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Deerskin
386 pages
A harrowing but beautifully rendered journey of a young woman fleeing unimaginable trauma to find magic, survival, and ultimate joy.
What it feels like
This novel offers an emotionally intense, steady-paced reading experience that plunges into the darkest depths of human trauma before slowly climbing toward the light. The atmosphere is initially dread-soaked and agonizing, reflecting a desperate flight from familial abuse and madness. Yet, the narrative is anchored by a profound sense of sheer beauty and the comforting, grounding presence of a loyal canine companion. As the story transitions from a harrowing escape into a magical coming-of-age journey, the prose balances horror and despair with an earnest, lyrical hope. It is a deeply moving tale designed for readers who appreciate dark, unflinching fantasy that confronts severe anguish but ultimately rewards emotional endurance with genuine, hard-won joy and survival.
- Mood
- dread-soaked
- anguished
- magical
- foreboding
- triumphant
- Tone
- harrowing
- earnest
- lyrical
- somber
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- trauma and survival · healing through animal companionship · escaping familial abuse · coming of age · finding inner strength
- The writing
- Characterized by sheer beauty, the writing balances the harrowing depths of trauma with the lyrical wonder of a magical world.
- The arc
- Moves from profound anguish and despair into a desperate flight for survival, ultimately culminating in hard-won joy and healing.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate emotionally intense, dark fairy tales that confront severe trauma but ultimately promise healing alongside a loyal animal companion.
Content notes
- rape
- incestuous intent
- parental abuse
- trauma
About the book
From the award-winning author of Sunshine comes a novel that "will involve readers from the first to the last page with its sheer beauty, its anguish, agony, horror, despair, and, ultimately, its joy" (Kliatt).
As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen. But this seeming blessing forces her to flee for safety from her father's lust and madness. With her loyal dog Ash at her side, Lissar will unlock a door to a world of magic, where she will find the key to her survival-and an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.
Description from Open Library.
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