Book Review: Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Published: May 9th 2023 by Titan Books
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5)
Genre: Adult // Paranormal, Romance, Horror
Quick Thoughts: A multifaceted, scintillating, charming and gritty book with bite that merges paranormal and contemporary.
About The Book:
A witty, moving tale of monsters and modern life from the award-winning author of Cackle and The Return. For readers looking for a story of sisterhood, complicated families and love with a bit more bite…
Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.
Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver―and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else―something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?
A darkly comedic, part horror, part love story and a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability.
First Thoughts
My blog began with paranormal reads, and when I get to revisit the genre, it fills me with a nostalgic sense of joy. I usually stray toward contemporary romances these days, but those fantasy/paranormal reads always feel like home, so when I had the chance to read Such Sharp Teeth, I knew it was going to be loved.
My Review
The feeling of moving back to Rory’s hometown isn’t sitting well with her, even if it is just for a little while. She’s in town to support her sister Scarlett, who’s pregnant and estranged from the baby’s dad, so she needs all the help she can get. Adjusting should be easy, after all, she lived here for so long. But with so many bad memories, it’s not a can she fit in, but an unwillingness to find the inclination to do so. Even when she runs into an old flame—her almost-once-upon-a-time—it still feels complicated. And when she hits what she thinks is a large animal with her car that night, getting out to investigate—before getting attacked—things are only just starting to get messy.
Suddenly Rory is thrust into unknown territory. When she wakes in the hospital, she’s faced with facts that don’t seem right. As if what everyone thinks happened is far from it. Like how she’s now miraculously strong. How she wants to follow the moon aimlessly. Her body feels like it’s changing, evolving somehow, as if she is becoming something else, far from the person she was. But this new world and all it’s deep, treacherous darkness could bring danger to her and those she loves, leaving Rory wondering: what does accepting her new reality mean? And if she does, who will she be when she accepts it?
Overall, I ate up Such Sharp Teeth like I was running out of time, turning pages fast into the night, utterly enraptured by it. I found myself laughing, on the edge of my seat, feeling all the spine-tingling moments Rachel writes almost effortlessly, having this way of making time pass with the click of her fingers. I loved the elements of sisterhood, complex family units and how past trauma effects a person, and how all of those things—and everything in between—sandwiched so well together to create a multifaceted story. If you’re looking for a scintillating, charming and gritty book with bite (that somehow manages to merge paranormal and contemporary), this is the one. I can’t wait to read more from Rachel! A brilliant four and a half star read that I would love to see be made into a movie.
About The Author
Have you read Such Sharp Teeth?
If you haven’t, don’t forget to add it to your TBR!
Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!
happy reading!
