Book: Threnody by Cas E Crowe
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 4.5/5
4.25/5 — Threnody by Cas E. Crowe
Firstly, thank you so much to Cas E. Crowe for the opportunity to read the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Threnody was such a unique read. The gothic, haunting atmosphere combined with sirens, curses and the mysteries surrounding Port Calliope Bay made this feel genuinely different from anything I've read before.
One of the biggest strengths for me was the writing. Cas E. Crowe's prose are beautiful and atmospheric, with some gorgeous imagery throughout, particularly around the sea and water. Even during the parts of the story where I wasn't completely hooked by the plot, I could really appreciate the quality of the writing and the world being created.
Archie was easily my favourite character. I found him the most relatable and understood his motivations and emotions the most. I also became genuinely invested in his relationship with Ezra. The romance didn't overwhelm the story and instead enhanced it, and I appreciated that the spice was used sparingly rather than becoming a major focus.
My main frustration was that there were several moments where characters reacted or made decisions that didn't always feel completely consistent with how they'd previously been portrayed. Occasionally this pulled me out of the story and left me questioning their choices rather than becoming immersed in what was happening.
And then came the final 25%...
This is where Threnody completely came alive for me. The story picked up dramatically, some twists confirmed suspicions I had while others genuinely caught me by surprise, and the emotional payoff was fantastic. Archie's POV was one of my favourite chapters in the entire book, and his reaction to everything that had happened genuinely surprised me. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt completely earned — and actually far more believable than the alternative.
By the end, I couldn't put it down. The conclusion took a book I had been enjoying and elevated my overall experience considerably — and I absolutely want to know what happens next.
Beautifully written, haunting and genuinely original. Threnody wasn't perfect for me, but its uniqueness, atmosphere and incredible final act made it a very memorable read.
I will absolutely be picking up book two.