part of the story! Still a good faced paced read though

[Molly Dunne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Club Book 📕

This might be the craziest book I’ve ever read. Well written but such a stressful/weird story. Ros Carne must watch a lot of soaps

[Ebony Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, felt quick but still had me guessing toward the end.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ros Carne, The Stepmother, Canelo, United Kingdom, 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this copy for review.

The short prologue is gripping: two women bury a body, not in anger, but with love. The novel is then divided into three parts, two months earlier, with Kate as the main protagonist and the solution to the mystery of the body; part 2, where Michael’s story is central; and part 3, a year later, where some features of the main characters’ relationship are solved with the rules around Covid 19.
Kate and Michael are a married couple, living a well-heeled existence in their beautifully renovated farmhouse. Their world has been dislocated by several miscarriages. Adding to the stress is the arrival of Michael’s daughter from his first marriage, Immy, and the appearance in their lives of dog walker and local butcher, Steve. Michael is a lawyer, much older than Kate, and seemingly dispassionate about her emotional needs. Kate conducts art classes and sculpts, well, but without remarkable artistic merit. Initially she sees Steve as an exciting subject for sculpting. Immy is a beautiful young woman finding her emotional and financial feet. She also becomes a subject for Kate’s work.

All the characters are flawed, a cautiously kind description for Kate, Michael, and Steve whose personalities dominate the novel. I kept trying to come to grips with the depiction of Kate, who seems to have no redeeming features. She is greedy, taking what she wants with little feeling for those who might be impacted. This might be associated with the way in which she views people as possible subjects rather than beings with their own needs. Her marriage seems to be dispensable in many ways, although she is dependent on its financial benefits. She is accustomed to being considered beautiful and desirable and is surprised when thwarted in that belief. At the same time, Michael also has less obvious, but nonetheless egregious flaws. Steve’s unpleasantness is more prosaic, but he and his wife Tamsin are also negative creations.

I found it difficult to get past the unpleasant characters. However, for those who can do so, or indeed have sympathy with those with whom I have found fault, I note some positive aspects of the novel. The tension is palpable from prologue to denouement – whose body is being buried? Who, of a large cast, with various permutations, are the women involved? Is there an unlikely pairing evolving from the range of complex responses and feelings Carne sets out? The organisation of the material adds to the tension, with Kate’s and Michael’s stories of their marriage and surrounding events underscoring their different perspectives. The tidy resolution to the problems around Kate’s and Michael’s marriage and the attendant challenges it poses for secondary characters is unremarkable but satisfying. I really liked the irony in part three where Crane uses Covid rules with style.

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, author Ros Carne, and Canelo for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2.5 stars
Trigger warning: talks about miscarriages, struggles with fertility, talk about past attempt to die by suicide.
Kate's marriage has fallen on hard times! Kate and her husband are struggling due to a series of miscarriages that have happened throughout their marriage. Being sad and disappointed with the most current loss, Kate is trying to find a way to save her marriage. Michael sits Kate down and shares with her some shocking news, his estranged daughter is coming to stay with them. Kate is reluctant, at first, to allow her husband's daughter to come live with them. But as Kate and Imogen become close after Imogen shares a disturbing secret, Kate feels a bond with Imogen. But Imogen is not the only one with secrets. How much sharing really going on in a marriage about the past?
This book was all over the place. The characters were not overly developed and seemed to have a hard time communicating. None of the characters were really likable! I found these characters were really out for themselves and had no use in making real relationships of any kind. Kate was the most frustrating! She seemed like she really did not know what she wanted so she tried out different things and when they did not work out, she tries to back out without really resolving anything. I found the pacing to be a little bogged down in some parts of the story. The mystery was easily solved and predictable. Overall, this book read a lot like a Lifetime movie. I would be curious to read more books by this author in the future.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stepmother by Ros Carne was a brilliant and easy read I was hooked within the first few pages, it's a completely addictive thriller that will keep you guessing right till the end - like it did me!

"After a series of heartbreaking miscarriages, Kate’s marriage is hanging by a thread. When her husband Michael tells her he has shocking news, at first, she thinks the worst – he’s been having an affair. It would explain why he’s been so distant. Instead, he reveals that the daughter he abandoned twenty years ago is coming to stay."

