Carrion Crow

Overall Rating: 5/5

Firstly, before I even get into the review, please please please heed the warnings that come in not just this book, but in any book that comes with book warnings about potentially upsetting content. You matter, and there is no need to potentially push yourself beyond what you are capable of tolerating content-wise. There is some potentially grisly, and most definitely dark and unexpected content that could be very upsetting if you aren't in the mindset, or if you don't have a strong stomach.

Wow... going in, I did not expect Carrion Crow to carry the heavy weight and the darkly heavy tale that it carries within its pages...Carrion Crow oozes a darkness that threatens to taint anything it touches.

At its heart, Carrion Crow is a grotesque sort-of fairytale... descended into some dark twisted form of Rapunzel. It tells a tale of imprisonment and yet also a tale of injustice, then descends into something truly horrific as the true confinement of Marguerite gets to her mind, and she turns into something other than a human...giving into the beast that has been slowly lurking and growing within her... and those countless hours that she has spent in the attic with just her and the crows.

But also at the same time, Carrion Crow also is something much more than just a visceral tale of shadow... it also tells a story of how something that seems so simple can get to the mind and can change us to be someone that we may not recognize anymore compared to our old selves. Of how trauma can corrupt... even if it comes from someone that we are supposed to be "best friends" with and are supposed to trust with everything in real life. Of how a mother can be the exact opposite. Parry has spun somewhat of a haunting melody, one that I found highly relatable and deeply reflective... but also powerful and one that will linger in my mind for quite some time...

As a horror aficionado, I went in expecting some element of horror, some element of spookiness, but this is an absolutely vile, and utterly chilling novel ... and true to the writings of great names of the dark such as Stephen King and Ava Reid... if you enjoy something that is dark and yet so much more, I highly recommend checking out this dark, twisted tale.