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Six of Sorrow
Sixteen years ago, six girls were born on the same day—and now, on their birthday, one of them is missing. From the author of Starlings comes a story about small-towns, friendships, and the terrifying things your parents don't tell you, that's perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.
For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.
Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.
If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.
Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.
For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.
Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.
If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.
Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
35 people are currently reading
7747 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Linsmeier
20 books194 followersAmanda Linsmeier has been a book nerd as long as she can remember, and it was that great love of reading—especially R.L. Stine novels and fairytales—that eventually brought her to writing her own stories. In high school, she won the senior class vote for “Most Romantic Girl”, a title she’s still ridiculously pleased with. She feels most joyful when writing, scream-singing her favorite songs, playing in the water, and laughing with her beloved family. She lives in a magical place with a man who smells like maple syrup and woodsmoke, their wonderfully wild children, a dog, and an assortment of half-feral cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
April 2, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up **
💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕😊💕
Six of Sorrow is a YA Dark Fantasy story from Amanda Linsmeier. This is the first novel that I've read from this author, but I'm excited to get to more.
This story is set in a small town, where six girls, all with the same birthday, have been thick as thieves since they were kids. More recently though, a misunderstanding has caused a fracture in their once tight group.
Our main character, Isabeau, who goes mostly by Iz, only has one friend left from the group, her best friend, Reuel, who would never abandon her.
On the night of their 16th-birthday, Iz and Reuel are hanging out at Reuel's house, when Iz has to leave suddenly. When Iz leaves, Reuel is sitting on her front porch. The next morning Reuel is gone.
News of Reuel's disappearance shakes the close-knit town and massive search efforts are put in place. This incident brings out the other girls from the friendship group and they begrudgingly begin talking to Iz again.
After all, one of their own is missing. It's time to put petty differences aside in order to find her.
Three days later, Reuel reappears. She's unable to express where she has been, or what has happened to her since she's been gone, but it's clear something is off.
She's in rough shape, very sick and it's unclear as to why. The girls are all concerned and this concern ends up bringing them even closer together. Then another one in their group disappears...
We then follow the remaining girls as they try to figure out the mystery of their town and what's happening to them. They end up researching town history and local lore.
Soon it becomes clear that they might all have more in common than just their birthdays. They've been connected by something much deeper, and darker, than that since before they were even born. Now they must stop an evil force before it destroys everything they love.
I had a lot of fun with this. Linsmeier quickly drew me into the story with the development of this quirky town. It's apparent that something is special about this group of girls as well. I mean, how can a group of six all have been born on the exact same day in the same small town?
The town was also atmospheric in an unsettling, yet intriguing way. There's a legend of a local witch and other things that just seem a bit peculiar. It's definitely a unique setting that added a lot of substance to the story.
There were some interesting occult elements and I loved to see how the author used those to explain everything that was going on. There's even a Book of Shadows!
For me, the star of the show though was the friend group. They had interesting dynamics and I liked watching them band together and work towards a common goal. They had much more power together.
Overall, this was a quick, compelling read. I like how the story evolved and played out. It's not perfect, but it's definitely a great time. As mentioned above, I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you enjoy a Dark Fantasy story with strong friendship vibes, you should definitely pick this one up!
💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕😊💕
Six of Sorrow is a YA Dark Fantasy story from Amanda Linsmeier. This is the first novel that I've read from this author, but I'm excited to get to more.
This story is set in a small town, where six girls, all with the same birthday, have been thick as thieves since they were kids. More recently though, a misunderstanding has caused a fracture in their once tight group.
Our main character, Isabeau, who goes mostly by Iz, only has one friend left from the group, her best friend, Reuel, who would never abandon her.
On the night of their 16th-birthday, Iz and Reuel are hanging out at Reuel's house, when Iz has to leave suddenly. When Iz leaves, Reuel is sitting on her front porch. The next morning Reuel is gone.
