I think the magic of this book is that the horror comes as a sneak attack. Everything seems as fine as possible for Margot. Her mother is distant, emotionally abusive, and she raises herself. But she wants a family, she wants to know where she came from.
Then, as she finds the freedom she’s longed for, in the bosom of her grandmother, the mystery unfolds. Things take a turn and the fantastical elements that we were expecting seep to the surface.

Margot is an abused teen. The mind games her mother plays are just unbelievable. And Margot, in a typical abused teen's mentality, has learned how to navigate the minefield of her mother’s psychological warfare.
But it’s not enough for Margot. Who knows if there is a life out there waiting for her? Perhaps a family that has always wanted her, a place she can truly call home? Then you start to get a bad feeling, but it’s only slight, so you put that in the back of your mind, and continue reading, hopeful that your gut feeling is wrong...

The thing is, Margot is experiencing signs from her grandmother: the grip on the shoulders, the anger, and she just brushes them off. Why? Because for 17 years she’s lived with abuse, and the power of family is stronger for her right now.

“But it’s not love, to give your wounds to someone else.”

The characters played their roles perfectly. Even Margot’s impossible mother Jo was a good, wretched woman.

This was an intriguing read from start to finish. I loved the farm setting, which made it perfectly creepy even if there wasn’t horror lurking around the corner. The creep factor made this book stand out for me. I was expecting it, but then bam, I wasn’t expecting *that*. A well-written and unnerving read.

dnf - 10%

i know this is so incredibly late, and i am so sorry for that, but three years ago i dnfed and never picked it back up. it just didn't hold my interest then and i just can't see myself ever picking it back up.

Wow. this is why. this is why i love audiobooks, they help me read stories i wouldnt necessarily read and I LOVE THEM. this story was amazing

Such a unique plot but I wanted so much SO much more from this ! I had so many cool theories on how this would end, but the conclusion fell flat.

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it

I still very much look forward to reading “Wilder Girls.”

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, Blackstone Publishing and Rory Power for allowing me to read an Audio Arc in exchange for an honest review.

3 ⭐️.

This book was clearly not for me as I DNFed it after a few pages.
I'm sorry I can't give you a proper review but i'm sure this book felt right for many persons.
It wasn't just right for me.

Wishing you all the best,
Sara

I tried to get into this book but for some reason I just could not connect with it. As a result I ended up DNFing

Margot wants a family, love, and attention, something her mother doesn't give. She decides to go to her mother's hometown to visit a grandmother she's never met. While she's trying to make friends and settle in, they find a Burning girl on her family's land. The mysterious dead girl looks just like Msrgot, who looks just like her mother. The resemblances are uncanny. Something strange is happening at grandma's house.

3.5 stars
likes:
- ominous/strange tone
- setting
- writing

dislikes:
- some parts of the story felt slow/stagnant to me

Rory Power's prose is vibrant and entrancing and makes every moment of reading an experience. While many aspects of the overall story of Burn Our Bodies Down didn't work for me, it still managed to be as fascinating a reading experience as I've come to expect from this author. The narration is also phenomenal, bringing all of the best parts of the book to new heights.

I gave this a try and really disliked the writing, ultimately deciding to DNF. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

It's been over a year since I read this book and it says something (good) that I still remember what it was about and HOW WEIRD IT WAS. You think you have a clue about what's going on here? *Beeeep* you're wrong.
Strange enough to like, but not cohesive enough to love. The characters were pretty shallow. Angry grandmother, frustrated mother. 3 stars because it was entertaining, disgusting and WEIRD.

I couldn’t get into this one but I do think that others would definitely enjoy this style of writing. Would still recommend this as I think others would enjoy

I do not wish to support this author anymore. Plus, I was never able to get the audiobook to work on the app.

The narrator was very grating to me so I did not enjoy listening to this story. That said, I feel there are better suspense/thriller novels for YA audiences. Not a book I will be actively recommending to my teen patrons.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book. The atmosphere was absorbing and the mystery was compelling. The pacing on the other hand was a little jumpy and the side characters felt like more time was deserved on their personality development, particularly in Margot's new friend. Overall though the book definitely convinced me to try more by this author - plus I really appreciate the LGBTQ+ representation!

torn between a 3.5 and a 4! i love getting into books without reading the synopsis so this one was quite nerve wracking to be honest! and i still have no idea if the climax made up for that absolutely atmospheric and gorgeous story buildup. the characters however didn't seem to bother me and even the main characters felt like filler ones. what definitely stood apart for me was power's emotional writing that just pulls you in and does trigger at certain places. the trauma that the characters are put through chokes you and you just need answers or maybe to make sure they are safe by the end of it and you just keep flipping those pages!

4/5 stars

*Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<u>Audiobook review</u>
POV: Margot
Pacing: Average
Narration: Single female narrator

This story was just what I expected from this author from already reading their previous book! It had a very similar and strange, creepy vibes from the very beginning while it kept you guessing what was truly going on.

<u>Overall</u>
This story had such a mysterious feel which was creepy at times as you slowly discover piece by piece what has happened in town and the family's backstory. The strangeness of the story, the slight mystery regarding the odd town and family, and the excellent narrator was what kept me engaged and listening until the very end! I definitely recommend if you enjoyed this author's previous story or are looking for a good, slow burn creepy thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook! I have to say, I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. In listening to this book I was confused sometimes because I found myself drifting into thinking about other things. In the end this was just not my cup of tea. Thank you again to NetGalley!

A very creepy family mystery. Ever since Margot was born, it’s just been her and her Mom. No other family around, no answers to where they came from, no nothing. Her Mom keeps everything to herself and Margot is tired of it. She wants a family that isn’t just her Mom and one day she finds a photograph that hints at something more. ... a great creepy family mystery. I enjoyed this one.

Unfortunately I was disappointed by this, i found that it was aimless in its story. I enjoyed the mother daughter relationship , but this wasn't enough to save this book.