Having loved Rory Power's debut novel, I was really intrigued to see what her second offering would bring. For me, this was a book of three parts: the first third and last third being really compelling, with a bit of a lull in the middle. It tells the story of Margot, a young woman with an incredibly difficult relationship with her mother. When she finds some information about her family roots, she flees to find her grandmother and an enormous can of worms is opened. There was something a little bit off about the pacing of the narrative that contributed to this slowing down in the middle section. I also thought that some of the reveals were a bit predictable, leading to a sense of waiting for the penny to drop for the characters involved. With that being said, I do really enjoy Rory's prose and her ability to situate her narratives firmly in a location is very impressive. Overall, I thought this was a generally enjoyable read, but I don't think it is one that will stick with me long term.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The premise of this book intrigued me, as I am always interested in stories about family secrets. Burn Our Bodies Down was certainly focused on family, and I understand that Margot's mother was meant to be portrayed as secretive, but I felt that their relationship was potentially overly fractured, and so their eventual reunion seemed a bit unrealistic. Although her younger self plays a big part in the book, Margot's mother actually as a mother is barely explored. The book reads like a novel about cults, which makes sense and yet is also interesting in that Margot's grandmother is such a towering solo force of nature. The whole mystery surrounding the girl who dies in the fire, and particularly the constant denial of knowledge from Margot's grandmother was frustrating more than it built any tension. I did appreciate the strong female presence in the book, but I think Power tries to incorporate too many different things into it, and unfortunately it ends up falling a bit flat for me.

Burn Our Bodies Down Sparked Plenty of Intrigue

There’s no two ways about it: this is an unusual book. At its heart a mystery- yet with its heavy dose of the supernatural and its hints of horror, this isn’t you run-of-the-mill YA. It’s surreal, speculative and a little out there. But what can you expect from the author who gave us Wilder Girls? And yes, I feel it’s necessary to compare it to the Wilder Girls, because I’m beginning to feel like this author is doing so much of her own thing, she’s only truly comparable with herself… and that’s rather thrilling.

Despite a somewhat meandering (but still intriguing) start, the plot has potency. The author has a real gift for drawing you into her world and vividly set the scene. Not to mention the characters she casts to bring the story to life- they are all fractured in their own way, yet reflect back parts of reality. They carry the oddness and the moody tone. Again, it doesn’t quite remind me of anything else.

Then there’s the mystery itself. Full of those kind of jump scares that keep you on your toes and creepy realisations that set your hair on end. The mash-up of genres is interesting, giving answers and raising more questions still. I got a sense of a mythic elements, threading through the narrative. I did see some of the outcomes coming- though that hardly matters. It’s the kind of story that enjoys giving you bits and pieces- just so the slow-dawning terror of what is really going on can freak you out all the more. Plus, this does give you a more tangible ending than Wilder Girls (though I can’t actually decide which one is ultimately more unsettling).

And that’s really all I can say about it without getting into spoilers. I wrote a lot of things down in my notes that make no sense out of context (which is unfortunate, because it’s quite funny reading them back and seeing how my brain coped with the all the *whoas* this book delivered 😉).

I easily burned through this in a day and got more than a few chills along the way. And it definitely stands out as something a little bit different. (Also I have to mention how incredible I think that cover is!!)

Rating: 4/5 bananas

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book, it was too slow to get going and I didn't want to invest more time in it.

Burn Our Bodies Down has a really strong premise that while being a good story doesn't deliver it as thoroughly as it perhaps could have. In some places it lacks character development and substance in some places. But overall it's a good read.

This was good until the final third. I did like the characters but felt the tess relationship was underdeveloped and the ending was just a bit far fetched. The wilder girls by comparisons seemed more solid in how that ended and this was flimsy by comparison. The writing was really enjoyable and I like the world building in this.

So I was looking forward to this book, but it wasn't what I wanted it to be, the story was good do not get me wrong but it was wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to be

The story theme where handled respectfully as I have seen these theme get used just so they tick a box. But in this book none of that happened.
The MC is strong but like a normal teenage is a little all over the place which most teens are.

It's a good book but not what I wanted at the time

*A big thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc in exchange of an honest review *

I’m going to preface this with I dnf’d this novel at 12%. I was at the point where I realised this novel just wasn’t going to be something I enjoyed. I thought maybe Wilder girls was an exception and I do like how Ms. Power writes, but I find it hard to connect with the stories. It’s definitely an interesting premise but I didn’t realise this would be horror rather than a mystery with maybe some fantasy elements.

I realised pretty soon that Margot is clearly probably a clone of her mother. Probably very like Get Out type things if it’s anything to go by. I’m pretty sure I guessed the plot completely almost immediately and that ruins the interest I have.

I think I won’t be trying more of Ms. Powers work again but I do hope she continues to write saffic YA and maybe moves away from horror so I’ll be interested.

