The story is told by the young woman directly to the reader. She effortlessly weaves a story of terror. Her fear is palpable, imagining all those who entered the castle before her, wondering what became of them. She pulls you along with her, through the fear, the pain, the torture, the urges. The story leaves just enough to the imagination to both confuse and intrigue. What kind of monsters lurk in this castle, who is the young woman and why has she come? Why is she part cat? The background images used throughout hold a lot of meaning and contribute to the claustrophobia and paranoia of the story. The use of open mouths with teeth, eyes, smiles with fangs, etc. This story is also very erotic in its telling. The women seem to be playing a game of cat and mouse, hunter and hunted, but they also seem to be sexually stimulated one by the other. There is a lot of suggestion in the moments between them, how the hands are used, how their bodies come together. The subtle suggestion that sexuality is aggressive, is powerful, is all consuming. That when we love we can be animalistic, that love is fatal. This young woman is an innocent, while the Countess is well versed in sexuality, so their game is also one of dominance. This graphic novel can be read as foreplay leading up to the act of sexual gratification. The young woman and the Countess are complete opposites of one another. The young woman is meek, fearful, round, light, small. The Countess is confident, purposeful, powerful, tall, dark. They work off each other, one pulling, the other being controlled. But is the Countess really in control, who is this young woman? Why is she here? If she knows about this place, about the horrors that happen, then why did she come? What is she trying to prove? The book talks a lot about monsters, especially those that lurk beneath the skin, that hide themselves in beauty. The most frightening things are those that lure us in and gain our trust. Or maybe what is worse is knowing the evil is there, but being to afraid to confront it. Such a bold, immersive, story. If you enjoy horror and the macabre, especially body horror, then this is a wonderful novella to read.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Currently ReadingGraphic Novel
Romance Audiobook
Archives
April 2024
|