Lucky Girl - Chilling and Suspenseful
I received this book in my December 2022 "Krampus Spirit" Night Worms package with a signed bookplate.
All right, so I should have read this around Christmas for maximum atmospheric results, but it has been hot outside lately so I decided I'd cool off with a chilling winter novella instead. I love the writing in this book. Mary Rickert has got a wicked style that is appealing to me.
The story is mysterious and suspenseful, following the main character, Roanoke, who is also a horror author. Her past is haunting her because of a horrific incident that happened when she was young, leaving her with 'friends' who are more like acquaintances as her only source of human connection. At Christmas, they get together and celebrate with their tradition of giving gifts that were exclusively stolen and they tell scary stories to commemorate the season. Some of the stories are darker and more real than others, with the supernatural mixing into reality.
I really enjoyed the way the story opened itself up like a creepy closet door with a Krampus hidden inside. The tie in of the title was pleasantly addressed in its irony throughout the story, which is something I always find satisfying. My only qualm would be that I wanted a more fleshed out backstory of the characters and what happened to them. Other than that, Rickert is an excellent writer who is very much worth pursuing.