OMG How would you feel if your Husband dropped this bombshell on you? Scream!

When, Imogen who is Kate's step daughter arrives a few hours later she seems to be troubled and is very wary of her own father. Kate is very happy she is getting to know Imogen and is getting on well with her. Then, all of a sudden Imogen reveals a disturbing secret to Kate that she has been hiding from others and tells Kate Never to tell anyone else!

WoW.........Now what would you do?

Kate has secrets herself and is finding this hard to keep everything around her close.

That's all I am saying but read this book its a brilliant read and you will be hooked like i was

Big Thank you to netgalley the author Ros Cane and publisher for the digital advanced copy of the stepmother in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jam packed with suspense, this book quickly reeled me in. Dinner was delayed so I could finish it! The plot is compelling and incredibly twisty...and twisted.

Sculptor Kate and barrister Michael are married and have just gone through another devastating miscarriage. After losing the baby things fall apart all around them and keep getting worse and worse until reaching a crescendo where something has got to give. This book is about choices...mostly poor...and reactions to those choices which is when true colours are revealed. And these choices affect everything and everyone around this couple. Out of nowhere Kate is told Michael's daughter from his previous marriage would be living with them. Kate understandably doesn't know what to think about this. Imogen is an interesting character as we discover. So is the story. I could clearly picture it in my mind's eye and couldn't wait to see how it ended.

Several other characters, including dogs, enter the scene as well. I couldn't relate to any of them, nor did I like any of them (except the dogs!). But I don't need to like characters to enjoy a book. Whilst I loved the tension and suspense, there are aspects which did not appeal to me as much such as some relationships and tropes. There are adult situations, some of which are disturbing. Some scenes are a bit choppy and seem extraneous.

My sincere thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this atmospheric psychological thriller!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite slow moving book about a couple. At first it seems as though they are well matched, but as the book progresses the cracks in their relationship appear. Mostly written from the point of view of Kate, there are also chapters which are written in Michael's voice. Michael's daughter, aged 22,, comes to stay having never met Kate and despite the poor relationship she seems to have with her father.
Kate is very self absorbed, Michael a mysterious older man. There is lots about their relationship and secrets , mostly Kate's which are not shared with her husband. Kate is an artist, seemingly having little grasp of money or domestic matters and rather naive in relationships. I didn't really feel drawn to any of the characters in the book. There was a build up of menace and a couple of unexpected turns in the story . I`m till wondering what happened in some aspects of the story but not to the extent that I will be thinking about the characters in the coming days.. Mixed feelings not bad but not a great read either..
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[M.M. DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This elegantly written suspense novel quickly drew me in and transported me into the lives of Kate and Michael and their dysfunctional marriage. Carne's descriptive language develops a lovely feel of the lush, rural setting and really highlights Kate's artistic sensibilities which are front and centre here. Rather than being a fast-paced. plot-driven thriller, this novel slowly and deliberately uncovers Kate's troubles, which compels the reader to keep turning the pages. Kate is an imperfect character, which makes her all the more interesting, and her impulsivity in terms of relationship choices, sets her on a destructive path. The introduction of Imogen, Michael's troubled daughter, adds an interesting dynamic to the story. A very satisfying and well-written novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and Canelo for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read The Pupil by the same author and gave it a five star review, so I was really excited to start this one. The description marked it out as a Psychological Thriller, however I don’t think it was – it was a story of a family, albeit somewhat dysfunctional, each with their own secrets and how those secrets would later connect them together.

I didn’t seem to gel with any of the characters, none of them seemed believable, or likable – except for Timba the family’s lovely dog.

This isn’t what I was expecting from the book, and even from the title, I assumed there would be some drama between Kate and Immy but it wasn’t anything like that, and in fact, that part of the family bond didn’t really factor in at all.

I found the beginning and middle of the book quite a slog, however towards the end, it really seemed to gather pace, and I was romping through it even staying up until late in the night to get to the end.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title appealed to me at first so I was excited to read this book. But unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.

Kate is a sculptor and she was having a not so happy married life with a man named Michael, who is a solicitor. So when while she was walking her dog Timba, she meets Steve and asks him to model for her. And what should have been job just turned to a steamy love affair between the two. Then Michael's daughter Immy comes to stay with them.

