Avid Multi-Genre Reader. Lover of Books with Unique Settings. Audiobook Fanatic. Sweet Tea Addict. Mom of Two Boys & Mistress of Two Very Energetic Black Kittens. -Empress Reece
Have you ever heard that saying? Well that saying fits Jess Moulton, the main character and prisoner in Fellside, to a tee. It was extremely hard to like her because she continuously did one thing after another to sabotage her own self and life. To say she frustrated me is the understatement of the century! Never in my life have I wanted to help someone and smack someone at the same time as much as I did with her. So be prepared, she will tug at a variety of your heartstrings in more ways then one.
The story itself I thought was really good. There was a little drag time in the middle but it picked right back up and went full force until the end. All of Carey's characters are so well-developed that you just get immersed in the world he creates. I know I mentioned it in my progress post but I learned more about the women's prison community and social structure then I ever expected or cared to know. I'm just glad it was from the outside looking in because if I had no desire to learn first hand before, I really don't now. That is one place I will stick with traveling to strictly from my armchair and just so I don't tempt fate too much I won't be going from there much either. I can't say first hand but it seems like Carey really nailed the social community within the prison.
There is also a paranormal and dream-walking aspect to the story and I thought both were implemented very nicely. The author didn't go too far off the rails with it, which I liked and she did a really good job of putting pen to paper with the alternate dream world and how it works so that it made sense and sounded feasible.
M.R. Carey is on a roll with two very different but well-delivered successes in a row. I wonder where he'll take us next??
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!