This was a beautifully written and atmospheric novel set in a creepy town. I was very quickly into this world where everything feels so isolated and confused. There’s a sense of disorientation that runs throughout which mostly but in the odd occasion threw me off. That being said I think if you like quiet books with gorgeous prose you will love this.

So, I just finished *Curdle Creek* by Yvonne Battle-Felton, and honestly, it's a solid 3/5 for me. The premise? Super intriguing. A small town with a creepy "one in, one out" rule, and Osira, the main character, has to deal with the dark reality of it all. It's got those *Shirley Jackson vibes* with the whole "The Lottery" comparison—definitely some eerie traditions and unsettling decisions being made.

That said, the pacing was a bit off. It took me a while to really get into it, and even when I did, there were moments that left me scratching my head. Some parts felt a bit confusing or underexplained, and the big reveals didn’t quite pack the punch I was hoping for.

Still, the themes around inheritance, control, and the community were pretty thought-provoking, and it made me curious to see what the author comes up with next. Not a book I’ll rave about, but worth a read if you’re into American Gothic with a twist!

Reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery, this full-length novel is told from the viewpoint of a woman in the closed community of Curdle Creek, where strict rules of tradition lead to the annual selection of a local to be sacrificed. In Jackson’s story it was to ensure a good harvest, in Battle-Felton’s each community member votes for who should be Moved On to control population size. Methods of despatch are similar to the one featured in The Lottery. The novel also explores role of women, race and fertility, and later stages of the book touch on surrealism with a brief, Kafkaesque trial.
Ideal for readers of densely-written literary fiction, especially those interested in seeing how the themes of The Lottery could be explored and developed in a novel.
At publication, I will post my review on my blog and on GoodReads.

There were times when it took me a while to get into this, bit when I did, it was great.
I loved the idea of a place governed by so many rules, and I did laugh at a few of them.
There were times when i was just a bit confused.
The blurb sounds great, but the book didnt quite live up to my expectations.
Non the less, its got me interested in the author and what they might do next.