I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine Published by Tor Nightfire on February 6 2024
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 176
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A short, psychological horror story that is heavy on mood and light on plot.
Your Shadow Half Remains is a psychological horror story that takes place after a pandemic-like event, and it’s definitely more “psychological” than “horror,” in my opinion, which is probably why I didn’t rate it higher. I do love Sunny Moraine’s writing, though. It perfectly fits this story about a woman who is slowly going crazy in the wake of a violent, unpredictable disease.
Riley has lived alone for the past two years, after a horrible disease was discovered where people turn violent if they look into each other’s eyes. She’s watched friends, family and strangers die violently, and so she decided the best thing would be to remove herself from others in order to stay safe. But being alone for too long isn’t good either, as she’s starting to have weird nightmares and is seeing things.
One day something unusual happens. A stranger moves into a house down the road and comes to introduce themselves to Riley. At first, Riley is taken aback. Talking to people is dangerous and could lead to bloodshed, but she’s so lonely, and the person, who introduces themself as Ellis, seems friendly enough.
But someone seems to be stalking Riley, and she doesn’t know if it’s Ellis or someone else. She’s longing to make a connection, but can she trust Ellis? And the bigger question: can she trust herself?
Moraine’s story focuses on the aftermath of the pandemic, so most of the violence has already happened, and the reader experiences it through flashbacks and Riley’s manic thoughts. This took the edge off the horror for me, although some of the events that Riley experienced were extremely horrific. What really worked for me was the feeling of dread and uncertainty that the author manages to convey. Riley is suffering a mental breakdown from trauma and living alone, and it’s unclear whether she’s actually seeing things or simply imagining them.
I also liked the theme of crows that kept popping up. Riley has several creepy encounters with them, and I’m not sure I completely understand what happened, but they added great ambiance to the story. And I have to mention the gorgeous cover, which ties in the crows and alludes to the idea of the danger of looking someone in the eye.
Now for a few issues I had. I wasn’t crazy about the worldbuilding, which didn’t make sense a lot of the time. Because of the pandemic, the world has started to fall apart. Just about every infrastructure in place for human survival has deteriorated, but despite that fact, Riley is able to use the internet (still working, I guess) on her old desktop computer to order food. Warehouses (Amazon?) still exist, run by robots instead of people, and you can get stuff shipped directly to your house via drone delivery. I found this strange considering the world felt very dystopian.
I also struggled a bit with the disease. I realize this is speculative fiction, but looking another person in the eyes and then turning violent doesn’t make that much sense. Also, the whole thing could have been solved if everyone wore dark sunglasses, right? Riley has something called “blinders” that are similar, but wouldn’t that solve the problem if they were worn at all times?
As for the plot, there really isn’t much of one. Riley meets a stranger and starts to have feelings for them (and the author doesn’t assign a gender to Ellis, which I thought worked really well, so the reader is never really sure if they are male, female or non binary), but a lot of the book revolves around Riley’s inner, chaotic thoughts.
Overall, I enjoyed this but it didn’t blow me away. As I mentioned, though, I love Moraine’s writing style and will definitely look forward to more of their work.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I haven’t read a pandemic themed story in so long now, I don’t seem to be in the mood for them any more somehow. Sounds like this one was a bit mixed and does sound like the whole thing could have been solved with sunglasses 😀
Pages and Tea recently posted…The ‘Good Intentions’ Book Tag: 2024 Edition
I just couldn’t help thinking about using sunglasses, lol. Maybe I missed something important, but…?
That cover is certainly arresting, but I’m not sure about the story, since I would have your same doubts about some of the details – and far less patience with the narrative “hiccups” than you had… 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…YOU LET ME IN, by Camilla Bruce
I really wanted the story to live up to the cover…
It does seem to have great potential. And the cover is fabulous!
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Friday Face Off: Babel-17
The cover is one of my favorites!
The cover is enough to freak me out! The story sounds… okay. I think the pandemic details wouldn’t work for me. Interesting to hear about it though!
I’m kind of over pandemic stories, personally…
This sounds… okay, I guess, but I’ll probably skip it. I’m a sucker for well-built worlds, and a bit of a critic when I find them underdeveloped. Not to mention the lack of a plot. If I’m honest, I’m surprised you liked this as much as you did. Glad you got something out of it though:)
I guess I liked it but didn’t love it. A book has to be really bad for me to give it less than three stars, lol.
You’re limiting yourself, Tammy;)
Not what I expected but I do love that cover. Maybe my library will get it and I can try it risk free. Great review.
Thanks Barb. Let me know if you read it!
The cover would have me grabbing. I’m curious what I’d think of it.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Old Bones And New Ghosts ~ A Marti Mickkleson Mystery by Kay Charles
Looking into people’s eyes and going nuts does seem like a weird disease that could easily be solved… But what do I know. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it more. Hopefully your next read will be a better one!
I am enjoying my current read:-)
I’m curious too, let me know if you read it!
That cover is half nightmare and half masterpiece LOL.
I understand your concerns…I might have given this one a chance all the same, but the premise is too heavy for me.
Roberta R. recently posted…Announcement: Having to Discontinue My Blog Newsletter
I just wanted more from it, I guess. But I do love her writing.
I’m not familiar with the author but I do like that cover, and now that you’ve described the story it makes a lot more sense.
The cover actually fits the story perfectly.
The cover is creepy! And the idea of the book sounds interesting, even if not the part about the pandemic, dark glasses sounds like the obvious solution so… It is strange!
I’m sure there’s a reason sunglasses won’t work, but oh well:-)
h8t7yo
As usual, I could not agree more! I am trying to write my review too, and I felt so similarly (again, shocking, I know bwhaha) because I was legitimately asking myself those exact same questions! Unlike you, I could have lived without those stupid birds though
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Monthly Minutes at Midnight: January 2024
I’m about halfway through this right now, and I’m getting the same impressions you are! Moraine is obviously a very talented author, and I look forward to more by them, but I have way too many questions about this scenario and world. My first question, like you mentioned, was why not wear sunglasses or just . . . not look people in the eye? I mean, I guess my awkward-turtle existence makes me predisposed to *not* meeting people’s gazes already and surely that’s an advantage for me, but . . . it wouldn’t be that hard for others to do, too, right? (I do think it mentions wearing dark glasses isn’t 100% foolproof, if I recall.) I’m struggling to get through it, but I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that had these thoughts!
Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den recently posted…Romantasy Books I Can’t Wait to Read
Sounds like it had a good premise, but didn’t live up to it in the end, at least not overall. That cover is so great! Sorry it wasn’t great overall for you.
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