Burn Our Bodies Down – Book Review

Hello friends! Today I’m doing something new! I have an audiobook review coming up, the first one ever, I might add. I hope you enjoy my Burn Our Bodies Down Audiobook Review!

Please be aware before reading this review and/or purchasing this book that this author has been called out online for harmful and problematic behaviour in April 2021.

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Title: Burn Our Bodies Down

Author: Rory Power

Rating: 3 Stars

Genre: Horror, YA, Fiction, Mystery

Content Warnings: Arson, emotional abuse (parental, generational), gaslighting, body horror, gore, murder, death, emesis, off-page gun violence, nonconsensual pregnancy (no sexual assault or rape)

Format: Audiobook ARC

Publisher: Delacorte

Date Published: July 7th 2020

Goodreads Description: Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants a family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.

Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.

I received a review copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Burn Our Bodies Down Audiobook Review

Let’s get our horror on!

Characters

I’m torn about this one. I really liked the story, but the characters bothered me. I couldn’t understand Margot’s intense desire to know her family and to know what happened in the past.

Now, not relating to/understanding a character is not a reason to dislike a book. It’s physically impossible to relate to every single character in every book you read, because why would you only read books about people like you? However, I didn’t sympathise or empathise with Margot. I just felt super detached from her character (probably because I’m an emotionless robot most days).

Her rage and her anger come off as selfish at times, and even though it doesn’t invalidate her feelings at all, it just didn’t make me feel anything.

Characters = 4

Atmosphere/Narrator

This book is supposed to be a horror, at the very least a thriller, but I wasn’t scared. While body horror and gore gross me out, it doesn’t necessarily scare me. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job though. Her voice made the creepy atmosphere come through and the acting was really great.

The last 80% of this book included a lot of the gore and twists.

I just wish some more creepy stuff happened throughout the book. We do get snippets here and there, but it didn’t add enough to the overall feel for me.

Atmosphere = 6

Writing

Rory Power is an excellent writer. Her stories flow really well and read very smoothly. I loved her debut book, Wilder Girls, and her writing has only improved from there. The themes, set-ups and payoffs of this book were done well and I’d read more of her writing.

Writing = 7

Plot

Once again, some of my main issues are with the plot. Mainly the pacing. Almost all of the important action happens during the last 20% of the book, which made the first 80% really boring.

The story has some supernatural elements to it, but it’s grounded in reality enough to make sense. The whole plot could also have been solved with a single conversation, which is really one of my biggest pet peeves.

Plot = 4

Intrigue

As I said, I listened to the audiobook version of Burn Our Bodies Down. I was fairly into the story for the first part and the last part. The middle waffled a bit. It was interesting enough to keep me going though, as I wanted to solve the mystery.

Intrigue = 5

Burn Our Bodies Down Audiobook Review

Logic

Some suspension of disbelief is required when reading this story, but logically everything makes sense. The story actually touches on some real-life scary things, such as gene manipulation and GMO foods. You are what you eat, kids.

Logic = 5

Enjoyment

Was this the best book I’ve ever read? No. Was it the worst? Also no. It has some pros and cons, but ultimately I would say it was average and maybe a bit forgettable. However, this book is someone’s favourite, so I’ve linked a 5-star review for you here!

CAWPILE = 4.8/10

Stars = 3

Let me know your thoughts on Burn Our Bodies Down (Audiobook review).

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