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Molly Southbourne #2
The Survival of Molly Southbourne
Tade Thompson returns to his "bloody exploration of of identity and self in a changed world" (Publishers Weekly) in The Survival of Molly Southbourne.
Who was Molly Southbourne? What did she leave behind?
A burnt-out basement. A name stained in blood. Bodies that remember murder, one of them left alive. A set of rules that no longer apply.
Molly Southbourne is alive. If she wants to survive, she'll need to run, hide, and be ready to fight. There are people who remember her, who know what she is and what she's done. Some want her alive, some want her dead, and all hold a piece to the puzzles in her head. Can Molly escape them, or will she confront the bloody history that made her?
Who was Molly Southbourne? What did she leave behind?
A burnt-out basement. A name stained in blood. Bodies that remember murder, one of them left alive. A set of rules that no longer apply.
Molly Southbourne is alive. If she wants to survive, she'll need to run, hide, and be ready to fight. There are people who remember her, who know what she is and what she's done. Some want her alive, some want her dead, and all hold a piece to the puzzles in her head. Can Molly escape them, or will she confront the bloody history that made her?
128 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
46 people are currently reading
1738 people want to read
About the author
Tade Thompson
66 books1,230 followersTade Thompson is a British born Yoruba psychiatrist who is best known for his science fiction novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
August 10, 2019
The Murders of Molly Southbourne was one of my favourite novellas, so on learning there was going to be a sequel I was really excited, and intrigued, as to how the story could be continued given the rather definitive ending. This picks up the action right where it finished, and doesn’t let go until the very last word. It’s full on, bringing a range of emotions and fights, so the reader feels completely consumed by Molly and her ongoing battle with life.
Scattered throughout the short chapters are also snippets from a video diary, documenting an experiment first brought up in the previous novel. It’s both horrifying and disturbing to read these snippets unfold into something quite grotesque yet utterly compelling at the same time. I’ve grown rather attached to Molly. Or should that be molly?
I will say that this didn’t grip me as much as the previous novella. Molly is just that little bit ‘less’ here, both emotionally and physically, as she struggles with her identity within the world. I think this emotional detachment left me feeling a similar way, and as a result I couldn’t bond with Molly as well as I did previously. She’s not the same person as before. I also think the ending leaves a few open ended questions too, with regards to the experiments and Tamara’s plans, which I would have liked to have seen concluded. However, that said this is still an excellent novella.
Action, science fiction and a little bit of gore add up to the ideal novella for those looking for a fast paced read.
Scattered throughout the short chapters are also snippets from a video diary, documenting an experiment first brought up in the previous novel. It’s both horrifying and disturbing to read these snippets unfold into something quite grotesque yet utterly compelling at the same time. I’ve grown rather attached to Molly. Or should that be molly?
I will say that this didn’t grip me as much as the previous novella. Molly is just that little bit ‘less’ here, both emotionally and physically, as she struggles with her identity within the world. I think this emotional detachment left me feeling a similar way, and as a result I couldn’t bond with Molly as well as I did previously. She’s not the same person as before. I also think the ending leaves a few open ended questions too, with regards to the experiments and Tamara’s plans, which I would have liked to have seen concluded. However, that said this is still an excellent novella.
Action, science fiction and a little bit of gore add up to the ideal novella for those looking for a fast paced read.
Read
July 9, 2019A terrific sequel to the bloody and violent The Murders of Molly Southbourne, extending the exceedingly weird and haunting world with a lot of bleakness but this time just a slight glimmer of hope to lighten it.
Very well written, and as you can tell from the fact that I glommed it over lunchtime on publication day, really compelling stuff. Perfectly paced too. A great pair of examples of how to do the novella form.
Very well written, and as you can tell from the fact that I glommed it over lunchtime on publication day, really compelling stuff. Perfectly paced too. A great pair of examples of how to do the novella form.
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Tor.com for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
I am mucho confuzzled.
Oh wait... it's a sequel
But you know what? I'll try this anyway!
But when I turned the last page...
You guys I made an attempt to understand this book and it kinda worked but I recommend reading the first book because it will probably make this one easier to understand.
Happy reading.
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OMG! IT'S IN MY HANDS AND I AM SOO EXCITED!
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October 28, 2022
Rereading this series in prep for the final volume released this year. Downgrading rating to four stars. On reread, I find this one really good, but not as amazing as #1. Still a great continuation of Molly's story. Can't wait wait to read the conclusion. From my review of #1, if you're a sci-fi/horror fan, Molly Southborne should be a mandatory read.
Warning: Some really gross body horror in this one.
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Even better than the first. I hope Mr. Thompson keeps writing these. We've still not learned all there is to learn about Molly.
Warning: Some really gross body horror in this one.
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Even better than the first. I hope Mr. Thompson keeps writing these. We've still not learned all there is to learn about Molly.
September 5, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first book in this series, the murders of molly southbourne, then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book. Worth the read. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . . . . .
