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Rawblood

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'Rawblood' by Catriona Ward follows the story of Iris Villarca, an eleven-year-old girl living with her father at their isolated house on Dartmoor, Rawblood. The Villarca family is haunted by a hereditary disease that leads to early deaths, prompting Iris's father to enforce strict rules of isolation. As the story unfolds through multiple timelines and perspectives, readers discover the dark secrets hidden within the family's history and the haunting presence that lurks within Rawblood.

The narrative of 'Rawblood' weaves together elements of gothic horror, family curses, and supernatural occurrences, creating a complex and atmospheric tale that explores the impact of isolation, forbidden love, and the consequences of ancestral sins. Ward's writing style captivates readers with its meticulous research, strong character voices, and intricate plot that culminates in a haunting and symmetrical conclusion, making 'Rawblood' a compelling and eerie read.

Characters:

Characters are deeply intertwined, particularly Iris, who embodies the impact of a family curse and isolation, while supporting characters add layers to the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is richly gothic and atmospheric, however, some readers found it overly dense and challenging to engage with due to its flowery prose.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is marked by a creepy atmosphere that revolves around a family curse and the madness it brings, unfolding across various timelines that connect different characters in complex ways.

Setting:

The setting is crucial, located at the eerie Rawblood estate on Dartmoor, it immerses readers in a gothic and historical atmosphere.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, with a strong start that may slow down in complexity, leading to potential confusion for readers.
He gives me a look that means I live in a big house with floors shiny with beeswax and high ceilings where the air goes up into white silence and the linen is scented with lavender and tea rose. In th...

Notes:

The story revolves around Iris Villarca, a girl raised in isolation due to a hereditary family curse.
The narrative unfolds through multiple timelines, mostly focusing on the Rawblood estate.
The book explores themes of darkness, madness, and haunting family legacies.
It includes disturbing elements such as madness, vivisection, and various abuses.
The Villarca family rules state that strong emotions must be avoided to prevent deadly outcomes.
Iris’s only friend, Tom, is forbidden by her father to interact with her because of their intertwined family fates.
Mary Hopewell, an important character, struggles with her life and relationships in Italy, revealing sinister undertones.
Characters throughout the novel connect through a complex family tree that’s essential to understanding the plot.
The writing blends gothic horror with social commentary and psychological exploration.
The ending reveals deep emotional and supernatural implications, tying together the complex narrative threads.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes content warnings for discussions of rape, child sexual assault, child abuse, pregnancy loss, and graphic depictions of life in an early 20th-century insane asylum.

Has Romance?

There are several romantic subplots within the story, but they are interwoven with themes of tragedy and horror.

From The Publisher:

"An impressively hectic spin on the Gothic tradition"-Telegraph

The winner of BEST HORROR NOVEL at the British Fantasy Awards by the author of The House on Needless Street!

What if it's not your mansion that's haunted-it's you?

Young Iris Villarca is the last of her family's line. They are haunted by "her," a curse passed down through the generations that marks each Villarca for certain heartbreak and death. For generations, the Villarcas have died young, under mysterious circumstances.

But Iris dares to fall in love, and the consequences of her choice are immediate and terrifying. As the world falls apart around her, she must take a final journey back to Rawblood where it all began, and where it must all end...

Perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson, Susan Hill, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Girl from Rawblood will pull readers through time into the early 1800s and 1900s, mesmerizing them with this lyrical story of cunning folk horror right until the breathtaking finish.

Praise for The Girl from Rawblood:

"Superb debut....Ward perfectly balances sensory richness with the chills of the uncanny."

-Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"The Girl from Rawblood makes a powerful contribution to the British literature of the fantastic...There's a touch of Ted Hughes here, Emily Bronte and M.R James in this eerie and by turns moving story that spans generations...A definite book of the year for me."

-Adam Nevill, award-winning author of The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive

"The Girl from Rawblood weaves a spell that both terrifies and mesmerizes. As each layer of mystery is peeled away, more haunting truth is revealed. The book leaves the reader breathless in its gothic tale of fear, family, blood, and love."

-Simone St. James, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (16):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (10)
Not Interested (3)

About the Author:

Catriona Ward was born in Washington DC and grew up in the US, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen and Morocco. She studied English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford followed by the UEA Masters in Creative Writing. After living in New York for 4 years where she trained as an actor, she now works for a human rights foundation and lives in London.

 
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