Bettina has grown up in a small town in Australia where people seem to just up and disappear. She's a young woman who has had good manners and decorum drummed into her by her somewhat aloof mother. Her father left them and even her two brothers disappeared but Bettina has very little recollection of the circumstances until a note turns up. Bettina has shied away from others in town knowing her mother expects her to always be ladylike but she needs answers and finally reaches out but what she discovers changes everything.
This jumps about and it is almost as if the author wants her readers to be confused. Chapters about side characters, supporting characters with their own weird experiences and then there's the disconcerting sense of something watching, ready to gobble characters up. If blunt it took me a while to really like Bettina but as the story progressed and it became apparent that her memories were clouded I did have more sympathy for her. I did like the explanation but still feel the ending lacked quite a lot. Still if you are looking for a creepy, short read then I'm sure many will enjoy working out exactly what is going on.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

It took me a long while to get my bearings in this one. The prose at the beginning is very purple: circuitous and overly detailed and not going very much of anywhere. And then we're introduced to our main character and she's... well she's not a whole person - and there's definitely something going on. But it all takes so long to actually happen that when it did I was floored.

It turns out most of this story is constructed in the remarkably two-faced way that modern southern Gothic is written - and it isn't until we get the contrast of Trish (city girl with her modern notions and tattoo and brashness) that we really cop on to what's happening. From there the story picks up and doesn't let you go.

Interwoven with local folk tales (all of which are surprisingly only at most one generation removed from our young trio of protagonists, but still somehow carry the vagueness of legend), we get depth and backstory without needing to really see the truth. They do get a little bit too heavy-handed and obvious by the end but at that point the whole story has changed.

I wasn't expecting the gore. But it was a pleasant surprise.

Flyaway gave me strong Shirley Jackson We Have Always Lived in the Castle vibes. Dark, despite the harsh Australian sun, atmospheric, family secrets - it was breathtaking. While nothing was overtly scary, Jennings' beautiful and haunting prose sometimes made my skin crawl and shiver even though I was reading the book outside on a sunny 85 degree day.

Flyaway was a treat to read. I plowed through it within an afternoon, completely unable to set it down. Jennings's writing was heady and left me with a dazed fleeting feeling of being in the sun too long.

I read this. I re-read parts to be sure I read the words on the page, and in the best way possible I am not 100% certain what exactly has come to pass in Runagate and would not have it any other way.

The best horror, the best gothic thrillers and fables of suspense leave the reader questioning and pondering. They leave the reader slightly ill at ease and with a sense of "if only I could draw back the curtain a little further'. Flyaway manages this with measurable success, creating a lore on the back of legends capable of standing on its own.

This book was wonderful. It was so atmospheric. Reading the story was almost like experiencing a dream. There were layers of story, the running narrative being supported with flashbacks and as well as tales passed down through generations. A very complex novel, written quite succinctly. I will recommend this to Donna Tartt fans (haunting and atmospheric) and Naomi Novik fans (great storytelling and supernatural interest).

Bettina "Tina" Scott lives with her controlling mother and is focused on being a lady. Within a tiny Western Queensland town in Australia, there is very little to do and horrible local legends and tragedies.  Tina feels strange, focusing mostly on getting her mother new library books on being a perfect homemaker, but she has so many questions about what happened to her father and brothers.  She remembers little from the night they disappeared, only that her father's car was found. Her friends say she was with them, but her mother says she was home safe and sound. Confused, Tina finds things more complicated when she returns home to see the word Monsters painted in their yard. With a fuzzy feeling something isn't right, she begins to ask questions and unravels a strange world that is far too close to home.

If you're looking for a dark gothic horror tale set in Australia, Flyaway has you. So rarely do I get to read a good horror novel set in Australia, so I was thrilled (this is only the second I've read since starting this site). Kathleen Jennings does an incredible job of setting the eerie feeling of a mining town that no longer appears to have any allure for the locals. Most of the neighbors feel like people you've actually met in a small town.  The story fluctuates between Tina's point of view, and the stories that other people tell along the way. What happens is a veritable jigsaw puzzle of a story is put together for the reader, piece by piece. Be prepared for shapeshifters, curses, plants that swallow entire schools in a day, and monsters that make everything seem way too normal. 

Flyaway was definitely a page turner that I read late into the night. If you want to step outside American and British horror, I'd definitely recommend trying out this one.




Flyaway is available in the United States on July 28, 2020 from Tor.

When I read the description of this book, I was in awe and I knew I had to read it. The opening chapter of this book had such a unique writing style and I was totally in love with it. But as I read more of this book, the whole thing kind of fell off flat for me. It can be really confusing at times because of the writing style as it fluctuates in every paragraph. The more I pushed myself through this book, the more I lost interest in it. There wasn't enough time for the characters to be developed and it all led me to a great deal of disappointment, regardless of how many expectations I had for it. This book could be much better with more developed plot and characters and a good deal of writing style.

