I received this book for free from personal copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson Published by Tom Doherty Associates on October 3, 2017
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror
Pages: 128
Format: Paperback
Source: personal copy
Molly didn't grow up like other young girls. From the moment she can remember, she's been training to kill herself. Every time she bleeds, a molly is born. Mollys look just like her, yet they are all out to kill her.If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight.
Don't bleed.
If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach.
If you find a hole, find your parents
I discovered this title (and the sequel, The Survival of Molly Southbourne) earlier this year and knew I had to include them in my Murder, Monsters & Mayhem feature.
What a completely unique and incredibly captivating premise! I was intentional in limiting my summary of this novella for it’s one that you must experience on your own! Though it’s a short read, it most certainly packs a punch! Molly’s character is surprisingly sane given her situation, but I suppose having grown up in an environment like this, it’s just natural. She learned quite early on how to kill, the importance of protect herself from harm in order to protect the mollys from attacking her.
Not understanding the origin of her “ailment” doesn’t really detract from the story; most of it is Molly’s own introspective examination of her very existence. This is the only life she’s known; she isn’t able to experience a cut from falling, a bloody nose, or heck, menstruation, without an increased cause for alarm. Her situation is completely terrifying yet simultaneously intriguing. It isn’t until we’ve “accepted” her reality that we begin to learn more about the root cause.
I’m thankful that I’m able to read the sequel immediately following for I’m not sure how I couldn’t have waited to learn more! You’ll want to devour this novella in one sitting and then continue to the next for some resolution and closure. It’s the type of book that haunts you long after you turn the final pages! Highly, highly recommended.
