Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 12/04/2024
Published by: Usborne Publishing Ltd
ISBN: B0CYM5Z245
Cover:
I was immediately drawn to the striking portrait at the centre of this design, especially with the dripping effects that capture the haunting atmosphere of the story. Besides this, the shadowed boarding school at the bottom of the design adds an extra layer of foreboding and mystery, hinting at the dark secrets hidden within the story’s setting.
Writing:
The descriptive writing style is simple yet filled with vivid descriptions that make the narrative eerie and atmospheric. However, the heavy-handed foreshadowing made some of the tension and suspense fall flat for me.
sometimes justice looked like this: it wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t just.
Storyline:
Despite the storyline opening with several intriguing mysteries, it unfurls at a slow pace that delves into the academics and social aspects of the main character’s life, making the middle of the book drag. The pace finally picks up in the final third of the book with several twists and revelations that explore serious themes such as rape culture, suicide, grief, and privilege.
Main character(s):
Due to past misfortunes, Sade Hussein suffers from bursts of anxiety that heighten the eerie atmosphere of the story. Sadly, her character remained mysterious and one-dimensional for most of the story, which made it hard for me to connect with or root for her.
The best liars… were the ones who were also lying to themselves in some way.
Secondary characters:
A diverse crew of secondary characters supports Sade in her investigations and contributes to the explored themes. These generally had distinct traits and personalities that made them memorable. In particular, Basil (Baz) was my favourite, as his character is heartwarmingly genuine.
Romance:
While the romantic subplot was somewhat confusing due to several possible connections, the cute slow-burn romance Sade experiences is filled with clear attraction and gradually develops as the characters spend time together. An additional romance between two secondary characters also gradually unfolds, providing more cute moments.
Not many people get it. How losing someone changes you.
Narration & Audio:
Several audio effects and Natalie Simpson’s fitting narration, complete with varied accents, truly enriched this story and made the audiobook immersive.
On the whole, ‘Where Sleeping Girls Lie‘ skilfully explores powerful cultural messages through intriguing mysteries, but the slow pacing and underdeveloped main character made it less captivating. For those who enjoyed this book, I highly recommend We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
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