The first book in this series was weird, awesome, and fabulous. And bloody. It could have been a standalone but I have to admit that I was glad when I found out there was going to be a second book. I needed to know more about Molly Southbourne! So image me surprise when I won Matey Tammy’s giveaway to pick one of the books she read in July! I just had to get this one. As soon as it was in me greedy hands, I put everything else aside and read it. As she said:
Yup. It be awesome. I can’t say that it was as good as the first book but it certainly veered further into crazy-land and dumped everything ye thought ye knew upside down. As this book features a clone, ye really should read book one first before jumping into this one. The original “prime” Molly may be gone but the new molly is a whole new mess. Really the novella is so short (128 pgs.) that I am not going to go into the plot. I can say that the story sometimes made little sense but was fascinating all the same.
I highly recommend both novellas. This story does seem finished after the ending of the second book. But as there are tons of unanswered questions, I wouldn’t be adverse to another. I do really enjoy this author’s work and I am glad to now own both novellas in this series as I will enjoy rereading these. Thanks Matey Tammy! Arrrr!
Side note: The First Mate is looking forward to reading this one as well. But I had to read it first!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
The first book in this series was weird, awesome, and fabulous. And bloody. It could have been a standalone but I have to admit that I was glad when I found out there was going to be a second book. I needed to know more about Molly Southbourne! So image me surprise when I won Matey Tammy’s giveaway to pick one of the books she read in July! I just had to get this one. As soon as it was in me greedy hands, I put everything else aside and read it. As she said:
The nitty-gritty: Another strange and bloody tale, part horror, part sci-fi, and one hundred percent WTF.
Yup. It be awesome. I can’t say that it was as good as the first book but it certainly veered further into crazy-land and dumped everything ye thought ye knew upside down. As this book features a clone, ye really should read book one first before jumping into this one. The original “prime” Molly may be gone but the new molly is a whole new mess. Really the novella is so short (128 pgs.) that I am not going to go into the plot. I can say that the story sometimes made little sense but was fascinating all the same.
I highly recommend both novellas. This story does seem finished after the ending of the second book. But as there are tons of unanswered questions, I wouldn’t be adverse to another. I do really enjoy this author’s work and I am glad to now own both novellas in this series as I will enjoy rereading these. Thanks Matey Tammy! Arrrr!
Side note: The First Mate is looking forward to reading this one as well. But I had to read it first!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
July 10, 2019
The first book in this series was so cool. The concept was unique. It was fun and violent; utter craziness. This follow up never gave me a good reason why it needs to exist. Diving deeper into the mechanics of this world takes away from the concept as a whole, and ultimately, this novella never feels like it goes anywhere.
August 23, 2019
An interesting sequel to a novella that I didn't really care for, but appreciated for the quality of the writing. I liked this one much more, and there are answers here for nagging questions from the first story. And even more questions, and just as much gross-out gore.
January 16, 2021
3.5 Stars
I think I liked this sequel a bit more than the first book because it had a less depressing tone. The voice of Molly was much stronger and confident in this one as she made the choice to survive. I like this one, but I just never fell in love with this duology like other readers.
I think I liked this sequel a bit more than the first book because it had a less depressing tone. The voice of Molly was much stronger and confident in this one as she made the choice to survive. I like this one, but I just never fell in love with this duology like other readers.
August 30, 2019
'Oh, sweet holy fuck, I'm seeing things. I don't have enough enemies, so I have to invent them.'
I love how this and The Murders of Molly Southbourne are both about survival but approach it in completely different ways. I actually had no idea where this was going but essentially, it is about the main character finding herself and that was done beautifully.
Each of the mollys are different from each other but they do have something that's inherently Molly and so it's never hard to distinguish among them. This novella definitely develops the clone plot more and it was nothing short of a trip. It also delivers on the gross front quite well 😬 LOL
I won't go into plot details because it's fun to find it out yourself, but I'd also say that it reads more like a character study. Also, points for the bi/pan rep and I kinda got a feeling that she's aro but it's never confirmed on page
THAT LAST LINE, THOUGH AAAH
I think there definitely could be a third but I also really love how it ended so conflicted city
Favorite quote: 'I suppose I killed enough mollys to warrant a haunting, but I don't believe in ghosts, and I hate problems that I cannot punch into submission.'
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THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE A THING
I love how this and The Murders of Molly Southbourne are both about survival but approach it in completely different ways. I actually had no idea where this was going but essentially, it is about the main character finding herself and that was done beautifully.
Each of the mollys are different from each other but they do have something that's inherently Molly and so it's never hard to distinguish among them. This novella definitely develops the clone plot more and it was nothing short of a trip. It also delivers on the gross front quite well 😬 LOL
I won't go into plot details because it's fun to find it out yourself, but I'd also say that it reads more like a character study. Also, points for the bi/pan rep and I kinda got a feeling that she's aro but it's never confirmed on page
THAT LAST LINE, THOUGH AAAH
I think there definitely could be a third but I also really love how it ended so conflicted city
Favorite quote: 'I suppose I killed enough mollys to warrant a haunting, but I don't believe in ghosts, and I hate problems that I cannot punch into submission.'
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THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE A THING
August 24, 2022
Genuinely enjoyed this sequel, but couldn't quite give it four stars since that's what I gave the first book - The Murders of Molly Southbourne - which I couldn't quite give five, because...well, because.
While Murders worked as a stand-alone story (as all first stories should), this one definitely read as the second book in a planned trilogy - Thompson's "The Tamara Strikes Back," as it were. But that's not a bad thing, as it makes me really look forward to what in a perfect world should be the finale, The Legacy of Molly Southbourne (aka "Return of the Mollys"), due out in May 2022.
While Murders worked as a stand-alone story (as all first stories should), this one definitely read as the second book in a planned trilogy - Thompson's "The Tamara Strikes Back," as it were. But that's not a bad thing, as it makes me really look forward to what in a perfect world should be the finale, The Legacy of Molly Southbourne (aka "Return of the Mollys"), due out in May 2022.
May 16, 2022
3.4⭐
The middle installment of the Molly Southbourne trilogy, it's basically the setup for the final book in the series. It doesn't have "To Be Continued " written on the last page but it may as well have. Still, Thompson reveals more of the twisted tale of Molly and her "hemoclones," exact duplicates that spring forth whenever the original Molly bleeds. He manages to throw a few surprising turns into what's essentially a horror story with elements of science fiction. It's short (novella length), fast paced and reasonably well written. I liked it better than the last of Thompson's books I attempted, "Far from the Light of Heaven ". The author is talented and has imagination but can be his own worst enemy, in my opinion, when he becomes too " clever" and convoluted. Nothing to do now except to get ahold of the last book, "The Legacy of Molly Southbourne."
The middle installment of the Molly Southbourne trilogy, it's basically the setup for the final book in the series. It doesn't have "To Be Continued " written on the last page but it may as well have. Still, Thompson reveals more of the twisted tale of Molly and her "hemoclones," exact duplicates that spring forth whenever the original Molly bleeds. He manages to throw a few surprising turns into what's essentially a horror story with elements of science fiction. It's short (novella length), fast paced and reasonably well written. I liked it better than the last of Thompson's books I attempted, "Far from the Light of Heaven ". The author is talented and has imagination but can be his own worst enemy, in my opinion, when he becomes too " clever" and convoluted. Nothing to do now except to get ahold of the last book, "The Legacy of Molly Southbourne."
August 19, 2019
I liked this. The story is quiet, and deals with the dislocation of the molly saved by Molly Southbourne in book one, and how molly copes with living. She's uneasy with life, and doesn't know how to be a person for the longest time, drifting from one thing to the other before learning more about the history of the mollys. And others like her.
July 18, 2019
At first I was like,
Then I was like,
After a while I was like,
And at the end I was like,
To be fair though, the book was too short to be able to answer many questions or to carry out a hard ass plot. Still I felt like this short story was kind of pointless in a way that I didn't feel like much was added since the first book. Some things did get clearer but some things also got more confusing. I think the first book was enough for me really. This one was just way too underwhelming.
Want to read
December 16, 2017NEED NOW. NOW NOW NOW.
August 16, 2020
So I read The Murders of Molly Southbourne earlier this year without knowing what I was getting myself into, but it was a very original surprise. I admit however that I didn't exactly remembered how it ended, so I found myself a little bit confused at the beginning (it went better very quickly though).
The first story sort of seemed completed but I was nevertheless excited for the sequel. The vibe in this novel is quite different from the first and more psychological. There were some interesting questions raised - but maybe not enough answers offered. Once again I was surprised at the amount of story that made it into this short novel, and once again, I can't tell whether the story is finished here or there will be another sequel.
If you are looking for something in the speculative spectrum that is original and different, check out Molly Southbourne.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
The first story sort of seemed completed but I was nevertheless excited for the sequel. The vibe in this novel is quite different from the first and more psychological. There were some interesting questions raised - but maybe not enough answers offered. Once again I was surprised at the amount of story that made it into this short novel, and once again, I can't tell whether the story is finished here or there will be another sequel.
If you are looking for something in the speculative spectrum that is original and different, check out Molly Southbourne.
Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com
September 12, 2019
MY RATING⇢ 3.2 STARS | GRADE C+
FEATURING⇢
Unique Storyline
Creeptastic and Horror-if-ic
The Second Half of A Complete Story
Science Fiction
MY THOUGHTS⇢
The first book introduced a very disturbing story...that quite literally blew my mind with its sheer craziness. Unfortunately, the second book felt a little like he didn't really know where he wanted to go with the story...almost as if he was never really planning on continuing the story at all. Like an idea that never fully formed.
I want to say it was worthwhile overall...and it definitely wasn't $3.99 worthwhile. In fact, the more I think about it...the more I feel that this was better off without a sequel at all.
THE BREAKDOWN⇢
Plot⇢ 2.8/5
Characters⇢ 3.7/5
The Feels⇢ 3.2/5
Pacing⇢ 3/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4.3/5
Ending⇢ 3/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Not really...
_____
Book Cover⇢ It's better than the first book's cover...bloody hands aren't quite as creepy as a bloody nose.
Setting: This book is definitely the UK...London, mostly.
Source⇢ Own Kindle eBook
eBook Length⇢ 128 pages.
FEATURING⇢
Unique Storyline
Creeptastic and Horror-if-ic
The Second Half of A Complete Story
Science Fiction
MY THOUGHTS⇢
The first book introduced a very disturbing story...that quite literally blew my mind with its sheer craziness. Unfortunately, the second book felt a little like he didn't really know where he wanted to go with the story...almost as if he was never really planning on continuing the story at all. Like an idea that never fully formed.
I want to say it was worthwhile overall...and it definitely wasn't $3.99 worthwhile. In fact, the more I think about it...the more I feel that this was better off without a sequel at all.
THE BREAKDOWN⇢
Plot⇢ 2.8/5
Characters⇢ 3.7/5
The Feels⇢ 3.2/5
Pacing⇢ 3/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4.3/5
Ending⇢ 3/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Not really...
_____
Book Cover⇢ It's better than the first book's cover...bloody hands aren't quite as creepy as a bloody nose.
Setting: This book is definitely the UK...London, mostly.
Source⇢ Own Kindle eBook
eBook Length⇢ 128 pages.
February 6, 2021
A bloody, gory, and surprisingly touching follow up to the first novella, The Survival of Molly Southbourne subverts expectations and dares to ask rather than killing them “have you tried loving them?”
An exploration of identity and mental health, with a heavy dose of horror and sci-fi, a coming of age story with lots of self discovery and some bi/pan rep that made me feel all the things.
Beware some gross body horror and make sure to read the first book before jumping into the sequel!
Trigger Warnings: violence, death, gore, body horror
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/ERIVDkarlUY
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter
An exploration of identity and mental health, with a heavy dose of horror and sci-fi, a coming of age story with lots of self discovery and some bi/pan rep that made me feel all the things.
Beware some gross body horror and make sure to read the first book before jumping into the sequel!
Trigger Warnings: violence, death, gore, body horror
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/ERIVDkarlUY
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter
June 10, 2024
I’m going to start with my biggest issue I have with this book…I still don’t know why the clones are being made, and to add to that now I don’t know why hers want to kill her but others don’t.
This is still the coolest and yet weirdest premise I’ve read. Every drop of blood produces a clone. But not for Molly. Not anymore. This last Molly is the final surviving clone. She has a number tattooed on her arm for a group that will help her but she’s also been contacted by a second group that says the first group is the enemy. Who to trust?
I can’t wait to read more. I need to know more.
This is still the coolest and yet weirdest premise I’ve read. Every drop of blood produces a clone. But not for Molly. Not anymore. This last Molly is the final surviving clone. She has a number tattooed on her arm for a group that will help her but she’s also been contacted by a second group that says the first group is the enemy. Who to trust?
I can’t wait to read more. I need to know more.
July 22, 2019
"My short life has been full of pain and darkness. I am weary of it."
The Survival of Molly Southbourne is the sequel to The Murders of Molly Southbourne, and I adore this sci-fi horror novella duology! The Molly Southbourne stories are creative, unsettling, mysterious, and so entertaining. I don't want to say too much because it's really fun to see how everything works in these stories & I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that you definitely need these books in your life. I did enjoy the first book much more, but it's still nice to be back in this world.
The Survival of Molly Southbourne is the sequel to The Murders of Molly Southbourne, and I adore this sci-fi horror novella duology! The Molly Southbourne stories are creative, unsettling, mysterious, and so entertaining. I don't want to say too much because it's really fun to see how everything works in these stories & I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that you definitely need these books in your life. I did enjoy the first book much more, but it's still nice to be back in this world.
October 31, 2021
I liked it. But, I'm confused. Some questions are answered, left over from the first book. But, now there are even more questions left hanging. I gobbled the novella up quickly, but found myself thumbing backwards through the pages to see if I missed information. Thankfully, there is a third book left to this tale. I'll be reading it when it comes out next year, if for no other reason that to wipe this perplexed look off my face!
August 30, 2019
This is as compellingly written as the first in the series, but I had to DNF due to an uncomfortable amount of fatphobia.
Examples:
The professor gains 22 lbs in 2 months and it says that "he has ballooned in size. His clothes are ill fitting, his cheeks are swollen, squeezing his eyes into slits"
Molly spends an indeterminate amount of time contained somewhere that feels relatively short (like 1-2 months at most.. if the author wanted it to be longer he didn't do a good job of setting it up), and she thinks "I don't think I can fight well the way I am, soft muscles, layers of fat, breathing heavy just climbing stairs, swollen feet that I can barely see."
Examples:
The professor gains 22 lbs in 2 months and it says that "he has ballooned in size. His clothes are ill fitting, his cheeks are swollen, squeezing his eyes into slits"
Molly spends an indeterminate amount of time contained somewhere that feels relatively short (like 1-2 months at most.. if the author wanted it to be longer he didn't do a good job of setting it up), and she thinks "I don't think I can fight well the way I am, soft muscles, layers of fat, breathing heavy just climbing stairs, swollen feet that I can barely see."
May 10, 2022
Emily (@exorcismofemilyreed) introduced me to this series a while back and I simply LOVED the first book, The Murders of Molly Southbourne. And what a concept!! Every time Molly bleeds, her blood makes more Mollys and they are NOT nice. So Molly spends her days and nights trying not to hurt herself while simultaneously fighting off her own "clones" who are hell bent on killing her. Phew - what's a girl to do?!
Somehow I missed this second installment so when the third, The Legacy of Molly Southbourne landed on my doorstep, I knew I had to come back and read this one ASAP in anticipation. Now, I don't know if it's because it's been so long, or maybe this has a little bit of that "second-book-in-a-series curse" as a filler to kind of trudge through for a culmination of sorts in the third book. 🤷 I just didn't find myself as engaged in this one. Though I did enjoy getting to learn a bit more of how Molly came to pass.
Overall a decent installment but I'm guessing the third book is going to make it all worth it. And if you ever see yourself coming after you.... RUN.
Somehow I missed this second installment so when the third, The Legacy of Molly Southbourne landed on my doorstep, I knew I had to come back and read this one ASAP in anticipation. Now, I don't know if it's because it's been so long, or maybe this has a little bit of that "second-book-in-a-series curse" as a filler to kind of trudge through for a culmination of sorts in the third book. 🤷 I just didn't find myself as engaged in this one. Though I did enjoy getting to learn a bit more of how Molly came to pass.
Overall a decent installment but I'm guessing the third book is going to make it all worth it. And if you ever see yourself coming after you.... RUN.
Read
August 30, 2020SO THERE IS BODY HORROR IN THIS ONE. YOU KINDA CLOCK IT FROM THE FIRST TIMES THEY START ALLUDING TO A PLOT ARC BUT IT STILL MANAGES TO BE (HAH) GUT-CHURNING. (OH GOD OH GOD.)
Also I haven't read what's going on in short fiction in SFF for a few years due to my brain agonies, so it's absolutely fascinating to come back and see that the very notion of what a story can be has been exploded. This one is cross-genre, as it's thriller-y and horror-y and sci-fi-y, and also it's structurally trippy, and also it's doing interesting things with voice and character (the VOICE you guys), and just generally cool.
So just fascinating. I didn't have a great time, because of my weak stomach (hah!) but I'm glad to have this example of what story can do that's added to my catalogue of Acceptable Story Shapes.
Also I haven't read what's going on in short fiction in SFF for a few years due to my brain agonies, so it's absolutely fascinating to come back and see that the very notion of what a story can be has been exploded. This one is cross-genre, as it's thriller-y and horror-y and sci-fi-y, and also it's structurally trippy, and also it's doing interesting things with voice and character (the VOICE you guys), and just generally cool.
So just fascinating. I didn't have a great time, because of my weak stomach (hah!) but I'm glad to have this example of what story can do that's added to my catalogue of Acceptable Story Shapes.
July 11, 2019
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: Another strange and bloody tale, part horror, part sci-fi, and one hundred percent WTF.
The first book in the series, The Murders of Molly Southbourne , was a bloody, violent surprise of a story, a horror tale steeped in mystery where the reader is in the dark about what’s going on for quite a while. To catch unfamiliar readers up to speed, our protagonist Molly is a young girl who has a unique but terrible condition: every time she bleeds, she creates a new “molly” who immediately tries to kill her. Molly has been trained by her mother and father from a young age to kill these clones, or “duplicates” as she calls them, as soon as they appear, so Molly’s life has been filled with murder and plenty of strict rules to follow. Don’t bleed. Kill the mollys. Burn the evidence. What a life!
The sequel opens right after the events at the end of the last book. Molly has just escaped a burning house and has called a phone number tattooed on her arm. The phone number is a help line, where a team will come out and obliterate all traces of the fire and the blood. But something is wrong. Molly isn’t actually Molly, but a molly , a duplicate. The real Molly, or Molly Prime, died in the fire. Now molly must navigate a dangerous and unfamiliar world, armed only with Molly’s memories and the story she told her right before the fire.
One day molly runs into another of her kind, a woman named Tamara who also creates duplicates when she bleeds. However, Tamara has learned to live in peace with her tamaras, and they’ve formed a sort of commune where they take care of each other. But this raises so many questions, and Molly isn’t sure what to believe. Why can they create duplicates? And who is behind it? The answers may lie with Molly’s own mother, whose past she is about to discover.
Welcome to mind fuck territory, people! It’s hard to describe any more of the plot, for a couple of reasons. One, this is a very short novella and I don’t want to spoil this if you’re planning on reading it. And two, the plot is confusing and I’m still not sure I understand everything that happened. But as I mentioned in my review of Murders , the plot really takes a back seat to the horrific elements. Thompson does atmosphere really well, and this story is chock full of that.
There’s also a lurking horror behind everything that’s going on. There is a character from the first book named James Down, who is doing something terrible to himself in this book. I almost wish I had time to go back and reread Murders , because for the life of me I can’t remember why he’s doing this awful thing. The story is surprisingly violent at times, although maybe it’s not so surprising since this is a story about clones who are born out of a girl’s blood. Even more horrifying is the way the characters react to the violence, which is to say they barely react at all. Violence is a way of life, and that in itself makes you wonder what sort of life these duplicates can really have.
I did find that the story overall felt a bit fractured. Molly ends up in different kinds of trouble throughout the story, and sometimes wakes up in unfamiliar places. This jumping around was confusing, and the story at times felt like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive tale. But because Molly thinks of herself as a duplicate, and therefore not a real person, this fractured storytelling sort of makes sense, especially since the story is from her perspective.
The ending circles back to the beginning of the first book, which I thought was a nice touch. I’m not sure whether Thompson has another book planned for this series, but it feels finished , in my opinion, and I don’t think another book is necessary. Although—we still don't have complete answers about Molly's and Tamara's condition, so who knows, maybe we do need one more book? Please read The Murders of Molly Southbourne first, otherwise you will be lost. I love Thompson’s writing and the way he conveys a sense of menace and unease, even if not every part of the story made sense.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
The first book in the series, The Murders of Molly Southbourne , was a bloody, violent surprise of a story, a horror tale steeped in mystery where the reader is in the dark about what’s going on for quite a while. To catch unfamiliar readers up to speed, our protagonist Molly is a young girl who has a unique but terrible condition: every time she bleeds, she creates a new “molly” who immediately tries to kill her. Molly has been trained by her mother and father from a young age to kill these clones, or “duplicates” as she calls them, as soon as they appear, so Molly’s life has been filled with murder and plenty of strict rules to follow. Don’t bleed. Kill the mollys. Burn the evidence. What a life!
The sequel opens right after the events at the end of the last book. Molly has just escaped a burning house and has called a phone number tattooed on her arm. The phone number is a help line, where a team will come out and obliterate all traces of the fire and the blood. But something is wrong. Molly isn’t actually Molly, but a molly , a duplicate. The real Molly, or Molly Prime, died in the fire. Now molly must navigate a dangerous and unfamiliar world, armed only with Molly’s memories and the story she told her right before the fire.
One day molly runs into another of her kind, a woman named Tamara who also creates duplicates when she bleeds. However, Tamara has learned to live in peace with her tamaras, and they’ve formed a sort of commune where they take care of each other. But this raises so many questions, and Molly isn’t sure what to believe. Why can they create duplicates? And who is behind it? The answers may lie with Molly’s own mother, whose past she is about to discover.
Welcome to mind fuck territory, people! It’s hard to describe any more of the plot, for a couple of reasons. One, this is a very short novella and I don’t want to spoil this if you’re planning on reading it. And two, the plot is confusing and I’m still not sure I understand everything that happened. But as I mentioned in my review of Murders , the plot really takes a back seat to the horrific elements. Thompson does atmosphere really well, and this story is chock full of that.
There’s also a lurking horror behind everything that’s going on. There is a character from the first book named James Down, who is doing something terrible to himself in this book. I almost wish I had time to go back and reread Murders , because for the life of me I can’t remember why he’s doing this awful thing. The story is surprisingly violent at times, although maybe it’s not so surprising since this is a story about clones who are born out of a girl’s blood. Even more horrifying is the way the characters react to the violence, which is to say they barely react at all. Violence is a way of life, and that in itself makes you wonder what sort of life these duplicates can really have.
I did find that the story overall felt a bit fractured. Molly ends up in different kinds of trouble throughout the story, and sometimes wakes up in unfamiliar places. This jumping around was confusing, and the story at times felt like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive tale. But because Molly thinks of herself as a duplicate, and therefore not a real person, this fractured storytelling sort of makes sense, especially since the story is from her perspective.
The ending circles back to the beginning of the first book, which I thought was a nice touch. I’m not sure whether Thompson has another book planned for this series, but it feels finished , in my opinion, and I don’t think another book is necessary. Although—we still don't have complete answers about Molly's and Tamara's condition, so who knows, maybe we do need one more book? Please read The Murders of Molly Southbourne first, otherwise you will be lost. I love Thompson’s writing and the way he conveys a sense of menace and unease, even if not every part of the story made sense.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
January 26, 2024
Wow, c’était une tuerie (même si ce terme correspond plus aux événements du premier volume mais passons).
December 5, 2020
Review to follow...
January 31, 2023
Oh, the curse of sequels.
I can't adequately put into words how much I love the first book in this series, "The Murders of Molly Southbourne". I just reread it three days ago in preparation for this sequel, I still think it is a beyond fantastic piece of speculative Horror fiction, I still love it beyond words. The sequel is a different beast though. I liked it, I also had issues. I am rating it a 3.5* and will see by the end of this review if I feel like rounding that up or down.
Right off the bat, it seemed the writing was not quite the same, a bit more crude, a lot less melancholic. Since we technically have a different narrator it is actually quite fitting that it sounds a bit different, I still liked it a bit less. As central themes Thompson plays again with identity, self love vs. self hate and related questions untangle in fascinating ways. He takes these themes to different places this time which was great. Following that course, he expands the mythology of this universe and that is where troubles cloud the skies. See, the first one is very vague on the logics and motivations, a lot of things can be seen as purely metaphorical and don't need to make sense in the 'real world'. Now, when the mythology gets explained more these things have to make more sense though. You cannot simply write a sex scene between Molly, her lover and a molly clone for subversive meanings anymore, people's actions in "Survival" need to make more sense in the bigger and more explored picture that gets painted. The twist that gets put onto the mollys here is interesting but I am not sure it is completely sound. I like the submeaning, the thematic exploration that comes from that (aka. truth is what we know, if our knowledge is wrong, our truth is wrong). These stories can get so philosophical if you let them... But in the logic of the building of a mythology, the science and character's motivations don't fully hold up to me (). I love what it does thematically but unless I missed something it creates plot holes or at least plot mistakes.