News of Reuel's disappearance shakes the close-knit town and massive search efforts are put in place. This incident brings out the other girls from the friendship group and they begrudgingly begin talking to Iz again.
After all, one of their own is missing. It's time to put petty differences aside in order to find her.
Three days later, Reuel reappears. She's unable to express where she has been, or what has happened to her since she's been gone, but it's clear something is off.
She's in rough shape, very sick and it's unclear as to why. The girls are all concerned and this concern ends up bringing them even closer together. Then another one in their group disappears...
We then follow the remaining girls as they try to figure out the mystery of their town and what's happening to them. They end up researching town history and local lore.
Soon it becomes clear that they might all have more in common than just their birthdays. They've been connected by something much deeper, and darker, than that since before they were even born. Now they must stop an evil force before it destroys everything they love.
I had a lot of fun with this. Linsmeier quickly drew me into the story with the development of this quirky town. It's apparent that something is special about this group of girls as well. I mean, how can a group of six all have been born on the exact same day in the same small town?
The town was also atmospheric in an unsettling, yet intriguing way. There's a legend of a local witch and other things that just seem a bit peculiar. It's definitely a unique setting that added a lot of substance to the story.
There were some interesting occult elements and I loved to see how the author used those to explain everything that was going on. There's even a Book of Shadows!
For me, the star of the show though was the friend group. They had interesting dynamics and I liked watching them band together and work towards a common goal. They had much more power together.
Overall, this was a quick, compelling read. I like how the story evolved and played out. It's not perfect, but it's definitely a great time. As mentioned above, I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you enjoy a Dark Fantasy story with strong friendship vibes, you should definitely pick this one up!
February 9, 2024
Practical Magic" collides with the intrigue of "Pretty Little Liars" and the supernatural allure of "AHS: Coven," providing the barest framework for the plot, yet delivering an experience more eerie, tempting, and creepy than the sum of these concepts.
The story unfolds in Sorrow, Louisiana, a town steeped in the tales of a presumed witch. It's the birthplace of six close young girlfriends, all born on May 3rd, yet estranged as their lives take diverse paths. Three become the privileged cheerleading elite, Isabeau clings to her friendship with Reuel, and Sloane, the bookish nerd, forges her own connections with a different group.
Isabeau harbors resentment towards Georgia, the snarky queen bee, which alienates her from August and Cori. A pivotal event during their thirteenth birthday celebration severs their bonds, leaving Isabeau clueless about why she lost her friends.
Despite the upheaval, Isabeau finds solace in her relationship with Reuel, even though she conceals her romantic involvement with Grady, the boy who once kissed her and swiftly moved on to her best friend. Reuel proposes an unconventional birthday celebration, a picnic at the graveyard, culminating in a blood ritual that binds them as blood sisters. Tragedy strikes, however, as the night ends with Reuel disappearing.
The remaining girls set aside their differences to unite and find their friend. Upon Reuel's return, she is but a shell of her former self—decaying, pale, cold, unable to eat, haunted by endless nightmares. The girls soon discover they are not alone; a malevolent entity lurks, intruding into their dreams and casting a chilling presence.
As the supernatural threat looms, questions arise about their estranged mother's connection to the unfolding events. Are the girls cursed? If they fail to unveil the nature of the supernatural entity, does it spell their demise or something even worse?
This riveting, fast-paced supernatural thriller compelled me to read with bated breath, eager to unravel the mystery. From the talented writer of "Starlings," the narrative delivers a heart-throbbing, fun ride. Highly recommended for genre enthusiasts and anyone seeking a fast-paced, thrilling, witchy, paranormal experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for generously providing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story unfolds in Sorrow, Louisiana, a town steeped in the tales of a presumed witch. It's the birthplace of six close young girlfriends, all born on May 3rd, yet estranged as their lives take diverse paths. Three become the privileged cheerleading elite, Isabeau clings to her friendship with Reuel, and Sloane, the bookish nerd, forges her own connections with a different group.
