The largest failure with this book is the cult. Other than the bookends, it was so scarcely referenced that it almost felt like it was added in at the very end of the writing process simply because we needed an excuse to end things.

I had a hard time following what happened in the present versus what was flashbacks to childhood. I also wanted to see more of the actual apocalypse beyond an incident on the ferry (which could just as easily happened on a commuter train) and the ending. Like, why was it so important that this take place during the slow inexorable flooding of the world?

Unlike in Our Wives Under the Sea, where the poetic meanderings into body horror kept me fascinated and repulsed, Private Rites relies heavily on each sister’s internal monologues (and intrusive thoughts) to both carry the story and remind the reader that yes actually this is technically literary horror and not just a family drama set against the backdrop of the apocalypse. There were some funny one-liners as Isla or Irene or occasionally Agnes thought something absolutely bananas, but they were also one or two very poignant lines (again, I think Our Wives did this much better).

The writing itself is beautiful and enjoyable. Love that it’s inextricably queer. Just don’t think there was enough plot or structure to hold me

Reading the synopsis had me excited to read this, expecting post-apoc or dystopian vibes and a mystery. However, in reading it, I found I had to really force myself. It was rather dull, literally putting me to sleep and having to be restarted several times … only for me to still have to force myself to see this book through.

The dystopian vibes just aren’t there for most of it. Once in a while something will be said that made me go ‘oh yea, this isn’t contemporary’ but mostly, the world-building was lacking or it just felt like the ‘real world’.

I found no mystery in this, other than the mystery of ‘why is this so dull’. Though I solved that one, I think. Likely it’s due to ‘telling’ writing style instead of showing.

Not bad per se, but not for me.

2-3 stars for the content.

Audio:
Okay. Overall clear sound quality. The narrator had a smooth, pleasant voice, however sounded a bit robotic. 3 stars for the audio production.