Author: Erin A. Craig
Genre: fantasy/horror
Similar books: Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power
House of Ash by Hope Cook
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Ellerie Downing is waiting for something to happen. Life in isolated Amity Falls, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, has a predictable sameness. Her days are filled with tending to her family's beehives, chasing after her sisters, and dreaming of bigger things while her twin, Samuel, is free to roam as he wishes.
Early town settlers fought off monstrous creatures in the woods, and whispers that the creatures still exist keep the Downings and their neighbors from venturing too far. When some townsfolk go missing on a trip to fetch supplies, a heavy unease settles over the Falls.
Strange activities begin to plague the town, and as the seasons change, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. The creatures are real, and they're offering to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand, for just a small favor. These seemingly trifling demands, however, hide sinister intentions. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to stop Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.
My opinion: The idea that this was a re-imagining of Rumpelstiltskin (a fairy tale I've often thought needed more explanation) was certainly what drew me in. But that is really only a vague framework, a distant influence. Craig's tale stands well on it's own. We have a complex world of mythological beings. More than magic and monsters, though, this is a story of small towns and the secrets hidden by civilization. We're playing with the idea that "polite society" and the rules we all agree to follow hiding resentments and jealousies that will inevitably boil over and cause destruction. While the late chapters fall into a gruesome level of detail the slow grind of the town's decline makes for surprisingly compelling reading.
More information: Small Favors releases July 27
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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