I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics Also by this author: Daughters Unto Devils
Published by Harlequin on September 27, 2016
Genres: Horror, YA
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Lucy Acosta grew up without a mother; her own passed away when she was three. Her father is cold and distant, never really concerned about Lucy's well-being, rather focusing on keeping the reputation of the Acosta name alive. Lucy's real family is her cousin, Margaret, and her aunt, Penelope. Lucy and Margaret spent their childhood roaming the dark, mysterious halls of their estate.
When Penelope goes missing, Lucy loses the only mother she has ever known. Margaret begins acting mysteriously, retreating to the attic. She's certain she can hear her mother speaking to her from the walls. Margaret's sanity continues to spiral out of control and Lucy can do nothing but stand by and watch.
When she herself begins to hear voices, Lucy realizes Margaret's sanity wasn't to be questioned. Instead, they are haunted by a legacy that has affected the women in her family for generations. Already tortured by her own personal demons, Lucy must face the past in order to guarantee her own future, and those that follow her.
A few weeks ago, I listened and loved Daughters Unto Devils, the author’s previous work. That title chilled me to the bone. This one? Not so much.
While the concept is chilling (generations of women haunting their descendants) I don’t feel nearly as connected or invested in this read. It’s almost as if more depth should have been added to the characters, more explanation about the history of the “curse” and perhaps I would have felt more of a connection? This isn’t to say this read wasn’t enjoyable; I read it one sitting. Yet, I did find myself skimming through the dialogue, rushing to get to another scene of action.
All this said, I would still recommend this title to those looking for a chilling October read. Perhaps if I hadn’t read the previous novel first, and had nothing to compare it to, I might have enjoyed it more. Perhaps my expectations were too high? Either way, give it a try yourself. Report back about what you thought about it!
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