Alma Katsu

I've heard such fantastic things about this author, but it seems I started with the wrong book. In truth, the more I think about this one, the less I like it, and that's never a good sign.

It's a page-turner through the first third--I have to give it that much. Early on, I was fully engaged and anxious to keep going, thinking it was a fantastic way to start off a new year of reading. But then things fizzled. One problem is the number of POV characters. There are so many POVs that, unique as they are, all of the main characters come across as somewhat superficial and undeveloped simply because of the sheer number of them. You may feel truly engaged by one, and then not come across it again for another sixty or seventy pages. Similarly, there are a number of chapters devoted to exploring particular characters' histories...but since we see so little of the characters in the present, and the backstory doesn't add much which couldn't be summed up quickly, all that backstory only separates us from the readers more, making it feel as if we're getting snapshots and ideas of who these people are rather than actually being allowed to engage with them.

But perhaps that brings us to the fact that, to Katsu's way of thinking/planning, these characters are based off of real people and real history. Unfortunately, my uncharitable view is that Katsu changed so much about the characters--oh, how I'd be mad if I were one of their ancestors!--and did so little justice to the actual history which supposedly inspired this book, that the only reason I can think for her to even bother connecting this book to the history is that she wanted to 'cash in' on the historical connection. I truly can't come up with any other rationale, much as I hate to say it, because the characters are so different and this could so easily have simply been fiction without any mention of history. And, it likely would have been better...after all, part fo the problem here is that the reader loosely knows what's coming because of the history Katsu supposedly focused on, which means that plot can only hold so much mystery. Leaving a reader to focus on character development and engagement, which doesn't get us very far.

All told, I'm not sure when (or if) I'll try Katsu again. The taste in my mouth from this book is, put bluntly, one of disrespect. That she disrespected the history and the real people involved by tying this book--this work of fiction--to their names and their tragedy. And when it comes right down to it, I'm not sure why I should support an author who'd do that when I have so many other choices demanding to be read.

Obviously, this isn't one I'd recommend.… (meer)

I loved the beginning. I loved the characters. I especially loved Fran. The folklore was really interesting. Aiko's visions were wild and she was an excellent kid - I wanted more of her.

A little over three-quarters of the book Katsu seems to forget that she's writing a mystery with hints of supernatural horror. The whole book just falls apart. Aiko isn't special anymore, she's just a brave little girl. Fran disappears. The elements that made it exciting are no longer special. The climax of the book is like a firecracker that fizzles out.

The resolution felt unsatisfying and tacked on. I'm disappointed.… (meer)

This short piece had the potential to be interesting as I enjoy both history and folklore, but the execution was lacklustre sadly. Uwe is a farmer in 1945 in Germany whose village is about to be menaced by the arrival of the allies - both Americans and Russians. An unpleasant character in the village who has deserted from the front persuades him to join a band of resistance fighters to defend the village from the allies - but at a terrible cost to fellow villagers and ultimately Uwe himself.

The characterisation was pretty flat and the historical background shaky. In 1945, even young boys and old men were forcibly conscripted to fight so the idea that a fit young farmer has been spared the call up isn't credible. Neither is the idea that a deserter who returned to his home village has got away with not being denounced: my recent non-fiction read covering this period, 'A Village in the Third Reich', makes it clear how easy it was to point the finger at other people in a community with no comeback. Plus the idea that both Russians and Americans were wandering around in the same area is completely wrong.

The wolf skin belt comes from old folklore and is unusual in werewolf fiction, but Uwe is stereotypical in his inability to stand up to the bully until too late and the ending is unbelievable. I can only give this 1 star as I found it a real disappointment.… (meer)