"She sat for a while, the box, tight-closed and darkly nested in the depths of her primitive brain, and allowed her thoughts to stray in tune with the sights and sounds of the autumnal landscape, resting for a short while, in the cradle of normality".
When Angels Fear by Polly J. Mordant is a deeply unsettling supernatural/horror thriller.
Emma carefully plans her escape from an abusive partner. She is terrified of him, as she knows "if he'd found out what she'd done, the consequences wouldn't bear thinking about. But he who knew everything, had seemingly suspected nothing". She leaves her home and all possessions and makes a break for freedom, arriving to a rented cottage in a village of Flammark.
She chooses this remote village destination for refuge. "She'd gone for total reinvention, since all her past choices had been disastrous. She wanted to cut herself off and bury herself in the mundane".
Flammark is affected by the "sleeping sickness", and the local church services are getting empty. The doctor's surgery is not doing better, as people stay at home rather than venture out to see the GP.
One of the local girls has been missing for six months, her family is devastated, but the police don't seem to be interested. The sense of uneasiness is overwhelming, and Emma comes to realise she's at the centre of the scary events. Something evil is playing cruel games with Flammark, and it wants Emma.
Emma's confidence levels are at their lowest, thanks to her abusive partner, but gradually she is beginning to believe in herself. She has been looking for a sanctuary in Flammark, but her own safety is intricately connected to the past of the village. Slowly we uncover the history of the Flammark's most powerful family, its nasty ancestry and the deadly curse.
Emma's origins come to light as well. She has new supportive friends, but ultimately she has to confront the ancient evil. Is she strong enough to fight it?
There is a lot of darkness in the book, from Emma's abusive relationship to the historical past and the current threat to the village. What begins as a story of an escape from a violent relationship, slowly progresses into a Gothic horror of epic proportions.
Apart from the hair-raising horror plotline, the author writes eloquently about such an issue as domestic violence. The sickening control and physical violence, sexual and emotional abuse are described spot-on, from the pattern of a quick romance to the coercive control.
Male violence doesn't need a supernatural trigger. Given the events of the past week and the current news, it's obvious that male violence is rampant without an ancient evil entity possessing perpetrators. For many women the fear of violence against them is an everyday thing.
When Angels Fear is an imaginative and absorbing tale, with an omnious sense of menace. It's a Gothic thriller which will chill the marrow. A memorable debut, and a promising new series.
Potential triggers: domestic violence, sexual assault, graphic murder scenes.
Purchase Link - http://getbook.at/WhenAngelsFear
Many thanks to Polly J. Mordant and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!
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