Book Review: "The Seventh Sister" by Dawn Kurtagich

“We are feral compulsion. We are a debt repaid. We are rot, and root, and revenge. And we are done running.”

- "The Seventh Sister" by Dawn Kurtagich

Folk horror is one of my many passions and when it's written well, it can be some of the best horror you've ever read. I have often called 'folk horrror' the most human version of horror and that's probably why it is very popular with films like The Wicker Man and Midsommar part of the mix and many new authors writing upon the tropes involved. Cults, magic, witchcraft, urban legends and country locations - this sub-genre has a lot to offer. The Seventh Sister uses the urban legend-style quality of folk horror to master the landscape and brings us right to the edge of everything. It is a wonderful, thrilling experience which works in some fantastic ideas whilst also keeping the storyline simplistic, lyrical and imbued with magic and a special kind of feminine rage.

A terrifying sisterhood imparts across the novel. Seven sisters populate it, each with their own special gift. Their parents are dead and yet, it is a sorry sight, they seem distant as if they weren't the best parents to these children. The author sees them in hints and flashbacks, parts and remembering, as if some of the girls' memories are beginning to fade about them, or some are struggling to remember at all. The fierce loyalty they each have to each other though is something that permeates through books about orphaned siblings including say, the Chronicles of Narnia. They never abandon each other and keep the younger ones in check. The author knows what she is doing when she keeps dragging the reader towards the world of these strange, detached children.

They are sent to live in the Beltane before another tragedy strikes and they are left to fend for themselves. This is a brilliant turn of events and I loved the past and present style of the narrative. The author is very clearly talented at making us want to know about what brought our characters to the present day. But there is one thing that starts to stand out to me around this time: the imagery. The landscape is something else. It is a vital part of folk horror and it seems like the author is well aware of how people love this sub-genre because the images created in the book are intense, vivid and magical. They are dark, they are fantastical, they are complete with moonlight and endlessness. Sometimes, I had to stop reading so that I could go back to the beginning of the image and reread it all over again. The writing is truly that good.

There are only three rules in the Beltane: Always be back by sundown, dinner at 7pm in the dining room and finally, do not go beyond the boundary after dark. This is something I have to say, really hyped up the book for me. The girls definitely argue about whether these are the only three rules and consider testing the patience of their grandmother to see if there are anymore. Though, they are too focused on the three rules, making in turn, the reader focus on them as well. These hints and clues are vital to creating the perfect folk horror and what can I say? The author does it perfectly. It is filled with intrigue and the 'why' is always there.

Buried horrors are dug up when the sisters return to Beltane and search for the secrets previously covered and yes, I have to say it is just as great as a novel by Andrew Michael Hurley. The haunting and gothic prose makes for brilliant atmosphere, the imagery of folkish fairytale nightmares kept me on the edge of everything and honestly, I couldn't drag myself away long enough to be able to even sleep. I needed to know what happened to these sisters whether in the past or in the present. The writing is brilliant, the storyline is simple (though I don't want to tell you too much or it will be a spoiler. Just trust me and read it). I would like to leave you with one thing: this book is one of the reasons I adore folk horror.