Something had followed them home from Russia.
It's Christmas morning and Holly is awakened with one thought in her mind - something had followed them home from Russia. It was thirteen years ago that very day when she and her husband, Eric, arrived at Pokrova Orphanage #2 in Siberia to meet their daughter. And now, so many years later, Holly is convinced that all the strange things that have happened since - the hen, the cat, the incident with her coworker's daughter, and so much more - are linked. That something had followed them home from Russia.
On the one hand it's clear that family drama - especially the perils of raising a teen - makes great fodder for creepy atmospheric chillers. On the other hand, Laura Kasischke captures the essence of all of that tension and uncertainty ('cause every teen seems to become and unrecognizable monster at a certain age - or so I've heard) and elevates it beyond anything I think I've seen so far. Mind of Winter is a standout read on so many levels!
The elements themselves, especially blended together, certainly make the story an appealing one: mother and daughter trapped at home on Christmas Day during an abnormally eerie snowstorm, the hints of something odd connected to a Siberian orphanage (that one is enough for me, to be honest!), and this bizarre mantra the mother keeps going over and over in her head: something had followed them home from Russia.
Anyone who's had the pleasure of reading Kasischke's work, however, knows well that there's an added style element that is unique to her alone. Her writing is emotional and descriptive but never flowery. She seems to know exactly how to perfectly draw a scene in a reader's head. Yes, this is a hallmark of any great writer, but - and perhaps this is her poetry background - Kasischke's choice of words is melodic and almost mesmerizing.
I find there's just something so infinitely engaging about Kasischke's work that makes it both wonderful and chilling and Mind of Winter is no exception. In fact, I think so far this may be my favorite!
Rating: 5/5
To see more stops on the tour be sure to check out the official TLC tour page here. For more on Laura and her work you can visit her website at www.laurakasischke.com.
1 comment:
I wish I'd had this book to read during some of our snowstorms this winter - sounds like it would have been perfectly creepy to read then!
Thanks for being on the tour.
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