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Aug 28, 2017AnnabelleLee27 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A fast paced, unsettling, and darkly atmospheric novel about abduction, family, and survival. The writing is more character arc than thriller which I found to be far more impactful and fascinating. The novel is narrated by Helena who tells the story by moving back and forth through time from the her childhood memories to her present situation. Other reviewers felt Helena was too cold and dismissive of her mother, however, I believe the character arc of the storyline illustrated her ultimately shifting from identifying with her cruel father to an understanding and connection with her mother by the end (note the final graveside scene) all while using the fairytale of the Marsh King's Daughter in the process. The story artfully examined how while Helena learned much from her father (survival, hunting, some basic Native American philosophy) she elevated what she learned far above her father's cruel, sadistic, and violent reality. The author showed how one could be the child of a sociopath without becoming a sociopath and how love, pain, and memory have an effect throughout a lifetime. Be aware that some of the scenes are quite disturbing, including those involving animals (hunting etc), domestic abuse, and a rescuer.