quick read, parts of it were good, interesting concepts but not overly involved or invested in any of the characters ( )

Excellent premise and imagery. Poorly paced. ( )

I do not get it. The story was way too simplistic to be a complete book for me. Getting to the ending/payoff was painful bc nothing was happening. Don’t get me wrong, the book is full of beautiful/creepy atmosphere and an A setting, but I need more than that— I need character development and plot (and a lot of it). There were so many threads started that never went anywhere and were never followed up on. And the big reveal was just.... disappointing. It felt like it should’ve been something cooler and weirder than what it was. What it was was predictable and I didn’t want that. ( )

I read Wilder Girls and then Burn Our Bodies Down. I think my central issue is that I need a more inquisitive protagonist. Power's protagonists just *drop* the issues that arise and those issues are more fascinating to me than the emotional aftermath. Power definitely focuses on the emotional story.
The relationships in Burn Our Bodies Down were very problematic. All of them. The mother/daughter relationship was especially abusive and difficult to read. At the same time, these relationships stayed surface level and uninvestigated-- the characters reminded me of VC Andrews writing.
As with Wilder Girls, there are many, many unanswered questions remaining at the end of the book. Some it seemed like we would get an answer to-- but no. I'm referring here... to say it without spoilers-- to the apricots and the eating of the apricots??? ( )

Honestly this was one of the weirdest, creepiest books I have ever read. I mean seriously! The apricot grove y'all! I can't say too much more because I really don't want to spoil it for anyone. The writing was moody and atmospheric and the author created a wonderful sensory experience for Readers. The suspense was almost unbearable and the lying, secretive behaviour and gaslighting had me feeling a bit crazy myself. This was an incredible experience that I respectfully don't want to go through again in a hurry. Apricots and corn are off the menu for me. ( )