๐ This is one of those times where the stunning book cover absolutely matches the atmosphere of the story inside!
๐ Together We Rot feels like diving head first into a creepy Stranger Things-meets-Mexican Gothic world. The ambiance is exactly that: a small town surrounded by a deep, writhing forest hungry for a sacrifice.
๐ฅ On top of all that, there is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers Beauty & the Beast style romance that is exactly what I didnโt know I was waiting for.
๐ฆ The perspective shifts between two narrators: Wil is determined to investigate the disappearance of her mother. Her tenacity drives the plot towards its dark conclusion. Elwood is the son of the town pastor, and an endearingly gentle boy who pins moths and sketches insects. Heโs my favorite ๐ฅฐ
๐ธ๏ธ I absolutely loved the mounting creepiness as we get closer and closer to the terrible climax. Skyla Arndt achieves that perfect balance of horror and the grotesque thatโs thrilling without being overly morbid or pandering. And that ending is perfect: a bit feral, monstrous, and so very emotionally satisfying.
๐ Arndtโs writing style is also fantastic - it kept up a constant momentum so even when I put the book down for a bit, my mind kept churning over events and pulling me back to the story.
Definitely a five star read!
Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
๐ Together We Rot feels like diving head first into a creepy Stranger Things-meets-Mexican Gothic world. The ambiance is exactly that: a small town surrounded by a deep, writhing forest hungry for a sacrifice.
๐ฅ On top of all that, there is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers Beauty & the Beast style romance that is exactly what I didnโt know I was waiting for.
๐ฆ The perspective shifts between two narrators: Wil is determined to investigate the disappearance of her mother. Her tenacity drives the plot towards its dark conclusion. Elwood is the son of the town pastor, and an endearingly gentle boy who pins moths and sketches insects. Heโs my favorite ๐ฅฐ
๐ธ๏ธ I absolutely loved the mounting creepiness as we get closer and closer to the terrible climax. Skyla Arndt achieves that perfect balance of horror and the grotesque thatโs thrilling without being overly morbid or pandering. And that ending is perfect: a bit feral, monstrous, and so very emotionally satisfying.
๐ Arndtโs writing style is also fantastic - it kept up a constant momentum so even when I put the book down for a bit, my mind kept churning over events and pulling me back to the story.
Definitely a five star read!
Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review.