Beautiful and eerie, Flyaway reads like a dark fairytale full of horror and mystery. Bettina Scott is a good girl devoted to her mother's teachings, but when a note arrives that stirs up memories that contradict her mother's words, Bettina finds herself searching for the truth behind the strange disappearance of her father and her two brothers. Together with two estranged friends, Bettina will face strange magics and creatures to discover what happened to her family.

The beautiful descriptions throughout the book leave you with vivid images of the Australian landscape. The prose is gorgeous and sharp, and the unsettling folklore of Inglewell had me devouring the last half of the book! Overall, I thought this book was absolutely stunning!

What a strange little book. The best way I have to describe it is: Imagine if Shirley Jackson wrote a series of interconnected fairy tales on the outskirts of the Australian bush. The story is deliberately confusing (and sometimes frustratingly so), but it's gorgeously written and entirely unique. I enjoy reading about magic and folk tales I haven't seen in fantasy before. And I absolutely inhaled this short book in 24 hours. I look forward to seeing more from Kathleen Jennings.

Planned coverage:

TOR NIGHTFIRE: Inclusion in folk horror roundup

A gothic fairytale that embeds itself in your mind. The best way I would describe how this book made me felt was : it left me feeling as if I just finished hearing about an old ghost story. I enjoyed the writing style however I had a bit harder time connecting to the plot itself and the characters. The book was atmospheric and a quick read.

These days I try to go into most books that look interesting with not knowing anything about them. I read the summary and go from there.

Well, it didn't help with this one because my prediction was wrong and I'm very pleased about it.

One of my favorite things is when a fantasy book is set within what might be our world or maybe it's not or maybe it doesn't matter. Flyaway is like that. I kept having the thought, over and over, that it was like if Diana Wynne Jones had written a book purely for adults. It was windy and twisty like Fire & Hemlock is and it had the same approach and tone to it.

I really enjoyed it, but did feel like the story took a little longer than I wanted for it to get to that final hook, where it all begins to become a pattern you can see. It's very much like if the story started focused on one part of a painting and then pulled back millimeter-by-millimeter until the last two minutes when it just shows the whole painting. I wish it had been a little quicker, but I think it could also just be my impatience.

All in all, very pleased with this and will be on the lookout for any future works by the author.

Let me start off by saying I very much believe this will be a five star book for a lot of people. I just don't think this is a writing style I personally enjoy. Jennings writes in very flowery and lyrical prose. That isn't something I love so pages that were setting up a scene I had to read several times in order to piece together what was being said. I am sure for people who enjoy it though it will paint a very vivid picture and may make them feel connected to the story. I do not feel particularly connected to any character but I did enjoy going along for the roller coaster that is this plot. As the book goes on we peel through the layers of events that have happened for the last couple decades to bring us to the present day storyline. The plot is beautifully intricate and everyline is important as we jump around the time line. The book feels eerie and mysterious and at times horrifying. I also often felt like the book was a couple steps ahead of me all the time. I only guessed one reveal ahead of time. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys lyrical prose, and wants to read a weird mythical fantasy that will have you guessing at every turn.

Thanks MacMillan-Tor/ Forge and Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of wispy sections that take awhile to come together. Took me some time to get in the groove, but then the writing did get pretty vivid and lyrical.

★★✰✰✰ 2 stars

While Kathleen Jennings is an undeniably wonderful illustrator, I'm afraid that I wasn't particularly impressed with her novella. What first struck me as somewhat discordant in Flyaway was Jennings prose. At times the writing was clunky and there were passages that seemed as if they were trying to echo someone else's style. The start of the novel is incredibly reminiscent of my favourite novel by Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle. While in Jackson's novel the ambiguity felt almost 'natural', Flyway seems to be blaring its own mysteriousness. Our narrator, Bettina (I had to check her name, that's how 'unforgettable' she is) has this excessively creepy monologue which consists in her repeating to herself her mother's ladylike beliefs/rules. Bettina cannot remember why her father disappeared. She isn't concerned by her hazy memories until she receives a letter that for plot reasons convinces her to embark on a road-trip with her former best friends. Quite a few people have disappeared in their small town, and these three decide to figure out what's going on. Interspersed in this already short story are chapters about minor characters who are connected to the town and its mystery.
The characters were mere names and lacked personality. Bettina's narration isn't nearly as ambivalent as it believes, the various stories were both boring and predictable, and I simply could not get into the flow of Jennings dissonant writing style.

This is without a doubt one of the best standalone fantasy novels I've read in 2020. Flyaway is a lusciously dark and mysterious story that follows Bettany Scott as she tries to find answers to the disappearances of her father and brothers.

The premise itself is so unique. The story takes place in three enchanting, beautiful neighboring towns where a series of strange, inexplicable events occur. The world-building was stunning; the setting had this fever dream-like feel to it that made everything feel both surreal and perfectly normal at the same time. If this book were to have a film adaptation, Jennings would give even the most skilled filmmakers a run for their money trying to capture the unreliable and dream-like ambiance of the novel.

