Follow Me To Ground is the story of Ada and her father who live outside a village they serve by curing what ails them. They sometimes have to bury them in “The Ground” for a few days for the cure to work, but most of them they can open them up with their hands and remove the illness, sometimes singing it away. They keep to themselves, other than when the Cures, their word for the townspeople, come for a treatment.

That changes when a vital young man comes for a cure and Ada falls for him. The two begin seeing each other secretly though his pregnant sister is suspicious and tries to warn Ada off. So does Ada’s father who keeps telling her there is a sickness in him. This leads to a crisis and Ada takes decisive and shocking action.



I think if Follow Me To Ground were as long as a conventional novel it would have dragged, but it is the perfect length for its story which is fairly simple despite the weighty ideas. This is very much a show-not-tell sort of book and Ada jumps right in describing Cures as she performs them so we quickly learn we are in some fantastical story.

I confess when Samson turned out to have a truck, I was disconcerted for a moment. It felt like a story out of time and yet, just like that, I realized it was happening more or less in the present. This made it feel strange and less probable. It also made the penny not dropping for Ada less likely. Yet, the penny never dropped.

I am unsure whether I can really say I liked the book, but I won’t forget it. It made me uncomfortable and has provoked a lot of thinking while doing other things. I finished it Saturday morning and have thought about it over and over again since then. It is a memorable book that was hard to put down, but likable. Not even close.

I received an e-galley of Follow Me To Ground from the publisher through NetGalley.

Follow Me To Ground at Scribner | Simon & Schuster

Sue Rainsford

3.5 stars

I'm not even sure what happened in this book, much less how I feel about it. Such a strange story.

Ada and her father are not quite human, yet they heal people (whom they call "cures") at their home. Ada starts a relationship with a cure, and the story progresses from there.

This was a quick read, and fast-paced enough to keep me interested, but I found myself confused by some of the wording. I had to re-read certain passages to make sure I understood what happened. There are also no quotation marks, only dashes, so you really have to parse out for yourself who is speaking at the moment.

Overall I'd recommend it, just so I can commiserate with someone else to ask "wtf just happened?".

Follow Me To Ground is the debut novel of Sue Rainsford, and it is getting quite a bit of ink thanks to the dark and disturbing elements it carries. If this first novel is anything to go by, Rainsford is already an author worth keeping an eye on.
This is a haunting and chilling read – perfect for those that love the subtleties that can come with otherworldly horror.
Ada is not human, has never been human. She and her father are something else. They’re tolerated by the townspeople thanks to their ability to heal – even if their methods are somewhat alarming.
You see, they put people in the ground to heal them. It’s counter-intuitive to us humans but is truly second nature for beings such as Ada and her father. Or so it seems. Unfortunately, this is a lonely life, and Ada craves something more. But what would the cost be, should Ada dare to reach out?

“There is something Cures don't know about their curing.
Their sickness isn't gone.
It just goes elsewhere.”

Warnings: Follow Me To Ground is as beautifully descriptive as it is unique. But that means that sometimes the details can be overwhelming and alarming. Be aware that there are graphic descriptions of bodies and injuries in this novel.

Follow Me To Ground has to be one of the most delightfully rich and hauntingly written novels I’ve read in quite some time. There’s something so beautiful in Sun Rainsford’s writing, it’s impossible to look away.
Ada’s tale is both innately human and yet fiercely other at the same time. I love that dichotomy, even as I watched her walk down a path that no human could follow. It was a fascinating read, through and through.
Part of me can’t quite get over all of the details and implications in this novel. There were so many details and layers to this book that I’m not even certain that one read-through would be enough to spot them. I do know that I was enchanted, and was sad to see it end.
The unique storytelling methods used in this novel is what really brought it to a whole new level. Having so many people get a say in what and who Ada was…that was an interesting choice. It increased the intrigue, of that there is no doubt.
The healing shown in this novel was so different and creative. I would have happily read another hundred pages on that alone, given half the chance. There’s something organic yet distressing about the method. It was the perfect foundation for Ada’s plight.
I’m honestly a little bit blown away by Rainsford here. I’m absolutely going to have to keep an eye out for any and all novels that come from this author!

Follow me to ground was not what I had envisioned. I feel like it was all over the place and I couldn't keep up with the characters. I will admit, this is not my typical genre of books so I am not going to say it was horrible to read. Just that it wasn't something I enjoyed or would recommend.

Disarming and elusive, Follow Me to Ground is a novel I had to sit with for a while before its full horror began to sink in. The short length of Sue Rainsford's debut novel belies its opaque and intimate depths. Many themes are at play here: body horror, sexual agency, the question of what makes us human--is it our compassion, or our cruelty? I was compelled to read several interviews with Rainsford after finishing her book, along with some online book reviews and critical essays that she has written. Paired with her novel, these texts make it clear that Rainsford is an intellect to be reckoned with. Her interests and obsessions as a writer, along with her visceral yet concise style, remind me of Carmen Maria Machado. Her analysis of the abject feminine and woman's sexual agency draw upon Kristeva and Beauvoir, both pioneering thinkers to whom feminist writers working today owe a great deal, whether they want to admit it or not. Overall, a consuming and provocative read. I look forward to Rainsford's future work. Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance reading copy.

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford is difficult to describe because all I keep saying is “it’s like nothing else I’ve ever read.” It was so different that I’m struggling to find a single other book to offer as a comparison. Honestly, I was pretty lost at the beginning. Elements of mythology, Native American trickster tales, folk tales, fairy tales, creation stories, and magic realism are intertwined in this coming of age story where bodies along with concepts of morality and mortality are stretched, suspended, and reshaped. I couldn’t figure out what exactly was happening but I was intrigued, which kept me reading. At just over 200 pages this novel should have been a quick read but my mind would constantly wander off to think about different scenes. Truly like nothing else I’ve ever read and I loved it!

Hauntingly beautiful story of a girl, Ada, and her father who are from a different world, the Ground. Ada and her father have the ability to heal sick townspeople, aka the "Cures," using the power they draw from the ground. After Ada falls into an affair with a local, Samson, her longing to be with him and her fear of being forever lonely leads her to commit the ultimate betrayal and changes the course of life for everyone involved. Mythology and folklore are not my typical genre, but I just happened to be reading this alongside Circe, and couldn't help but be entranced by the poetic and colorful writing style found in both stories. I could see every word Sue Rainsford wrote so vibrantly in my imagination and finished the book in two sittings in less than a 12 hour time period. Follow Me to Ground is not a cheap thrill but a work of literary art that deserves your attention and appreciation.

I am not really sure about about this book. I was able to read it all in one sitting, and beside "disturbing", I am not quite sure how else to describe it. Definitely not at all what I had expected, and the ending left me scratching my head and feeling a bit unsatisfied, which might have been the point.

The publisher and Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book is raw and compelling. It is a story about occult rites, and creatures that live at the fringe of the world.

Ada's story emerges in lyrical, disjointed memories and observations. The first person narrative is a stark reflection of Ada's own otherness. Her love for a boy blinds her to his sins, and she makes forever choices to transform him into something she can hold in her life.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received a copy of this fantasy eArc from the publisher in exchange for me honest musings . . .

follow me to ground (Sue Rainsford)

Title: follow me to ground

Authors: Sue Rainsford

Publisher: Simon & Schuster / Scribner

Publication Date: TOMORROW!! (hardcover / e-book)

ISBN: 978-0857526779

Source: NetGalley & Edelweiss

This book is strange, wonderful, otherworldly, and hard to categorize.  Literary fiction?  Fantasy?  Magical realism?  Horror?  Depends on the reader.  I don't know who  to recommend this book to but I loved it.  The basic premise is that there is a person, Ada, who isn't completely human.  She lives with her father who isn't human either.  Both of them are from the Ground.  They partially make their living by curing the humans, Cures, of their illnesses and seemingly have a well structured life.  But Ada meets a man from the village and starts a relationship.  Upheaval begins.

That description doesn't really begin to explain the book and that's okay.  This is a book that has to be experienced not described.  It is unsettling, evocative, and certainly doesn't have clear answers about anything.  And it be compelling, haunting, and just plain fascinating.  I am still not sure if this book horrifies or delights me or both.  But much like the vegetarian, I know that I will be thinking about this for a long time to come.  Arrrr!

Much thanks to Matey Sarah @ hamlets&hyperspace whose review led me to this delight.  As she says:

"This book is so weird.  I mean that in the best way possible.  I don’t even know how to go about describing it, because it’s just that weird.  Witchy healer does witchy things?  Witchy healer starts an affair with a guy who might not be so upstanding himself and chaos ensues?  Is she good?  Is she not so good?  No one knows.  Certainly not this reader. . ."

Thanks to Netgalley for the free ebook to review!

What an odd and interesting story. I’m not entirely sure what I think of the book because I’m not completely sure what happened. The writing style captures my attention and was almost poetic at times. This book was an easy read and wrote in such a compelling way, but I’m having a hard time getting all my thoughts together on what actually happened

Ada and her father live a self-contained existence and run a highly unusual healing practice. While they may appear human they are not as Ada was born from the Ground and at night her father shifts into a wild carnivorous animal who hunts on all fours. Since she is not biologically a female when Ada takes a local man as a lover she literally must grow genitals in order to consummate their relationship. “Follow Me To Ground” could be described as a book of magical realism or a debut novel which creatively incorporates elements of folklore, but I get uncomfortable categorising new works of fiction in this way. It feels too easy to group together literature which bends reality and writes its own laws of nature. Rather than describe it as part of any particular tradition in writing, I’d rather call it a highly original novel written in a voice which is fiercely its own.

There’s a haunting and unsettling quality to it which lingers in my mind like a dream I can’t quite remember. While the text is no doubt layered with symbolism and contains references to different mythologies or religions, I enjoyed letting the story simply wash over me with all its weirdness and gradually unfolding internal logic. I feel both attracted to and repulsed by Ada who feels desire sharply and also possesses a disturbing lack of sentimentality about the people she treats by opening up their bodies to burrow inside. To heal them she sings in a way which causes their ailments to depart. She loves so fiercely she’s determined to entirely possess the man she wants no matter the cost to him or anyone else. Like all witches, the local villagers respect and fear her. She’s like a divinity not to be trusted, yet she’s also the one people turn to when they are in desperate need. It’s touching how Rainsford conveys a sense of loneliness about her while also showing how she feels no self-pity.

The story is also cleverly constructed. Ada’s narration is interspersed with testimonies from different locals who have either been treated by her or heard vicious rumours about her. Only near the end of the book is it revealed why these statements are being made. The way the domestic harmony of this strange setting unravels has a moving tragedy to it. It’s the kind of book which makes me eager to discuss it with someone else - not only to try to piece together what happened, but to share in the wickedly surprising experience of it. This is a novel I’m going to enjoy puzzling over for some time.

Strange and weirdly haunting.
Depression has taken over me and I refuse to leave my bed unless it’s to reheat the same cup of tea I’ve been nursing for hours.
I wanted a book to reflect my dismal mood and mother of god is this it.
Disturbing and poetically lilting, Follow Me to Ground is a gothic Grey’s Anatomy sprinkled with a fairy tale.
Ada and her father are healers who quite literally put Cures into the ground to heal them.
The descriptions of what ails the patient can get very graphic which I absolutely love.
This was different and interesting and although it was a little confusing to follow at times the end result is very satisfying and I am STILL reeling at it.
This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read and I feel it was executed perfectly.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my ARC.

I have a wide and varied interest as a reader, but this one was just too strange for me. I couldn’t really get into the story and found the writing a bit confusing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish this one.

This read was quite different from most of the reads I’m used to. The storyline was a bit difficult to follow in the beginning but as the story progressed, the characters and story became more clear. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.

Power through the beginning of this and you'll be rewarded with a most interesting short novel. Yes there's magical realism but there's also a horror story aspect that makes some of it just plain creepy. Ada and Father aren't human but they are able to heal humans by taking them apart and sometimes burying them. Once the humans are healed, they are referred to as Cures. Things are sort of ok until Ada falls in love with Samson, who was a Cure. It's impossible to write a synopsis of this but know that it can be both frustrating and thought provoking. It merges folklore and Biblical themes and you might find yourself pulling old stories up from your memory. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of literary fiction.

This was so weird and grimy and disturbing. I think I loved it but also feel like I need time to sit with this story. For now, I’m leaving it with a disoriented five stars.

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The artiness almost saves it from the weirdness. Almost.
I wanted to like this girl more than I did but I never felt invested in her struggle. It felt more like an exercise than a story

I never thought I would read a non-gardening book that opened with the main character, Ada, talking about her hatred of slugs. Ada and I have that in common, though that is where our similarities end. I was riveted to this story from that first page, and I am still not sure what I just read. One of my resolutions for this year was not to start another book until I reviewed the one finished. It has been three days; I've written and discarded numerous reviews, and I want to read again, so I am going to try this one more time! A few key thoughts: surreal, cringe-worthy, heartbreaking, and have I fallen down the rabbit hole.
Ada and her father have a gift....or a curse...or magical powers. The locals, known to them as the Cures, come to see them when they are ill. Without any traditional medical tools, they can open a body, see inside, and remove the disease, illness, or bad gunky. Some of the Cures need a little help from the ground and they bury them until they are ready to come out and return home.
When Ada falls in lust or love with Samson, everything changes. Her father is not happy, as he knows something is wrong with Samson, something neither he or Ada can cure. But Ada wants more than just to live with her father and heal, and she sees Samson as her way out. What good is being a healer if Ada can't fix Samson? Now Ada must make a choice. Stay with what she knows or risk it all for the chance of a better future. Ada's decision will change everything, and I was left stunned by the ending.
Follow Me To Ground could be interpreted in many ways, but I think it would be entering into spoiler territory to tell you my thoughts. At only 208 pages, this was a quick read, though I found myself going back more than once to read parts that made me think perhaps I was dreaming or hallucinating. Nope, all good with me, but this is a very strange tale and one that will lead to some interesting conversations.

What a twisted nightmare near perfect in its haunting overtones. A fairy tale you'd never want to meet.

Writing: ★★★★★
Concept: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★★
Warnings?: Very graphic in the medical sense

I almost hesitated to rate this the full 5 stars because it's such a twisted speculative novella, but at the same time I think it's one of the most singular things I've ever read, so sue me. I loved it.

Follow Me to Ground is witchy, spooky, medically graphic, and disturbing. It follows the life of two non-humans, a father and a daughter, who live in a fairy tale-type scenario where they are the mystical healers that the town goes to when they're desperate. Ada and her father bury people in The Ground behind their cottage and heal their insides by scooping out the illness (literally).

Ada and her father aren't human, and they don't pretend to be.

Enter Samson, a local boy/man who captures Ada's ageless young girl/woman attention. (The hyphens are because the ages in this story are described in both ways...it highlights the overall fluidity of this story.) Samson and Ada begin an affair.

What started out off-kilter and uncomfortable gets even more so when Ada and Samson's love affair begins to fracture at the edges, and all is not what it seems. Is Samson a good man? What's up with his pregnant sister, who lives with him alone? What will Ada do when confronted with Samson's attentions vs. her nonhuman ties to The Ground?

Written in with a one-of-a-kind narration and crackling tension-filled sentences, this is the kind of story that stays with you. If you liked Wilder Girls for its unflinching acceptance of body horror and its lack of explanations, you'll like this. If you like Seanan McGuire's short stories on fairy tales best left alone, you'll love this.

I don't know what it says about me that I appreciated this story, but damn this was weird and awesome.