Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Mary: An Awakening of Terror

This book was incredibly scary and also had very good humor and timing. I really enjoyed the author’s preface talking about his experience with his mother and Steven King and Carrie. I also appreciate the caretaking with the story for Mary and her background. I especially appreciate the afterword where the author does address my only concern with the book which was that he was a male writing about a female who is pre-menopausal having hot flashes. Great book, great idea, and great execution. It would be five stars, except for that I do think it was a little bit too long.

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himpersonal's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mary, you are my hero! I declare this so on behalf of all middle-aged, perimenopausal women living under a careless patriarchy. Nat Cassidy, your momma raised you right! Aside from your author's note, where your devotion to your mom was evident, I can only conclude she taught you well based on how you wrote Mary's transformation.

If I could, I would teach this book as part of a college-level women's studies or feminism class. There is so much symbolism all over the book, including the obvious, like the mirrors, the furies, the ants, the hot flashes, her Loved Ones, etc. I gave Mary and Nat an imaginary chest-bump every time she seethed against being called crazy. And I enjoyed rooting for and watching Mary transform from a nobody (not even she gave herself any consideration) to someone who is on the cusp of extraordinary. Her rage is what drives her, and she didn't even know she had any until she had to use it. I have so much optimism for Mary's future.

The afterword was worth sticking around for. I can't believe Cassidy started this book at age 13. Brilliant. Thank you for speaking on behalf of every woman who has ever been medically gaslit and/or subjected to male doctors who were dismissive of our pain. Thank you for celebrating all the invisible and overlooked women who were put out to pasture. Thank you for being a wonderful ally against the ageism women face, should we be lucky enough to live long enough to have to deal with it.

This was my first Cassidy book. I really look forward to getting to know more of this writer's works.

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nunparasite's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A great read, Mary was a fantastic protagonist to follow - she's got a complexity and gray morality rarely afforded to female characters her age. The story had good pacing, getting you invested from the start and giving you plenty of "calm" (but interesting) downtime between the reveals or more violent moments.

Sometimes it felt like it's messaging was too heavy-handed, as if lacking faith in the reader, but I suppose it's understandable considering the subject matters (and the author afterword).

Overall, really don't regret picking up this book and I can't wait to recommend it to fellow horror fans.

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disguisedposer's review

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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virgcole398's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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