'Silk' by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a dark fantasy novel filled with Lovecraftian inspiration, centered around the interconnected lives of various misfits and outsiders in a small town in the United States. The story revolves around the protagonist, Spyder Baxter, and her house filled with deadly family secrets, blurring the lines between madness and reality. Kiernan's writing style is described as rich, beautiful, and gritty with a touch of romanticism, although her debut novel may have occasional clunkiness. The novel explores themes of madness, Lovecraftian elements, and the thin line between reality and the unseen world.

Characters:

The characters are complex misfits dealing with their traumas and self-destructive tendencies, adding depth to the narrative as they navigate their struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by rich, evocative language, filled with metaphors and similes, contributing to a beautifully atmospheric narrative, though it may occasionally be overindulgent.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a group of young, mentally scarred outcasts in a small town, grappling with internal conflicts and potential external horrors, primarily linked to their self-destructive tendencies.

Setting:

The setting of a small, gritty American town reflects the characters' sense of alienation and aligns with the overall dark, 90s-inspired atmosphere.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow, which helps build a tense atmosphere, though it may lead some readers to lose interest due to the gradual development of the plot.

Two nights before Halloween, as if it matters to anyone in the house, as if every day in this house isn’t Halloween. As if every moment they live isn’t the strain and stretch, the hand reaching back, ...

Notes:

Caitlin R. Kiernan's debut novel is filled with rich, evocative language and numerous metaphors and similes.

The story centers on a group of young, mentally scarred misfits in a small American town.

While classified as horror, the main focus is on the characters' inner demons rather than external horrors.

The characters struggle with self-destruction, often as a result of their past traumas from outside forces.

Kiernan's writing style is described as sensuous and poetic, creating a thick atmosphere of claustrophobia.

The novel touches on themes of marginalization and the societal structures that contribute to the characters' struggles.

It includes various LGBTQI characters, particularly lesbian and bi characters, as key figures in the narrative.

Music from the 90s is a significant backdrop to the story, enhancing the experience of readers familiar with that era.

The narrative contains a slight supernatural element, blending psychological horror with fantasy.

Reviewers note that despite its flaws, 'Silk' is still a compelling read and a good introduction to Kiernan's work.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include drug use, mental illness, self-harm, and themes of trauma.

Has Romance?

The novel features some romantic elements but they are intertwined with themes of self-destruction and identity.

From The Publisher:

To the residents of her small southern city, second-hand store owner Spyder Baxter is crazy. But her friends and followers know better. Something lives within Spder's brain. Something powerful. Something wonderful. Something dangerous. Pray it never escapes.

Ratings (1)

Loved It (1)

Reader Stats (6):

Read It (1)
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1 comment(s)

ehanut203

Loved It

5 months

Well...I should have known better. It's called

Silk, and the protagonist's name is Spyder. I should have known this book would feature a particular animal that truly gives me the heebie-jeebies. Kiernan does an amazing job of describing the sounds made by these nightmare monsters (and that's not just me talking - in the book they really are nightmare monsters), and it brings me back to the moth-fear inspired by Mieville's

Perdido Street Station.

In spite of my personal phobias, this book is amazing. It rambles a bit in the beginning; you have to get into the right headspace to read Kiernan's prose. She doesn't waste a single word, even if that means she ends up with incomplete sentences. The tone is more important than perfect syntax. There are almost two parallel stories here. Until the last third of the book, you could read it as the paranoid delusions of a bunch of drug users, but you could also read it as a glimpse into the deep, dark horror tapped into by a little girl desperate for protection, and the danger she brings to all those around her in the future. The book is really about the second reading, but you could almost - almost - make a case for a plot without the eldritch elements.

If you'll excuse me, I have to go scrub every inch of my skin with steel wool.

What can you read after
Silk?

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About the Author:

Caitlin R. Kiernan is the author of nine novels, including Silk, Threshold, Low Red Moon, Murder of Angels, Daughter of Hounds, and The Red Tree. Her award-winning short fiction has been collected in six volumes, including Tales of Pain and…

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Silk

Caitlin R. Kiernan

Book 1 in the series:Silk