‘In the Dark, In the Woods’ – Eliza Wass

In the Dark, in the Woods

 

This novel explores one girl’s attempts to escape the confines of her upbringing. Castella Cresswell and her five siblings are used to being seen as the outcasts of their school environment. They are used to being left alone, and it is such a shame that they are.

Castella makes for an interesting narrator. Even though she is seventeen, she seems much younger and I assume this is because of her upbringing. As she starts to question the extreme religious views of her father, and to recognise that the abuse he metes out is not normal, you could see her growing in confidence.

The children’ acceptance of their home-life is horrible to read. The weakness of the adult characters and their influence over these children was truly horrifying. By the end of the novel I was desperate for something to happen to provide the opportunity to escape.

A curious read. Dark, but compelling. Thank-you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.