by Delilah S. Dawson
With the death of her grandfather, Lucy is finally free to live the life she’s always wanted. But because she has never truly been independent, she isn’t sure exactly what she wants to do with that freedom. So she spends her days baking, doing puzzles, watching movies, dodging her creepy landlord, and trying to get to know her neighbour Saskia, who, although elusive, does an intense weightlifting workout in the backyard every day.
Saskia has a secret: her body is continually invaded by mysterious tiny seeds that, if left too long, begin to sprout. So every night she meticulously inspects her body and picks them out.
Soon the women become friends, much to Saskia’s unease, since she doesn’t want Lucy to become contaminated herself. But the two can’t help being drawn to each other. Both carry a traumatic past, and each seems to need the other to heal. Inevitably, they fall headlong into a consuming relationship where each would do anything for the other… even kill.
This had an intriguing premise, but it seemed too focused on the love story rather than the mystery and horror I was expecting. Some readers will love that, but I wished we had a bit more backstory for both characters and a bit more of the unsettling body-horror the premise promises. It’s a quick read, perfect for a flight or a weekend.
Thank you to Titan and Netgalley for the copy.