This was OK in the beginning but then towards the end, it got a bit boring and I simply finished the book because I have to. Was not fast paced, kind of all direct and and not much unexpected twists and turns you would normally expect from a thriller. The characters are not very likable in my opinion except for the dog.

Overall, it was not a good thriller--I think 2.5 stars would do.

[Evelyn Jane Thorne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stepmother is the first book by Ros Carne that I have read and I really thought that it was going to be a lot different than what it was. The blurb had me really intrigued and then the prologue had me hooked. I thought that this story was going to have a lot more drama and suspense but it really didn’t.

I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters except for Timba oh man how I loved that dog. Kate and Michael were really flawed characters that totally rubbed me the wrong way. There were several events which made me have issues with Michael and Kate tried to act like she was a good person but as the story progressed you could see how awful she really was.

There were some twists and secrets that I didn’t see coming which I enjoyed. I definitely did not predict that ending whatsoever.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

[Kara Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was filled with dysfunctional relationships, which would be fine except for the fact that I feel like I didn’t truly to get to know the majority of the characters (aside from Kate, but I still had many questions) and couldn’t understand why they were making half the decisions that they did throughout the book.

The plot wasn’t bad, but I felt like it took until halfway in for things to get interesting. I didn’t like the situations the characters got themselves into, and as stated above couldn’t understand why they got themselves into the situation. The ending seemed abrupt and left a lot out on the table.

I would give this book 2.5 stars, but rounded to 3. Thank you to Ros Carne, Canelo and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel where I only managed to warm to the heroine in the last chapter so it was a bit of a struggle in that regard, and there wasn't anyone else to like either. Still, there's something about the writing that kept me turning the pages, so well done to the author for that. The plotline is very patchy though and I wasn't sure what the underlying theme was meant to be - Kate is very selfish indeed for most of the book and then suddenly we get the topic of domestic abuse which hadn't appeared until the last few chapters. Most odd. However, that final page is haunting. The jury's still out though on whether I'll try another from this novelist.

[Helen Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disturbing, sinister and unsettling in places but I’m not sure whether in a good way! There are some trigger warnings around miscarriage, DA and also violence against animals.
Parts of the story were strangely intriguing and drew me in but the overall story made me feel slightly uneasy and also a bit cheated, like there was something a bit lacking. Worth a read but I still can’t decide whether I liked it.

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to like this book, but I was hooked from the beginning!

I really loved the whole: affair, new step daughter, multiple people keeping secrets tropes that were in this books as each of them added a little bit more detail to the book!

I did cry at one point (and needed to stop for puppy cuddles 😂) but I’m not going to say why as it may spoil the book!

Some of the twists in this book had me on the edge of my seat and I struggled putting the book down when I needed to🤦‍♀️.
There were a couple parts that were predictable but not enough to ruin the book!

This book is good if you enjoy mystery thrillers that aren’t as scary and not to difficult to understand!

I’m giving this book a 4.5⭐️

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the description, I was really looking forward to this book and while I enjoyed parts of it, I found it just was flat with few emotional highs or lows. The ending was so abrupt and disappointing that it ruined the whole book for me. It felt like the author wrote herself into a hole so she just ended with that part and wrote a year later. This didn’t feel like a thriller, it wasn’t the book I was expecting and it just wasn’t for me.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!! Just the domestic thriller I was looking for

This book is described as 'emotional and suspenseful' and that is SPOT ON! Carne has drawn such wonderfully textured and intriguing characters. They all have their fair share of secrets and I was constantly on tenterhooks waiting for them to be revealed. Bravo for a brilliant piece of domestic suspense.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complex dysfunctional relationships were the core of this book when the husband announces the presence and the arrival of his long-lost daughter. The characters were quite unlikeable, but that could be because they were all hiding secrets. Some parts of the prose were exciting, there were many scenes that didn't gel with me. Overall, it read okay for me. Could have been better.

[Lauren Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a lot of things that would improve this book but my number 1 reason for the low rating is the mention of Covid-19. I have no desire to read anything that makes reference to mask wearing, social distancing or lockdown. It’s bad enough we’ve all had to live through it without our only forms of escapism reminding us of it