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Burn Our Bodies Down

Rory Power (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 183 ratings · 145 reviews

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a new twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mysteryuntil she decides to return to her mothers hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

Ever since Margot was born, its been just her and her mother. No answers to Margots questions about what came before. No history to ...more

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ebook, 352 pages

Expected publication: July 7th 2020 by Delacorte Press

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Average rating 4.17 ·

Rating details

· 183 ratings · 145 reviews

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Jan 28, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it it was amazing

Im seeing the stars! THIS IS. THIS BOOK THIS STORY THITHT I lost the words! Please somebody tell me my lines! Oh boy, weklcjoj4ffejewoi! Oh no, I lost my cognitive skills! I lost my brain! I lost my mind! I lost my mouth! Oh no, how can drink wine without my mouth? Who is talking now? Did I become a ventriloquist? WHAT THE HELL I JUST READ!!!

I carry three heads right now! I hold something in my hands: a secret recipe of the best mind bending novel Ive read lately.

Here is the formula: We have a ...more

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Aug 14, 2019 Tucker marked it as not-released-tbr

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Dec 10, 2019 Kai marked it as desperate-to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: queer

listen, I'm not saying this cover is ugly but Wilder Girls was the Mona Lisa of YA 2019 and...they should have at least tried

flag 75 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2019 megs_bookrack marked it as to-read

Shelves: arcs-to-read, ya-thriller-horror-to-read, 2020-releases

An ARC!!!! Delacorte Press, I love you beyond measure.
Thank you so much!!!!

Original:

Is it too early to be freaking the f* out over this?

Old farmhouse, corn fields, creepiness...say no more!

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Jan 28, 2020 Ash rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of Dark Places and Sharp Objects

Shelves: 5-stars, arcs, mystery, read-2020, top-2020

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Childrens Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to request this one, given the mixed reviews of Rory Powers debut novel, Wilder Girls, which I havent read. Now Im considering giving it a try, because this book? This book is a masterpiece. The older I get, the harder it is for me to find young adult fiction that still appeals to me, and I feel a little giddy every time I get to add a new book to my list of YA Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to request this one, given the mixed reviews of Rory Power’s debut novel, Wilder Girls, which I haven’t read. Now I’m considering giving it a try, because this book? This book is a masterpiece. The older I get, the harder it is for me to find young adult fiction that still appeals to me, and I feel a little giddy every time I get to add a new book to my list of YA favorites.

Burn Our Bodies Down comes right out of the gate with a startlingly realistic portrayal of abuse and neglect. Protagonist Margot’s mother is an infuriating character. It wrecked me to witness how Margot’s toxic upbringing impacted every aspect of her life. I especially appreciated how Power explored the way abusers use gaslighting to win arguments and make their victims doubt their own experiences and reality.

Power gives us a well-written, relatable protagonist in Margot. She was remarkably sympathetic and refreshingly complicated. Her first person narration had me experiencing the story as she experienced it, feeling her emotions along with her, desperate to find the truth just like she was. Margot is a lesbian, and her sexuality was never the focus of the story, instead just one part of what made her, her. It felt so natural and right.

Overall, Burn Our Bodies Down is incredibly well-paced, with short chapters and a great flow. Power uses the small town setting of Phalene and the interactions between her characters to build a growing sense of unease, a feeling you can’t shake but you can’t pin down, that something is off. I kept wanting to shout, “WHAT IS GOING ON?” and I had to keep reading until I found out. And the ending… wow.

This book has the potential to appeal to a wide audience, including adults who don’t usually go for YA. I only had one minor complaint. I’ll keep it vague to avoid spoilers, but there’s a part in the story where Margot reads someone’s diary entries, and the writing style of the entries, with no capitalization or punctuation and lots of repetition, was annoying. But there weren’t too many entries and they were mostly very short, so I haven’t let it affect my rating. ...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Rory Power added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

content warnings available here: https://itsrorypower.com/books/burn/

always updating - if you find something is missing from this list, please let me know via my website

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Dec 07, 2019 Amy Imogene Reads marked it as to-read

getting my arc request granted like: YESSSSS

putting in my arc request like: please?

Thank you to Random House Children's - Delacorte Press for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2020 Kate rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anticipating, arcs, read-in-2020

4.5/5stars

*thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC*

Man, where does Rory Power get her ideas? This was SO weird and wonderful and magical but horrible all at the same time. No clue how one could ever properly explain this book to someone

3/4/2020 : I JUST GOT APPROVED FOR THE ARC FROM NETGALLEY AHHHH

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Feb 14, 2020 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle-books, arc-book-read

This was...bizarre to say the very least, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but, I'm not sure all the craziness and weirdness completely worked for me. The writing was fabulous and I really did enjoy something original, especially in this genre so bonus stars for that.
Overall, not a bad story just different in ways both good and bad.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

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Nov 13, 2019 Iris marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: i-need-it-right-now

hi holy fuck I am all the heart eyes for this cover

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2020 emma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020

Thank you Random House Children's and Delacorte Press for an advance copy!

