Synopsis:
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. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant 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 Ian, 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. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside her the key to acceptance?
This darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability.
Review:
Prepare to sink your fangs into the scarily good time that is Rachel Harrison’s “Such Sharp Teeth.” An utterly hilarious blend of horror, humor and heart, grab your silver bullets, your wolfsbane, and get ready to howl with delight, sob and swoon. As if I’d expect any less from Rachel, the cozy vibes are immaculate, but fear not, this tale is as gory as it is toothsome.
Rory Morris reluctantly ditches her lavish life in Manhattan, and comes home to care for her pregnant twin sister Scarlett after her partner Matty left her high and dry. Whilst she’s happy to be there for her sister, she’s far from thrilled by the nostalgia of it all, especially considering her run in with Ian Pedretti (who has loved her since middle school). Fate however has a wicked sense of humor, and when the two run into each other at a bar, sparks fly… and if Ian’s still carrying a torch, why not indulge a little? En route home, as if scripted by the cosmos, Rory’s life takes a bizarre and hair-raising turn when she collides with and is attacked by a mysterious creature. A disturbing chain of events is set into motion: carnivorous cravings, foul odors, SILVER blood? Rory is a werewolf, and with the next full moon rapidly approaching, she’s running out of time to untangle this hairy situation.
As a self-proclaimed cozy horror connoisseur, I’m here to inform the uninitiated that despite how oxymoronic it may sound, it’s a fitting name for a brilliant sub-genre. Some particularly talented authors, such as Rachel Harrison, have this ability to evoke both warmth and unease in the reader. Something unique but also comforting and familiar. In “Such Sharp Teeth,” the quaintness of small town life is very present, alongside the bloodshed and the supernatural- fear can be found in the most idyllic and seemingly sociable places, and cozy horror toys with this idea.
Quick question for you. How many werewolf horror novels can you name?
- …Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison (duh)
- Cycle of the werewolf- Stephen King?
- Mongrels- Stephen Graham Jones?
- Oh?
- Oh…
I will die on this hill. We NEED more werewolf novels. They’re truly so interesting to read about. I think there’s a real fine line between human reason and primal instinct, and it only makes sense that one of the best ways this can be explored is via something like a werewolf. There’s also lots to say about secrecy and shame when writing with werewolves. The clandestine existence of these shapeshifters, and their attempted concealment of their transformation leaves lots of room for commentary, and Rachel Harrison leaves no stone unturned.
What’s done so well in this particular book is that Rory is so relatable. She’s funny and flawlessly flawed. She is utterly human, despite the whole werewolf thing. Regardless of how irrational her situation is, you put yourself in her shoes (paws?) and find yourself brainstorming your own werewolf transformation contingency plan. We read from her first person perspective for the novel’s entirety, meaning the prose is infused with razor sharp wit, as well as heart-breaking reflections. Harrison’s writing is both chuckle and chill evoking, and has this inexplicable quality of being light-hearted and easy to read, yet heavy and complex. There’s simply too much to say about this book, if you’re intrigued you should absolutely consult Charlie’s Review too.
Prepare to be seduced by the moon-lit charm of “Such Sharp Teeth.” This riveting cocktail of the horrifying and the heart-warming is the perfect breath of fresh air for seasoned readers looking for something a little less heavy, and in fact anyone looking to ease themselves into horror. Rachel Harrison, indisputably the Queen of Cozy, does not need my endorsement, but she absolutely has it. I can already hear “The Return,” calling my name.
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