A West Virginia family is bound by blood, a lot of blood, and secrets…and Michael Morrow just doesn’t feel like he fits in with Momma, Wade, Reb, and Misty Dawn.

A heart-pounding, page turning, gore-filled tragedy that I read in one day, Ania Ahlborn delivers again.

Michael has always felt different from his family, the Morrows. He does what Momma asks and never disobeys Reb, but he can’t help but feel what he’s made to do is wrong. He resigns himself to living with his family forever to protect his sister Misty Dawn, for fear of what Momma might do while he’s on a run with Reb. But on a rare venture to nearby Dahlia, Reb introduces him to a record store called the Dervish, and a clerk named Alice. Now, Michael feels like there’s a chance he could get away from the Morrows’ grip; maybe go to New York City and live a different life. But could he ever forget his bloodstained past? Does he really believe he can escape the Morrows?

This book was a TRIP. Ania Ahlborn has a way of pulling at your emotions, making you feel for a character despite their gruesome flaws. I was equally disgusted and empathetic to Michael and his fate. I also wanted to murder Reb and grew angrier at him throughout the book.

Though some of the story might be a tad predictable, it’s also a quick and enjoyable read full of strange characters and circumstances designed to make you feel something: empathy, anger, repulsion, disgust, terror. The twists and turns might seem obvious at first, but I guarantee there is one you will NOT see coming!

I loved this book. There are no supernatural elements like Seed or Palmetto; this is just pure human evil and agony. As always with Ania, check your content warnings!

Content Warnings: Child abuse (sexual/physical/emotional), sexual assault/r*pe, cannibalism, gore, graphic description of dismemberment, animal death.

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