List of Trigger Warnings.

As someone who has never read Wilder Girls I went into this book with no idea of what to expect. This is not an easy story.

Margot's mother refuses to share any details of her upbringing leaving her with feeling completely shut out from her lineage. Jo is a negligent and frankly an abusive parent who is unable to connect with her daughter. As much as they love each other they have a tumultuous ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 alleah marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: anticipating

whoever is behind the covers of these rory power books deserves a medal.

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Mar 15, 2020 Erin A. Craig rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Rory is a powerhouse among YA authors! Every sentence simmered with the most delicious horror!

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2020 ash | emeraldbookowl marked it as i-need-2020

the reason we have this cover is because it would be impossible to create something as perfect as the wilder girls

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Jan 28, 2020 Julia ✨ marked it as tbr-arcs

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, mystery-thriller-horror

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Feb 05, 2020 Ludwig rated it it was amazing

Keep a fire burning. A fire is what saves you - thats what she always said. She tried and tried to tell me. This time Im finally listening.

Wow. I couldnt have asked for a better thriller! Perfect for admirers of Riley Sager, Burn Our Bodies Down is a superbly-crafted, spine-tingling novel of suspense about a teenager who learns about the evil lurking within the blood lines in her family history.

Its just you and me, 17-year-old Margots mother keeps on telling her, so when she stumbles upon a ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 ♠ TABI ♠ marked it as to-read

all I hope for is a better resolution of an ending than her first book

yeah this cover is NICE but it's not the Louvre-worthy art of the first book

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Feb 04, 2020 Celia McMahon rated it liked it

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-galley.

Seventeen-year-old Margot leaves her mother in search of the family she's kept hidden. Clues lead her to a grandmother who harbors secrets of her own. Now in too deep, Margot must unravel her family's poisoned past and break the cycle.

Although I love Rory Power's writing, the story kind of dragged me down. The twists came too late and by that time nothing shocked me. I am not sure what could have been done differently, but this certainly lacked the ...more

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Nov 23, 2019 amanda (*´-`) marked it as to-read

Shelves: anticipated-2020-releases

this is releasing a day after my birthday 😳 im hyped ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Sheila rated it liked it

Shelves: new-gothic, netgalley, read-in-2020

3 stars--I liked the book.

Wow, this is a weird, twisted piece of Prairie Gothic! I enjoyed the dark, strange, unusual plot. It does require some suspension of disbelief, but no problem! I loved the gothic imagery in this book--the black but still growing corn fields shimmering under the relentless sun. The twisted, twined together ears of corn. The apricot grove that contains a dark secret. And the family, alone in the farmhouse in the prairie, at the heart of it all...

I'd give this four stars, ...more

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Mar 07, 2020 maya marked it as to-read

Shelves: arcs

I GOT AN ARC
...

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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Mar 17, 2020 The Book Valkyrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Burn Our Bodies Down was a wonderfully mysterious book that I was unable to put down! It's not your typical "jump scare" horror novel... Its subtle creepiness is really what made my skin crawl while reading it. Something about the atmosphere had me unsettled and intrigued at the same time. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but let's just say that Burn Our Bodies Down is unlike anything I've ever read, making it a very refreshing addition to the young adult genre.

To start, Rory Power did an Burn Our Bodies Down was a wonderfully mysterious book that I was unable to put down! It's not your typical "jump scare" horror novel... Its subtle creepiness is really what made my skin crawl while reading it. Something about the atmosphere had me unsettled and intrigued at the same time. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but let's just say that Burn Our Bodies Down is unlike anything I've ever read, making it a very refreshing addition to the young adult genre.

To start, Rory Power did an excellent job at crafting a complex main character that readers were really able to understand and root for. Margot had a truly beautiful character arc-- All of her emotions were so raw and vividly written that I felt like I was experiencing them along with her. Throughout the book, as Margot struggles to unearth the mysterious secrets of her family, I found myself wanting to know the truth as much as she did. When you can relate to a character on such a personal level, it really goes to show how amazing an author's storytelling is!

Another thing I loved about this book-- its portrayal of domestic abuse and gaslighting was astonishingly real. It broke my heart to see how the neglect and abuse Margot grew up with shaped her whole life. It was painful to watch how her mother's cruelty and gaslighting made Margot question every aspect of her life and feel guilt over things that were in no way her fault. Margot's mother constantly made everything about her own needs and framed her actions to make herself appear as the victim, resulting in a very toxic upbringing for Margot.

One last thing I want to comment on about this book is its sheer originality. Lately, I've felt myself straying away from the YA genre, as I've noticed a common pattern when it comes to plots, characters, and overall theme. Most of the YA books I've read within the past year just sort of blur together-- There's no stimulating originality to distinguish one from another. But Burn Our Bodies down makes a bold exception. Again, I won't spoil it, but I'm not kidding when I say I've never read anything like it! This book seriously gives me hope for the future of the YA genre.

Overall, Burn Our Bodies down was an utterly fantastic read. Disturbing, heart-stopping, and mesmerizing, it is a book that you definitely won't want to miss.