Isabeau harbors resentment towards Georgia, the snarky queen bee, which alienates her from August and Cori. A pivotal event during their thirteenth birthday celebration severs their bonds, leaving Isabeau clueless about why she lost her friends.
Despite the upheaval, Isabeau finds solace in her relationship with Reuel, even though she conceals her romantic involvement with Grady, the boy who once kissed her and swiftly moved on to her best friend. Reuel proposes an unconventional birthday celebration, a picnic at the graveyard, culminating in a blood ritual that binds them as blood sisters. Tragedy strikes, however, as the night ends with Reuel disappearing.
The remaining girls set aside their differences to unite and find their friend. Upon Reuel's return, she is but a shell of her former self—decaying, pale, cold, unable to eat, haunted by endless nightmares. The girls soon discover they are not alone; a malevolent entity lurks, intruding into their dreams and casting a chilling presence.
As the supernatural threat looms, questions arise about their estranged mother's connection to the unfolding events. Are the girls cursed? If they fail to unveil the nature of the supernatural entity, does it spell their demise or something even worse?
This riveting, fast-paced supernatural thriller compelled me to read with bated breath, eager to unravel the mystery. From the talented writer of "Starlings," the narrative delivers a heart-throbbing, fun ride. Highly recommended for genre enthusiasts and anyone seeking a fast-paced, thrilling, witchy, paranormal experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for generously providing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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June 18, 2024
"Sixteen years ago, six girls were born on the same day..."
Creepy, witchy, atmospheric, and unique! Six of Sorrow is about six teenage girls living in Sorrow, Louisiana who share the same birthday and become friends until a rift occurs. Isabeau and Reuel remain friends while the other girls go their own ways. Reuel goes missing only to return days later sick with no memory of where she was or what happened to her. The former friends all gather once again. Questions swirl in their minds when another in their group goes missing. What is happening? Why are members of their group being taken? Is there a connection? Is it their shared birthdays or could it be something else entirely???
I enjoyed this creepy, small town supernatural mystery thriller. It was unique, imaginative, well thought out, and enjoyable. This book played out like a movie in my mind. I enjoyed the secrets, the descriptions, the witch aspect, the spells, the danger, the hint of romance, the creepy vibe and the writing. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Atmospheric, creepy, well thought out, unique, and supernatural. Plus, that cover!
Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Creepy, witchy, atmospheric, and unique! Six of Sorrow is about six teenage girls living in Sorrow, Louisiana who share the same birthday and become friends until a rift occurs. Isabeau and Reuel remain friends while the other girls go their own ways. Reuel goes missing only to return days later sick with no memory of where she was or what happened to her. The former friends all gather once again. Questions swirl in their minds when another in their group goes missing. What is happening? Why are members of their group being taken? Is there a connection? Is it their shared birthdays or could it be something else entirely???
I enjoyed this creepy, small town supernatural mystery thriller. It was unique, imaginative, well thought out, and enjoyable. This book played out like a movie in my mind. I enjoyed the secrets, the descriptions, the witch aspect, the spells, the danger, the hint of romance, the creepy vibe and the writing. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Atmospheric, creepy, well thought out, unique, and supernatural. Plus, that cover!
Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 27, 2024
This was such an amazing book! I was completely hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
I was immediately drawn in by the spooky, Gothic atmosphere. The spooky town was a lot of fun, and I love a good magical tale. There are magic spells, witches and demons, but there are also friendships and a hint of romance. And I especially liked the Sapphic representation.
The idea of main characters sharing a birthday and this town under a witch's curse was really intriguing. I was completely captivated by the story's fast-paced plot, which revolved around disappearances and friends coming together to break a curse.
This book addresses a number of serious topics, including broken friendships, sorrow, family concerns, and difficult parent-child relationships. I appreciate how characters were handling their issue. This book is really short, and I believe it would have seemed more finished—especially if it include more of the parents' story.