At this time I also wanted more from the shadow organization whose phone number is tattooed on her arm. The hints we get are interesting but whereas having them nebulous in the first book was not just sufficient but advantageous here it leaves me with open questions. Now I do need another installment, after "Murders" I didn't need one while admitting that the door was cracked open enough to make one. And Thompson did that, he pushed that door wide open.
Almost more than a Volume #3 I actually want a TV show adaption of this, I think it would make a fantastic TV series (and I am more of a movie person!). While I walked my dog yesterday, I created the outline for a 5 season show in my head, netflix I am awaiting your call!
Rounding 3.5* up to 4*, maybe only because I loved the first book that much but also because I think "Survival" has despite some flaws enough staying power to warrant that.
Update/ 2023 Reread:
It seems I liked this so much more this time around than on my first read. Certain details I seem to have read completely different, for example the first time around the violent tendencies of the mollies did not make any sense to me anymore, but on this read it makes all the sense, not even sure why I didn't get the first time how this reflects intensely on abuse cycles, in a perfect and beautifully violent way I might add. I love so many aspects about this now: the mirroring of the mollies and the tamaras, that we have a different narrator and what that means, the journey she goes on, the last line.
Interesting was that after Thompson went through lenghts of not putting the first book in a specific place and time this time we get clearly stated the location is London and we are in the 90s. I am not sure why he made that change to be honest, maybe I need a third reread so that that can hit me. But I am not as bothered by the mild shift in writing and tone this time around, it fits the new tale. I love that we get an even more up front embracing of the Frankensteinian undertones, hoping that the third book will lead with that.
This time I am tempted to give also 5* but it doesn't mean quite as much to me as the original so 4.5* it is.
I can't adequately put into words how much I love the first book in this series, "The Murders of Molly Southbourne". I just reread it three days ago in preparation for this sequel, I still think it is a beyond fantastic piece of speculative Horror fiction, I still love it beyond words. The sequel is a different beast though. I liked it, I also had issues. I am rating it a 3.5* and will see by the end of this review if I feel like rounding that up or down.
Right off the bat, it seemed the writing was not quite the same, a bit more crude, a lot less melancholic. Since we technically have a different narrator it is actually quite fitting that it sounds a bit different, I still liked it a bit less. As central themes Thompson plays again with identity, self love vs. self hate and related questions untangle in fascinating ways. He takes these themes to different places this time which was great. Following that course, he expands the mythology of this universe and that is where troubles cloud the skies. See, the first one is very vague on the logics and motivations, a lot of things can be seen as purely metaphorical and don't need to make sense in the 'real world'. Now, when the mythology gets explained more these things have to make more sense though. You cannot simply write a sex scene between Molly, her lover and a molly clone for subversive meanings anymore, people's actions in "Survival" need to make more sense in the bigger and more explored picture that gets painted. The twist that gets put onto the mollys here is interesting but I am not sure it is completely sound. I like the submeaning, the thematic exploration that comes from that (aka. truth is what we know, if our knowledge is wrong, our truth is wrong). These stories can get so philosophical if you let them... But in the logic of the building of a mythology, the science and character's motivations don't fully hold up to me (). I love what it does thematically but unless I missed something it creates plot holes or at least plot mistakes.
At this time I also wanted more from the shadow organization whose phone number is tattooed on her arm. The hints we get are interesting but whereas having them nebulous in the first book was not just sufficient but advantageous here it leaves me with open questions. Now I do need another installment, after "Murders" I didn't need one while admitting that the door was cracked open enough to make one. And Thompson did that, he pushed that door wide open.
Almost more than a Volume #3 I actually want a TV show adaption of this, I think it would make a fantastic TV series (and I am more of a movie person!). While I walked my dog yesterday, I created the outline for a 5 season show in my head, netflix I am awaiting your call!
Rounding 3.5* up to 4*, maybe only because I loved the first book that much but also because I think "Survival" has despite some flaws enough staying power to warrant that.
Update/ 2023 Reread:
It seems I liked this so much more this time around than on my first read. Certain details I seem to have read completely different, for example the first time around the violent tendencies of the mollies did not make any sense to me anymore, but on this read it makes all the sense, not even sure why I didn't get the first time how this reflects intensely on abuse cycles, in a perfect and beautifully violent way I might add. I love so many aspects about this now: the mirroring of the mollies and the tamaras, that we have a different narrator and what that means, the journey she goes on, the last line.
Interesting was that after Thompson went through lenghts of not putting the first book in a specific place and time this time we get clearly stated the location is London and we are in the 90s. I am not sure why he made that change to be honest, maybe I need a third reread so that that can hit me. But I am not as bothered by the mild shift in writing and tone this time around, it fits the new tale. I love that we get an even more up front embracing of the Frankensteinian undertones, hoping that the third book will lead with that.
This time I am tempted to give also 5* but it doesn't mean quite as much to me as the original so 4.5* it is.
July 29, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis
Who was Molly Southbourne? What did she leave behind?