The premise of this book sounded really intriguing and I was enjoying the story and the characters right up until the ending. The final twist at the end left me so confused! To me it really didn't make any sense and just seemed like the author was going for the spectacular ending that no one could have expected which in reality just made it stupid.
Margot was very whiny and repetitive for most of the book always complaining about her mum but there were instances in which I liked her. Vera was a scary woman who knew how to twist the knife just right to get what she wanted. And when the two come together it's time to find out the truth about the past.
Margot had found a place full of secrets and was determined to find out the answers no matter if they weren't what she wanted to hear.
Overall, I loved the idea of the book and i was hooked throughout until the ending ruined the experience for me.

my first book of the year finished. my first book since august finished! burn our bodies down has finally dragged me out of, like, a 5-month reading slump. thank the lord for that.

Burn Our Bodies Down follows Margot, who is desperate to discover her family, her heritage, her history. She wants a family, but all she has is a distant mother who refuses to give her answers and refuses to be what she needs. She soon finds the key she needs to unlock that door with all the answers. It points her to a town called Phalene, only when she gets there, she's got more than she bargained for. Secrets. Unexplained events. And a family history that is a little bit sinister.
rep: lesbian m/c
content warnings: gore, body horror, fire, violence, emotional abuse e.g gaslighting

Burn Our Bodies Down is a book about family, identity, and secrets. It's intense and super weird, but after reading Wilder Girls, that came as no surprise, and it's just my kind of weird. The mystery really dragged me in and Rory Power has such a way with words she creates this amazing eerie and ominous atmosphere that really adds to the mystery. I loved the family dynamics and complexities of these mother/daughter relationships, and while they were toxic as hell, they were super compelling.

Burn Our Bodies Down is definitely a book to read if you love a slow burn and eerie mystery, and obviously, if you are a fan of Power's previous work, Wilder Girls. But really, it's a book to read if you want something a little weird and a little different.

'Fuck this family, and fuck this house'

Im not sure what to say about this and thats a good thing. The blurb is deliberately vague and I think thats a good thing because going into this without knowing a lot puts you in the same position as our narrator from the first page and I loved that I only knew as much as she did.

This is a weird twisted tale that kept me up way past my bedtime (I read this within 48 hours) because I just couldn't put it down. Excited to read more from the author!

4.5 Stars.

3.5 stars!

Even though I might have struggled at first to get sucked into the story, the second half of Burn Our Bodies Down had me racing through the pages; it kept me guessing at every turn, now and then thinking I'd figured out the truth only to prove me wrong. This is my first time reading anything from Rory Power, but already, she strikes me as the kind of author who's wonderful at creating an eerie atmosphere so dense that it seems to spread its cloying, unsettling aura around you as you read — there are images sprinkled throughout the pages (like the apricot grove, the pink-tinged corn, the endless dying fields, the teeth in the fruits, the spiral burn scars) that stuck with me well after I'd finished.

The conclusion truly took me by surprise, but I would have liked more time for Margot to truly process what happened and what it means for her. That may be a 'me' problem, though, since I've never really been one for open endings. For a reader in search of a book that will keep them guessing, one filled with an (un)healthy amount of body horror, creepy cornfields straight out of a movie, and a family mystery, I'm sure this one will be a winner. As for me, I'd certainly be open to reading more weird and haunting Power novels!

Having enjoyed Wilder Girls I was so excited to read Rory Power's next book as I find her writing so captivating and unique!

Whilst I loved the writing style and the premise for the book I honestly found myself feeling confused by the end of the story and I don't really know what I read! I cannot tell whether I truly liked the book and the mystery behind Margot's family. Sitting here the day after reading it I'm still not sure but urge you to read it if you were a big fan of Wilder Girls and Rory Power's world building!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book took a bit of a weird fantasy turn towards the end which I didn’t really expect, and didn’t really tie up the story for me in the end. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, how Margot’s journey progresses and how she discovers her family and what happened to make her mother run away with her, but where the story could have been nicely tied up, it got a bit complicated and a little bit sci-fi...

I liked the ending, without spoiling it, I won’t say much more than I think it was a good way for the story to end! There were a few surprises through the book to keep you guessing and it does all tie together eventually.

I would have rated higher, but the unrealistic aspects weren’t really expected and aren’t my type of thing, and I felt the book was a little bit of a slow starter or I would have given it five stars. I think if I’d expected a bit more of the book, I would have rated it higher and would recommend reading it, going in with that in mind.

By the end of this book, I was underwhelmed. With a book which offers such a promising premise, a lot of the aspects of the novel fell flat for me. I didn’t particularly connect to any of the characters which, in turn, made it difficult for me to feel invested in what was going on in Margot’s family. Whilst a lot of the plot and the characters did fall flat, I do think the small town setting and the gossiping neighbours in this book works really well and I don’t think this story would have been the same if it was set anywhere else. Additionally, I’ve found, in both of her novels, Rory Power’s writing is extremely quick to read without losing any of the description. Whilst reading her writing, I’ve not ever felt bogged down by the details. Ultimately, however, the plot and the characterisation in this novel fell a little flat to me but I definitely understand why this book would appeal to others.

*I was given an ARC of Burn Our Bodies Down in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Macmillan and Rory Power*

This review was posted at youngcreativepress.com.

