Book Review | The Taxidermist's Lover

When Scarlett marries the taxidermist Henry, the two begin experimenting with creating new Frankensteinian monstrosities as Scarlett herself becomes obsessed with the idea of altering her own body.

The Taxidermist’s Lover by Polly Hall is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The writing is deliciously gothic and atmospheric, and I wanted to love this story so badly since I adored its allusions to The Bride of Frankenstein and I'm a taxidermy collector myself.

The worst part? I was not into the romance, which is unfortunate because romance is a heavy component of this book.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love dark, twisted romances like between Vanessa and Dr. Sweet in Penny Dreadful.

However, to me, Henry is not swoon-worthy and lacked any charm. He comes off as simply an emotionally abusive and jealous asshole and some of the descriptions of the sex scenes are inadvertently 50-Shades-of-Gray levels of comical at times.

The best part? I enjoyed watching the gradual metamorphosis of Scarlett’s character and her journey of self-discovery as she reflects on her own fascination with taxidermy and the traumas of her past. I wanted more of that. I wish the story had focused more and delved deeper into the main character's descent into obsession and madness.

However, the ending alone was enough to redeem the story for me. It was everything I wanted. The story comes together to reach a stunning and grisly climax that continues to haunt me in a way I haven’t experienced since watching Midsommar.

Thank you, NetGalley and CamCat Publishing, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : December 8, 2020
Publisher : CamCat Publishing
ISBN : 0744303818
Pages : 258

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