A burnt-out basement. A name stained in blood. Bodies that remember murder, one of them left alive. A set of rules that no longer apply.
Molly Southbourne is alive. If she wants to survive, she’ll need to run, hide, and be ready to fight. There are people who remember her, who know what she is and what she’s done. Some want her alive, some want her dead, and all hold a piece to the puzzles in her head. Can Molly escape them, or will she confront the bloody history that made her?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of The Survival of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novella.
If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight.
Don’t bleed.
If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach.
If you find a hole, find your parents.
My introduction to Tade Thompson was his ground-breaking and award-winning science fiction novel, Rosewater. Ever since then, anything he writes rockets up my TBR. Well, I came across The Murders of Molly Southbourne at the beginning of this year when it had a price drop on the ‘Zon and gave it a try, knowing I was in for something wholly original. I was a little blown away by the story, and of course the character of Molly; but it was unlike anything I had ever expected. Needless to say, I was stoked to find out Thompson had a sequel coming out.
Survival takes place on the heels of Murders with seamless transition and never thinks twice about taking its foot off the accelerator. While we had Molly’s POV throughout the entirety of Book 1, we are now behind the eyes of one of her duplicates (or so we think) and endure her successive trials and tribulations throughout the beginning stages of “her” life.
I wasn’t really sure how Thompson could continue on the Molly saga, let alone write something completely different yet comfortably similar to its predecessor and keep the suspense going into what I hope/assume is a final novella in the series? SO MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED, TADE!
We are introduced to new characters, invited into the homes of familiar ones, and still left in the dark about the ones behind the scenes of all the goings on. This story is a bit of mind-f**kery, much like the first, but I feel a little more adept at dealing with the weirdness and was able to dig into the surroundings rather than the interesting ability that Molly possesses. While this version of Molly seems to lack the ability to create duplicates, another lies in wait that just may hold the answer. On top of that, we are all too aware that things await you in the shadows, and Molly will soon find out that she does too.
All in all, if you haven’t read The Murders of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne #1) and enjoy Tade’s writing, original stories, anything Tor.com publishes, etc, pick it up and give it a go. It is essential before reading Survival.
Synopsis
Who was Molly Southbourne? What did she leave behind?
A burnt-out basement. A name stained in blood. Bodies that remember murder, one of them left alive. A set of rules that no longer apply.
Molly Southbourne is alive. If she wants to survive, she’ll need to run, hide, and be ready to fight. There are people who remember her, who know what she is and what she’s done. Some want her alive, some want her dead, and all hold a piece to the puzzles in her head. Can Molly escape them, or will she confront the bloody history that made her?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of The Survival of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novella.
If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight.
Don’t bleed.
If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach.
If you find a hole, find your parents.
My introduction to Tade Thompson was his ground-breaking and award-winning science fiction novel, Rosewater. Ever since then, anything he writes rockets up my TBR. Well, I came across The Murders of Molly Southbourne at the beginning of this year when it had a price drop on the ‘Zon and gave it a try, knowing I was in for something wholly original. I was a little blown away by the story, and of course the character of Molly; but it was unlike anything I had ever expected. Needless to say, I was stoked to find out Thompson had a sequel coming out.
Survival takes place on the heels of Murders with seamless transition and never thinks twice about taking its foot off the accelerator. While we had Molly’s POV throughout the entirety of Book 1, we are now behind the eyes of one of her duplicates (or so we think) and endure her successive trials and tribulations throughout the beginning stages of “her” life.
I wasn’t really sure how Thompson could continue on the Molly saga, let alone write something completely different yet comfortably similar to its predecessor and keep the suspense going into what I hope/assume is a final novella in the series? SO MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED, TADE!
We are introduced to new characters, invited into the homes of familiar ones, and still left in the dark about the ones behind the scenes of all the goings on. This story is a bit of mind-f**kery, much like the first, but I feel a little more adept at dealing with the weirdness and was able to dig into the surroundings rather than the interesting ability that Molly possesses. While this version of Molly seems to lack the ability to create duplicates, another lies in wait that just may hold the answer. On top of that, we are all too aware that things await you in the shadows, and Molly will soon find out that she does too.
All in all, if you haven’t read The Murders of Molly Southbourne (Molly Southbourne #1) and enjoy Tade’s writing, original stories, anything Tor.com publishes, etc, pick it up and give it a go. It is essential before reading Survival.
July 25, 2019
"I am holding a telephone while watching a house burn.
'Please hold', says the voice on the other end of the line."
I have been waiting not very patiently for this sequel to The Murders Of Molly Southbourne for way too long. I opened the book and I was hooked by the very first line.
I'm not a fan of sci-fi but this sci-fi horror is so suspenseful and sadisticly entertaining it's impossible not to enjoy.
I highly recommend this duology to all lovers of horror and dark fiction.
'Please hold', says the voice on the other end of the line."
I have been waiting not very patiently for this sequel to The Murders Of Molly Southbourne for way too long. I opened the book and I was hooked by the very first line.
I'm not a fan of sci-fi but this sci-fi horror is so suspenseful and sadisticly entertaining it's impossible not to enjoy.
I highly recommend this duology to all lovers of horror and dark fiction.
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