Review: Sallow Bend

3 stars. Not bad at all, and truly a whole lot of fun! I love a good carnival. Highly recommend this for spooky season or if you're in the mood for a good, adventurous small-town ghost story. It follows several members of the town of Sallow Bend, to which the carnival has just arrived, as they deal with the disappearance of two girls followed by a series of super unfortunate, tragic, mysterious deaths. Between the local law enforcement, the carnival workers, the school's awkward janitor and the mother of a previous victim, the town rallies as best as they can against what quickly becomes clear is a supernatural threat.

The book is full of shining horror moments. Between the carnival, a spooky old cabin, and the villain's ability to glamour the whole town, there's a lot to be found that will satisfy a horror reader. Ultimately, though, it isn't that scary. The multiple POV format doesn't exactly lend itself to anything other than repetitive conversations, and also unspools some narratives that never get resolved. (Look to Stephen King for successful examples of going deep and wide.) The carnival aspect is appreciated and creates a kind of trope-y nostalgia, but there was just something... missing.

Maybe I wanted more answers, or more of Hester's story, or maybe the ending wrapped things up a little too neatly. I can't quite put my finger on it. But hey, as I mention often in my reviews/responses: I've never written a book, and it seems quite difficult to do. I won't not recommend this because the vibes alone are pretty awesome. I'm excited to read more from this author! And it kept me very entertained on the train.

Sallow Bend on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads