This book was quite a page turner and kept me guessing until the very end! This was so much more than I was expecting from a YA book - and the ending was so satisfying!

I feel like Rory Power swings for the fences. Some of the lines in here were just super powerful and gut punches and I think I get what she's going for? But the actual execution of the plot, specifically the cause of all of it and what was actually happening was a bit...off.

Power knows how to pull off teen horror and she delivers in her sophomore novel. BURN OUR BODIES DOWN had me on edge the entire time, questioning Margot’s sanity, the sanity of those around her, and my own. This was one of those books where you finish and you want to immediately start rereading. The narrative leaves you haunted.

This one wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the fragmented writing style, and the plot did not provide enough intrigue for me to get past it.

I requested this book because I enjoyed this author's first book, Wilder Girls, however, for me, this book fell flat.

However, I cannot give a complete review since it has been so long since I read it. Perhaps, I guess, my most poignant remark was that this book wasn't one that particularly stuck in my brain.

What did I read?

It's been a month and I honestly still don't know whether it deserves three stars or more. There are a lot of twists and turns as the family history is uncovered, but Jesus Christ, that grandmother was something else!

Having read Rory's other book, The Wilder Girls, I went into this one with super high expectations. It wasn't my favorite of the two, but Rory has a voice that is unlike any other. I still recommend this and it's a great book to pick up during autumn / the spooky season.

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a new twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery—until she decides to return to her mother’s hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

Rory Power's sophomore title Burn Our Bodies Down does not disappoint fans of her previous work. Engaging and satisfying, this thriller packs a punch.

Another gem from the exceedingly talented Rory Power. I will read anything she writes for the rest of time.

This book was so bizarre. It was definitely slow to start, but did pick up in a very interesting way. Phalene was a creepy setting and I actually really liked the main character of Margot.

So why the low rating? While I did like most of the book, the ending was just weird. It gave off a scifi feel, when the book wasn't marketed that way. The big reveal on why all the women in Margot's family looked alike was a good twist, but it was very unrealistic.

It ultimately comes down to the book being marketed wrong. There was nothing in the synopsis to suggest a SciFi element.

After reading Rory Power's Wilder Girls a few years ago, I thought I knew what to expect from her sophomore book. But I was wrong. This was dark, it was twisty, and it kept me guessing the entire time. The more I learned about the town and Margot's family, the more I desperately wanted to know. I'd call this one a combination of weird, creepy, suspenseful, disturbing, and alarming.

I'm very much looking forward to her next book!

This book was honestly a wonder, and kind of a marvel to the follow up that was Rory Powers first book. The fact that she was able to create such a different world while still using the same atmospheric writing style, is stunning. I had a bit of trouble following along with the plot, but overall this was a wonderful read, and a major help to the development of my thesis.

I didn’t get it finished before the title was archived. Thank you for the opportunity. I was invested enough to purchase the book and read it in hard copy. Will be recommending out of my students!

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

This had all the makings of a book I should love: queer characters, rural small-towns, strained mother/daughter relationships, but something about this really just didn't click for me. I feel like I never really got to know the main character, which kept me from bonding to her or the story or honestly caring about anything that happened.

This is the second book I've read by Rory Power and the woman is killing it! This book is so many different things. It's weird, burning with anticipation, it's got twists and turns. Oh, I could rave about this forever. I'm a slow reader, but this one I finished in 3 weeks (I'm in school don't judge lol). 10/10 would pick this book up again when I do my rereads.

Rory Powers: you have done it again. You have crafted a beautifully crafted mystery that kept me breezing through the pages. The plot centers around Margot and the complicated relationship with her mother. Burn Our Bodies Down was not afraid to get gritty, dark, and heavy but I truly appreciated it. This was a harrowing read that I throughly enjoy. Biggest complaint? The pacing was a bit off but overall it was still a phenomenal book. Can’t wait to what else Rory Powers comes up with!

DNF, sadly the author was found to have some controversial opinions which I absolutely disagree with so I did not continue with the book.

As someone who was a very big fan of Rory Power’s debut novel, Wilder girls, I had high expectations entering into this book. Unfortunately, it was not the book I had hoped for. I did not feel drawn into the story the same way as with her previous novel and didn’t find myself getting lost in the world she built. It wasn’t particularly captivating for me.

Power is an incredible writer when it comes to just basic craft. Her control of imagery and metaphor are exceptional, and it makes for really beautiful books. That said, I can see this book not being for everyone--it's definitely *out there* and frankly pretty confusing. But it also takes a fantastic look at complex mother-daughter relationships and familial trauma. If the writing style doesn't turn you off, I think this book is definitely worth recommending to people looking for tense, building horror stories.