Take some dark, gothic fantasy elements, combine it with a family drama and a self-apreciating voice, and tell a tale that moves towards and touches upon horror territory.
Summary
Younger female (no longer a kid) is tied into a (self chosen) family curse and forced into a marriage. She disagreeds, and uncovers the tragedy and monstrous pact behind her family's powers and wealth. The background world is an Irish world that features some real mermaids (the Ursula type), ghouls, and some other minor magic.
It's well written, but it was so, so, so painstakingly slow at the start that I put it aside twice. It's a bit thin on plot and action, and I don't like any of the characters. Yet it is a good read. It's just... slow. Slow and weird. And except for the main plotline (the curse) magic doesn't seem to play much of a role at all.
Narration
It's a first person story, but the primary character is not entirely likeable, a bit too self-conscious. There's a deliberate Irish accent in the writing, and the narrator of the audio book matches it perfectly - if sometimes just as annoying as the self-centered telling of the tale.
The Verdict
A good read, but it's not for everyone.
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