This book was amazing! I'm a sucker for eco-horror, and this one did not disappoint. The story follows Orchid, a young Romani woman living in a Canadian mining town, and her struggle with racism, an ailing mother, and a money-hungry mine owner. Lynn's beautiful writing made me feel so much.

I loved the summary of this novel “dead female spirits in the creek take revenge against the men who killed them” umm YES PLEASE!

To be honest, I was a bit confused when I first started this novel and at times the narrative was difficult to follow unless it picked up again in a new chapter with the storyline I was familiar with.

But when the narrative resumed, I was very engrossed in the characters. I loved the FMC and her storyline, but I did feel as if this story was more creepy and somewhat thrilling rather than scary and horror-ish. So I would’ve liked a bit more darkness.

Also, I wasn’t a fan of the super short chapters, and I did feel that this didn’t help with the flow of the story. And, if anything, the short chapters just made me more confused because of how jumpy and back and forth the story seemed to be and these chapters (and confusion) took me out of the story more than I would’ve liked.

However, the short chapters had absolutely no bearing on the lyrical and atmospheric prose of this book. I absolutely loved the ode to nature and the outdoors and its inherent beauty, which was very evident in the writing. It was beautiful,

I had no idea what to expect from this book, and that made it a completely wonderful experience for me as a reader. This book has such a wonderful dreamlike quality to it, that I was sucked in immediately and found this story of a Romany girl and her difficult mother to be fascinating and emotionally effective. The short vignettes that make up this book add to the feeling of being memories as much as it's an actual story. This is an author that I will definitely be on the lookout for in the future!

Love the short chapters.

I found the writing was really nice but it often made it hard to follow the plot so I definitely lost the thread a few times. I wouldn’t really call this horror - it had a few unsettling moments but otherwise can’t really see how it earned the horror tag.

Put this on your radar!

Obviously, the title and the cover of Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens really drew me in. Then I read: “Written in over 100 dreamy mini-chapters, this novella explores the tenuous reality of the Romany diaspora living in troubled times on troubled lands.” Sold.

This is a story of Orchid, who finds comfort in the fens (wetlands) of her new town. Orchid is struggling to balance her relationship with her sick mother, her relationship with her new husband, and her connection to nature, especially to the spirits that live in the fens.

I really enjoyed Lee’s effortlessly flowy writing style. The book as a whole was effectively gloomy and atmospheric, which I love. I found Orchid to be a relatable and lovable character and I felt for her trying to balance everything in her life.

Thank you to #SFWA and @NetGalley for this #eARC!

I absolutely loved this book so much I couldn't put it down, and I read it in one sitting. I cannot wait to read more of her stuff as I was drawn in from the beginning. Great storytelling and relatable subject matter make this one that I'll definitely be recommending to friends.

"They're just ordinary girls."
"Ordinary, yes," says Irene. "But what ordinary girl wouldn't be dangerous, holding all them memories of her last breath?"

The dark, swamp-like atmosphere instantly sucked me in. What initially drew me to the story was its focus on the role women—and particularly the water spirits, the panni raklies—play in this town. Their haunting presence felt both unsettling and yet intriguing at the same time.

As the story progressed, certain moments took on a fever-dream quality, which, while sometimes hard to follow, ultimately added character to the narrative. However, the story often felt haunting and eerie rather than genuinely scary, and I craved a deeper dive into the darker, creepier aspects hinted at throughout.

The short chapters made the story move quickly, and I ended up reading it all in one sitting.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of literary fiction with a hint of horror.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the e-arc!

Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens by Lynn Hutchinson Lee was so so cool to read I couldn't put it down for a second. I rated it 5 stars because I really loved this story.

I have a new favorite author!

This book is so deep and personal. It is beautifully written. I consumed this in two days. A true masterpiece in my opinion.

The main character, Orchid, is so relatable with emotions and trying to understand life and all the trials that come with it. She is fallible and human. I fell in love with Orchid. Her secrets will always remain with me.

I learned of many new types of flowers and mushrooms, too.

I need more Lynn Hutchinson Lee.

#NetGalley #OriginsofDesireinOrchidFens

This started out really strong and I had such high hopes for a super eerie and unsettling horror read.

What I got fell flat in the horror department, it was certainly unsettling but I really wish that I was given more in the action horror sense.

I found myself extremely confused a lot of the time at what was going, I don’t know if this was intended but at the end of the book I really couldn’t even tell you what happened, I’m so confused.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this early.

"The fen belongs to itself. Like us, it protects its own. It is a force like no other. It has no mercy."

This is a gripping tale of a small community fighting against the corruption of a ruthless mining company and the brutality they inflict on the town's citizens. The story unfolds through the eyes of Orchid, a Romany woman navigating a complex relationship with her mother, the injustices faced by her people, and her involvement with the panni raklies' quest for revenge.

Told in haunting, bittersweet chapters, this story hooked me far more than I initially expected, though I did struggle to follow it at times. The writing is stunning and deeply atmospheric.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

There are many different types of horror throughout this novella. There is the Romani diaspora; the revenge of the panni raklies, a group of water spirits who have been murdered; and the climate horror of the attack of the mine on the wetland. The story is told through lyrical, descriptive mini-chapters that bring life to the fens. 5 stars.