Burn Our Bodies Down follows Margot Nielson, who is desperate for answers from her mother. With no family, no history, and just the two of them struggling to get by, Margot finally snaps and runs away.

Margot finds her way to her estranged grandmother in Fairhaven, where her mother grew up and also ran away from. Upon arrival, a fire has started at her grandmother’s farm where a young girl has been found dead. The weird part, she has Margot’s face.

I found the writing style of this book really strange. This is not negative though. It really suits the tense feeling of the story and helps to reflect the strained relationships between the characters.

If I’m being completely honest I felt like I had jumped straight into the middle of the story without having read the start. The opening of this felt unbalanced to me and almost like I should already know who the characters are and why they act the way they do. I could not wrap my head around all of this ‘keep a fire going’ nonsense and everything felt very standoffish.

This was a feeling that dispersed as soon as Margot left home. The writing became more clear and I felt like you really start to understand the characters better. Also, the story starts to pick up. Before this point, I could not see where it was going to go. Although it was still quite early on so that wasn’t really a bad thing.

I really enjoyed the creepy vibe and how on edge each word makes you. I’ve never really read anything like this, although I have had Wilder Girls on my to be read for a while. Once the ‘mystery’ got going this book was gripping. I needed to know who the girl with Margot’s face is and why her mother left Fairhaven all those years ago and especially why everyone in town seems to hate the Nielsons.

I don't want to spoil anything here but just know that Burn Our Bodies Down is definitely the type of book that weighs on your mind days after you finish reading it.

Burn Our Bodies Down is the type of book that weighs on your mind long after the final page. This is an insidious book that festers, with its creepiness slowly encroaching and filling you with dread.

I’m realising that among Power’s many strengths is her ability to craft an atmosphere so strong and cloying that it essentially becomes another character. Here, the claustrophobia of a small rural town packed full of secrets permeates every word. Right from the start, there’s a sense that something just isn’t right. The atmosphere hums, like that before a storm. This instantly drew me into the story and from then, I was hooked, not wanting to leave until I had uncovered the secrets of Phalene.

Through Margot’s story, Powers has created an impactful exploration of the cycle of familial abuse and trauma, inherited through generations. The impacts of it can be keenly felt constantly and drive this cycle of violence and abuse. Horror as a genre often allows writers to explore societal issues and Power utilises this tool of the genre perfectly.

There’s just something I adore in Power’s writing. It’s bold, but also has this softer, quieter undertone that allows for all the more devastating emotional impact. She crafts complex characters that are often flawed and allowed to be three-dimensional. Margot is no different, as she begins her quest for the truth, but she’s also deeply impacted by the actions of her mother and Phalene only exacerbates this, as she discovers her family’s twisted history. Seriously, the story gets dark at times and the big reveal is just earth-shattering. It becomes one of those talked-about moments that I instantly wanted to discuss with someone.

Burn Our Bodies Down will leave you reeling, as exquisite twist after twist upends everything you thought you knew, in this thoughtful exploration of abuse tinged with mystery and horror. This is like nothing you’ve read before.

Burn Our Bodies Down starts off a little bit weird and gets weirder and weirder until it’s just down right bonkers and I say that without a single complaint. This was an enjoyable read and a great example of how YA can do horror just as well as adult fiction. It’s not like anything I’ve read before while still feeling familiar. Rory Power will now be an auto-buy author for me.

While I didn’t love this as much as wilder girls, I loved Power’s writing and her voice. I loved the characters and the queer rep and the sense of unease. And GOD! the toxic family relationships in this were SO SPOT ON IT WAS HONESTLY A LIL TRIGGERING. it’s a really solid and creative follow up to wilder girls. still the same vibe but a completely new story. enjoyed a lot!

thank you so much to netgalley, Macmillan Children’s and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was incredible. Cleverly crafted, intense, with such amazing, genuine characters. It was everything I love in a book and more. 

I adored Wilder Girls, so I was so excited to read the next book by this author. Rory Power is definitely now on my auto buy list. Her writing is captivating, emotionally charged, and drags me into a story like no other author can. 

Margot lives with her emotionally abusive mother, and she wants to know about the past she is trying so hard to keep her from. So she tracks down her grandmother and heads off to the town where her mother is from. Only to find that Phalene is strange, her grandmother is weird, and there are secrets to why her mother left years before. 

The characters were crafted brilliantly. Margot was a fantastic protagonist - curious and desperate to get to the truth no matter the cost. She was everything I love about a character, and I only wish there was more to come! The author really got inside Margot’s head - I felt like I was feeling every emotion and there with her every step of the way. 

We’re thrown right into the plot and I was intrigued from the start. I had to keep reading to find out the truth. The author has a fantastic way of dropping clues and hints throughout the book, but not revealing the whole truth until the very end. It kept me on my toes. 

I cannot say enough good words about this book. It blew me away and to say I’m excited about what this author writes next is an understatement.

I'm afraid this one fell into my "did not finish" pile because of child abuse and neglect. There is no questioning the skill of the author when it comes to the writing, but it was too painful to read.