Mary surprised me in many ways. On its surface it seemed the exact kind of book I’d like, something dark and twisted with a female lead, and while I have read quite a few thrillers, this was true horror writing which was exciting. 

Unfortunately a few things weren’t quite landing for me and I still don’t really know what it was - I enjoyed the plot to an extent and everytime i picked up the book I was waddling through fine, but it took me soooo long to actually push myself to finish it. This was meant to be a halloween read and I’m only finishing it now mid-December. I think I was just univested and the story felt like it wavered in too many directions. ALSO!!! absolutely fucking hated the whole cactus thing. I get it, horror should be gross and disturbing and we should be appalled by the actions of the group and the treatment/ownership of women’s bodies but yuck. 

Negatives out of the way, I thought this was a great horror. So many times throughout I found myself flinching and making disgusted faces at the descriptive writing. I very often enjoy an unreliable narrator (especially when we’re aware of how whacko they are from the get-go) and it made it engaging trying to figure out what the fuck was going on with Mary pre-reveal

of her being Damon reincarnate

… and actually post-reveal too. 
Thought the ending was great also and locked in for the last 30% in one sitting. 

Ngl, I was feeling a little hmmm-ish about a man writing on such woman centred topics of menopause, female aging, societal views on women, etc. but it seemed very well researched and the afterword actually delves in on the author’s own discussion of his place and I liked that.