Book Review: The Girl from Rawblood by Catriona Ward

Title: The Girl from Rawblood
Author: Catriona Ward
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date: 7 March 2017
Pages: 368
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: Gothic Horror/Historical
Source: ARC via NetGalley





For generations the Villarcas have died mysteriously, and young. Now Iris and her father will finally understand why....
At the turn of England's century, as the wind whistles in the lonely halls of Rawblood, young Iris Villarca is the last of her family's line. They are haunted, through the generations, by "her," a curse passed down through ancient blood that marks each Villarca for certain heartbreak, and death.
Iris forsakes her promise to her father, to remain alone, safe from the world. She dares to fall in love, and the consequences of her choice are immediate and terrifying. As the world falls apart around her, she must take a final journey back to Rawblood where it all began and where it must all end. (Goodreads Synopsis)


The Girl from Rawblood is an atmospheric read that is creepy at times. As such, it took me longer than usual to get through because I started it just as my husband went away to a conference for a week, and it was not a good choice for late at night when I was alone in the house! Now that I have finally finished it, I can say that I enjoyed it. With its twisting narrative and jumping time periods, it is a book upon which you need to concentrate to keep up with what's happening and who is related to whom, and how. On the whole, I liked this about it, though, especially as the story progressed and further, deeper connections sprung up between the characters. I didn't see the ending coming until fairly late in the narrative, and when Ward did reveal the truth, it gave the book a satisfying conclusion. This is not a read for the fainthearted, but if you enjoy some gore and shocks, and don't mind taking the time to appreciate the slower, winding prose style, you'll doubtless appreciate this tale.