Unraveller

Reviews

Hayley Westwood

. -There are plenty of easter egg references for those readers who, like me, love folklore, mythology, fairytales and legends: from wearing iron for protection, not eating or drinking anything at the moonlit market, and always carrying a gift just incase you're asked for one; to references to honey wine, characters who have traded an eye for something in return, and creatures clearly inspired by known mythological cryptids (like the marsh horse and it's likeness to a Kelpie). -At the heart of the story, all of the characters must essentially learn to live without the need for curses, and to healthily recognise and express their emotions; allowing themselves to feel the hurt, and to encourage it to heal.

I'm sure there are so many more subtle references that I also didn't catch, but hopefully might spot when I reread the book. Hardinge is a master of her craft, and has definitely taken a firm place among my favourite authors. The Wilds doesn't have a governing body; it is (as the name suggests) too wild for that.

𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙮, 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤. I hope if you do, that it takes root in your heart too, and that you love it as much as I did.

𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. You cannot trust your senses, and things are not as they initially seem.