I loved how the narration style was at once poignant, whimsical, and terrifyingly gothic--this might be a fantasy novel, but don't be surprised if certain chapters raise goosebumps on your skin. The characters were beautifully fleshed out; I especially loved being in Bettany's head and watching her struggle as she tried to reconcile what she knew to be true against what she had been made to believe for the sake of her sanity. The ending has a jaw-dropping reveal that wrapped up the main plot while still leaving some mysteries to the imagination of the reader.

Mostly though, I just loved how captivating and immersive this book is. This is the kind of fantasy that will transport you away into a world full of dark magic, mysteries, blood, and superstition. 10./10 would recommend this to anyone who loves a good fantasy novel that truly indulges your imagination.

The book comes out on 28th July this year, so save the date on your calendar. You've got to give this one a try!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of this review. Thank you, Macmillan and Netgalley for sending me this ARC. #Flyaway #KathleenJennings #Netgalley

"Flyaway" by Kathleen Jennings
Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC of Flyaway.
This is such a beautifully written book. The opening chapter vividly and poetically introduces us to the setting creating the atmosphere of a fairytale. For example “ Trees bled resin like rubies, sprouted goitrous nests, suspended cats-cradles of spiderwebs spinning disks of silk”...see, a fairytale.
Like all good fairy tales, Flyaway has a princess Bettina or “Tink” as she is referred to by those who know her best. For years Bettina has lived alone with her mother with her father and her two cruel brothers having disappeared years ago. Tink isn’t exactly sure how and when her father disappeared for that time in her history is rather fuzzy. And her mother doesn’t help her remember, in fact, her there is something odd about Bettina’s mother..she’s hiding something, some truth.
Life has been going on rather uneventful for Betinna except for the fact she hs to paint over the word “Monsters” graffitied on the fence in their yard, or because most of the townsfolk treat her with disdain and mistrust.
One day Betinna receives an envelope in the mail. Inside the envelope are old newspaper clippings with “Youths Run amok”, “Damage and Disturbance”, “Destruction of Peace” which is unsettling enough but what makes the contents of this letter even more threatening is the ominously scrawled handwriting on it saying “You coward Tink”.
Bettina knows it was one of her long lost brothers who has sent this letter so, with the help of two childhood friends, she goes in search of her brothers in order to finally find out the truth behind her father’s disappearance.
Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters that are literally written in fairy tale form. These chapters are tale from her family’s past as well as the folklore of the community.
This is a fairly short novel that packs a tonne of story, not in terms of plot, but rather in terms of theme and character. It deserves to be read slowly, especially the chapters written in fairy tale form. So that you can truly appreciate the style and languages used by the author. In fact, I am tempted to by this novel in hard copy so that I can share some of the beautifully poetic language with my students. To me, toe story is written a bit like a puzzle with each chapter seeming like an individual piece on its own, but once put together displays an intriguing and elaborate picture.

Read this on the recommendation of a friend and wow, so good. Highly recommend for fantasy newbies and genre dabblers.

What a strange, beautiful, eerie book! Small-town closeness that is claustrophobic and fraught with secrets, a missing father and siblings, a magical weed choking the town, and a prim and proper young woman, Bettina, at the center of it all. The book peels away all the layers of mystery in a slow but consistent manner, unveiling the dark truth that will rock Bettina's world and leave the reader with thoughts aswirl about this book for days to come.

We tend to associate dark fiction with “literal” darkness – with shadows, haunted houses, twilight apparitions and “things that go bump in the night”. Similarly, the “North”, with its long winter nights and its mythology of fairies, trolls and diverse monsters, seems more attuned to conventional supernatural fiction than the Southern Hemisphere.

But just as Ari Aster’s movie Midsommar showed us that there can be dark horror in the unending daylight of a Nordic summer, Kathleen Jennings’ beguiling debut Flyway successfully challenges tradition by transplanting tropes of Gothic, fantasy and supernatural fiction to an Australian context.

The novel(la) is set in a small rural settlement in Western Queensland in the recent past – early to mid-nineties, judging by the references to early internet and mobile phones. The main storyline is narrated by nineteen-year-old Bettina Scott, although between each chapter there are short interludes – fairytale-like stories-within-stories – narrated by other characters. Bettina, we learn, was a feisty teenager, but since the sudden disappearance of her father and two brothers a few years back, she has lived a secluded life under the zealous protection of her mother Nerida. One day, she receives a mysterious message which suggests that her brothers might still be alive. With the help of two old friends, Gary and Trish, she sets out on a modern-day quest, to find her brothers and, in the process, discover hidden truths about her family.

Admittedly, Flyaway takes some time getting into. Jennings does not spell out things for the reader and the first few chapters of the novel felt somewhat disorienting. However, the narrative is well worth the initial effort and as things start falling into place, it gets increasingly gripping. A small hint… it helps to keep some notes about the different characters and the families they belong to – as in any self-respecting Gothic work, surnames are more than just identifiers…

A thrilling blend of Gothic mystery, modern fairytale and folk horror, Kathleen Jennings’ Flyaway proves that a cattle town in Australia can be as atmospheric and uncanny a setting as the magical forests of the North.

Thank you for this e-copy for review. My full review will be posted on my social media accounts, Amazon, and Goodreads.