Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
My Review on Goodreads
I like werewolf stories. But I have a confession. I watch very few werewolf movies because I don't like the gore. The great thing about this book is it satisfied my appreciation for werewolf fiction without too much flying blood, guts and body parts. Having said that, it doesn't skimp on the body horror. What do I mean? This book is about the fear of change, transformation, and a lack of control over one's body/the loss of autonomy. The metaphor of undergoing a change into a beast with uncontrollable urges, along with the consequences of living with that monster under your skin for all the other days of this month is the essence of this book. The body horror is an inescapable component of such a story.
Rory is used to living life her way and doing what she wants to do. She left her childhood behind and avoids dealing with it as much as possible, including limiting her trips to the town she grew up in. When her sister gets pregnant and asks her to come stay with her and help her, Rory returns home. Not only does she have to deal with a difficult relationship with her mother, she's survives a brutal attack by a creature. Her troubles aren't over as she begins to develop physical changes that make her convinced she is becoming a werewolf.
Rory's POV explores repressed childhood trauma, the uncertainty of adulthood and relationships as not only do people around you change, but you do as well, juxtaposed to the horror of her changing body and realization that she is no longer just a regular human being.
I liked that Rory isn't strictly speaking, all that sympathetic. While she is a caring person, she has cultivated a layer of selfishness (likely for her own survival). She taught herself not to become emotionally involved with others (her sister being, in my mind, her only exception). When the truths about what happened during her youth are revealed, it's understandable why she lives her life the way she does. As this novel progresses, she finds herself becoming vulnerable to those feelings she always ran away from.
I really enjoyed her budding relationship with Ian. I was frustrated at how she pushed him away more than she let him in, but I understood why. Ian is a very good guy and I feel like Rory had trouble believing that someone like him would love her selflessly because I think deep down, she is a lot more insecure than she acknowledged (with her past, it's understandable).
I do think Scarlett's character was under-developed. For her to be such an important part of Rory's life, I feel like she should have been more described. I think the author expected us to take her reasons for being separated from her long-term boyfriend on surface level, but I think this could have been more explored.
Back to the horror, this is not going to be super scary for more seasoned horror readers (and movie fans). I didn't find it overly scary, but there were some very thrilling moments, and I think the descriptions of Rory's transformations were very well done. The climactic scene was a make or break moment and it made the read for me. I came to some conclusions before we got to that moment, but the reveal was still satisfying. I will say that if you want a big body count, this book isn't for you. For myself, I liked that about the book. For me, horror doesn't have to be about gruesome deaths, but it's just as much about the fear of the unknown, the loss of control, and the loss of identity. This book hits on a specific type of horror. Menstruation (the monthly cycle and shedding of flesh and blood) and pregnancy (the loss of control of one's body and the body being transformed into something different). As Rory finds her body changing into a werewolf, her sister Scarlett is in the last stage of her pregnancy and all the discomfort that comes along with it. Also the fear of the unknown that they both share. For Rory, it's the realization that she's a werewolf and everything that comes along with that. For Scarlett, it's the responsibility of having a new life.
Change is scary. That's what this book is about.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Rory is used to living life her way and doing what she wants to do. She left her childhood behind and avoids dealing with it as much as possible, including limiting her trips to the town she grew up in. When her sister gets pregnant and asks her to come stay with her and help her, Rory returns home. Not only does she have to deal with a difficult relationship with her mother, she's survives a brutal attack by a creature. Her troubles aren't over as she begins to develop physical changes that make her convinced she is becoming a werewolf.
Rory's POV explores repressed childhood trauma, the uncertainty of adulthood and relationships as not only do people around you change, but you do as well, juxtaposed to the horror of her changing body and realization that she is no longer just a regular human being.
I liked that Rory isn't strictly speaking, all that sympathetic. While she is a caring person, she has cultivated a layer of selfishness (likely for her own survival). She taught herself not to become emotionally involved with others (her sister being, in my mind, her only exception). When the truths about what happened during her youth are revealed, it's understandable why she lives her life the way she does. As this novel progresses, she finds herself becoming vulnerable to those feelings she always ran away from.
I really enjoyed her budding relationship with Ian. I was frustrated at how she pushed him away more than she let him in, but I understood why. Ian is a very good guy and I feel like Rory had trouble believing that someone like him would love her selflessly because I think deep down, she is a lot more insecure than she acknowledged (with her past, it's understandable).
I do think Scarlett's character was under-developed. For her to be such an important part of Rory's life, I feel like she should have been more described. I think the author expected us to take her reasons for being separated from her long-term boyfriend on surface level, but I think this could have been more explored.
Back to the horror, this is not going to be super scary for more seasoned horror readers (and movie fans). I didn't find it overly scary, but there were some very thrilling moments, and I think the descriptions of Rory's transformations were very well done. The climactic scene was a make or break moment and it made the read for me. I came to some conclusions before we got to that moment, but the reveal was still satisfying. I will say that if you want a big body count, this book isn't for you. For myself, I liked that about the book. For me, horror doesn't have to be about gruesome deaths, but it's just as much about the fear of the unknown, the loss of control, and the loss of identity. This book hits on a specific type of horror. Menstruation (the monthly cycle and shedding of flesh and blood) and pregnancy (the loss of control of one's body and the body being transformed into something different). As Rory finds her body changing into a werewolf, her sister Scarlett is in the last stage of her pregnancy and all the discomfort that comes along with it. Also the fear of the unknown that they both share. For Rory, it's the realization that she's a werewolf and everything that comes along with that. For Scarlett, it's the responsibility of having a new life.
Change is scary. That's what this book is about.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
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