CJ Malarsky

I read this book sitting on my cozy couch by the woodstove, and I was still shivering. From fear. This spooky novel absolutely delivered delicious chills. With a classic horror premise (girl goes inside an abandoned mental hospital with her friends, and when she emerges she will never be the same), Ashwood unfolded in some ways that were quite unexpected and fresh, and also with some archetypal tropes that I loved. There were many unsettling images conjured up in Ashwood. My favorite was the creepy nurses saying nursery rhymes who pulled coins out of the wounds they inflicted on the main character Willow. I used to live near an abandoned mental hospital (Wingdale in New York's Hudson Valley) and often wondered about it--now I'm glad I never ventured inside.

The story alternated between reality and dreams, but then the lines between the two became blurred. Until the very last paragraphs I truly did not know if the story would have a happy ending and Willow would be free from Ashwood (the abandoned mental hospital) or if she would be trapped in her nightmare forever. And I'm certainly not going to say which way it went. Since this is a series, I am very curious about the next book and how it will connect to this one... I can't say more than that without giving away too much.

I think one reason I bonded so easily with this book is that the main character, Willow, seemed like someone I would have been friends with as a teenager. She loves gaming and alternative fashion (dressing up in cosplay-type outfits for her regular school day.) She seems very femme, but at the same time is extremely feisty, which is a combination that I don't see often in fiction, and when I do, a lot of those characters don't seem to hit the mark the way this one does. The whole novel is basically a metaphor for being very afraid and "wimpy" and then overcoming your fear. Overall, two thumbs up.… (plus d'informations)