Thank you to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the review copy! ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Isabel ✰ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbtq, ya, thrillers, dark-af, 2020-faves

I. Adore. Rory. Power.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Wilder Girls last spring -- it was one of the first ARCs I ever reviewed and it has a special place in my heart, both for starting my ARC reviewing journey, but also introducing me to a person I was sure was going to be a new favorite author.

Burn Our Bodies Down didn't disappoint.

A much more personal story about a girl named Margot who tries to untangle the mysterious web of a family she's only just discovered, Burn Our Bodies Down was I. Adore. Rory. Power.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Wilder Girls last spring -- it was one of the first ARCs I ever reviewed and it has a special place in my heart, both for starting my ARC reviewing journey, but also introducing me to a person I was sure was going to be a new favorite author.

Burn Our Bodies Down didn't disappoint.

A much more personal story about a girl named Margot who tries to untangle the mysterious web of a family she's only just discovered, Burn Our Bodies Down was at once very familiar and incredibly creepy.

The small town, midwest setting was such a good touch for me right now, as a homesick Midwestern girl living a thousand miles away, and there were so many moments that Power just hit the nail on the head so perfectly and made me so nostalgic for summers at my grandparents' house and just frolicking among the corn.

I wouldn't say that Margot (or really anyone in this story, to be honest) is all that likable as a protagonist, but she's unflinchingly real. She's running from a strained relationship with her mother, and trying desperately to get out from under the unhealthy upbringing she's been dealt. Even as she's noticing all of these disconnects in her life and all of these creepy things happening, she's ignoring them with all her might, because all she wants is a family who will love her unconditionally, the way she's never been loved before. Her denial of the eerie happenings isn't stupid or ignorant, it's just heartbreaking.

I still love the way Power writes -- it feels so organic and lyrical. I can see why some people don't like it; it's pretty non-traditional. But I mentioned in my review of Wilder Girls that Power's writing feels like if I was capable of stretching the best of my own writing into an entire book, and it's a joy to read. This sophomore book is very different from the first -- more personal drama, less action, more creepiness and mystery, less straight-up horror. But honestly, somehow, I liked it better. I look forward with excitement for Power's future work. Thank you for the corn book.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 19, 2020 Lissla rated it really liked it

It seems that nobody does metaphorical books about complicated female relationships better than Rory Power. And me saying this is a big deal, because usually I find "complicated female relationships" in books very frustrating: they often boil down to borderline misogyny where everything can just be chalked up to women being jealous of each other. Not so with Rory Power. Wilder Girls explored the complexities of teenage friendship, love, and relationship to authority, while Burn Our Bodies Down ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Krysti rated it it was amazing

Creepy, gripping, and delightfully disturbing, Rory Powers sophomore novel, BURN OUR BODIES DOWN is sure to be the YA horror novel of the year. With its eerie rural setting and cast of characters who are all clearly keeping big secrets, I was absolutely engrossed by this one from page one!

I adored WILDER GIRLS, but I know a lot of you felt that the sci-fi elements in that one were confusing and that the ending was abrupt. That is certainly not the case in BURN OUR BODIES DOWN. Everything is ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 Kristi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, arc, young-adult, 2020release

When I saw that Rory Power had a new book coming out, I was absolutely thrilled! Wilder Girls was a favorite in all of its bizarre glory and I was hoping for the same in Burn Our Bodies Down. I got what I wished for because it is utterly fantastic. The same eerie ominous atmosphere permeates throughout the book and kept me turning pages until the dramatic conclusion. I was still thinking about Burn Our Bodies Down this morning when I woke up. I have a feeling its going to stay with me for a ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Holly Jackson rated it it was amazing

WOW this was AMAZING! Rory Power does it again. Burn Our Bodies Down is an incredible and unnerving mystery that will creep up on you, twisty and labyrinthine, like the eerie cornfields of its setting.

Pre-order and add this to your TBR- thats an order! ...more

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Feb 17, 2020 Tracy (Cornerfolds) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, horror, thriller, ya, read-2020

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

Review to come!

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Jan 28, 2020 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: queer-lit, read-on-kindle, young-adult, priority-tbr, queer-secondary-characters, netgalley, no-romance, lesbian-char, fffeb-2020

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content notes:(view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 17, 2019 Michele rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

Margots mom is emotionally distant and wont tell her anything about her family or her past. When she goes searching for answers, she very quickly and conveniently finds her grandmother. Gram seems ideal: warm, welcoming, and caring. On the same day she meets Gram, there is also a devastating fire and a dead body. Similar gory details and descriptions as Wilder Girls and terrible dark family secrets begin to explain the complicated relationship dynamics. A horrifying twist of events has Margot ...more

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About Rory Power

Rory Power

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Rory Power grew up in New England, where she lives and works as a crime fiction editor and story consultant for TV adaptation. She received a Masters in Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia, and thinks fondly of her time there, partially because she learned a lot but mostly because there were a ton of bunnies on campus.

She is represented by Daisy Parente at Lutyens & Rubinstein ...more