If you're looking for a quick read that is both sweet and eerie, I highly recommend this!
I was immediately drawn in by the spooky, Gothic atmosphere. The spooky town was a lot of fun, and I love a good magical tale. There are magic spells, witches and demons, but there are also friendships and a hint of romance. And I especially liked the Sapphic representation.
The idea of main characters sharing a birthday and this town under a witch's curse was really intriguing. I was completely captivated by the story's fast-paced plot, which revolved around disappearances and friends coming together to break a curse.
This book addresses a number of serious topics, including broken friendships, sorrow, family concerns, and difficult parent-child relationships. I appreciate how characters were handling their issue. This book is really short, and I believe it would have seemed more finished—especially if it include more of the parents' story.
If you're looking for a quick read that is both sweet and eerie, I highly recommend this!
Read
January 24, 2024I wrote this :) This story took many different forms, which I talk a little bit about in the back of the book, and I'm proud of what it has become. I really hope you enjoy my six girls, the world of Sorrow, and all the little creepy moments. I also hope you love the cover as much as I do-- thanks to the talented artist, Kei-Ella Loewe, and yay for more pink books! Thank you so much for reading & reviewing.
-Amanda
-Amanda
June 24, 2024
Since I read a lot of books with a witchy theme, I couldn't pass this one up. Amanda Linsmeier is a new author for me.
Description:
For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.
Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.
If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.
Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.
My Thoughts:
This fits perfectly in the YA genre, and I can see teens and young adults loving it. I fell into the story quickly and couldn't put the book down until I found out what was going on. It has kind of a creepy, horror feel to it with the girls disappearing and the smells and sickness. Loved the characters, especially Isabeau. I enjoyed how close the girls were with their friendship. The narrative is fast-paced and tense. It is a compelling read and I think anyone who likes a supernatural mystery will enjoy it.
Thanks to Delacorte Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
For most of her life, Isabeau and her five best friends were inseparable—amazingly enough, the six girls even shared a birthday. Then a rift caused their friendships to fracture, and Iz lost everyone except Reuel, the only one who didn’t abandon her.
Until now. The night of their sixteenth birthday, Isabeau leaves Reuel sitting on her front porch and heads home—and in the morning, Reuel is missing. She’s gone for three days, and when she reappears, there’s something wrong with her. She’s sick. Really sick. And she doesn’t remember anything that happened while she was gone.
If there’s any bright side to the situation, it’s that Reuel’s peculiar disappearance brings the six girls back together. Their sisterhood feels as strong as it was years ago, but when another one of them disappears, they all agree that they must have more in common than simply their birthday. They all feel it. Something’s been waiting for them, and that something has come to claim them one by one.
Deep in their bones, they know—it’s just a matter of time until they they’re all taken. And if they don’t save themselves, no one will.
My Thoughts:
This fits perfectly in the YA genre, and I can see teens and young adults loving it. I fell into the story quickly and couldn't put the book down until I found out what was going on. It has kind of a creepy, horror feel to it with the girls disappearing and the smells and sickness. Loved the characters, especially Isabeau. I enjoyed how close the girls were with their friendship. The narrative is fast-paced and tense. It is a compelling read and I think anyone who likes a supernatural mystery will enjoy it.
Thanks to Delacorte Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 1, 2024
2024 reads: 180/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
sixteen years ago, six girls in the town of sorrow were born on the same day. they grew up as a close-knit friend group, but their group is now fractured. on their sixteenth birthday, one of them goes missing. when she reappears three days later, there’s something wrong with her. the girls get back together to figure out what’s going on before they’re all taken.
this was a pretty unique horror book! i loved the small southern town drama and the weird happenings in said small southern town. isabeau was an interesting character and i loved how her relationship with reuel was explored. when the six split up, isabeau and reuel remained friends, but that doesn’t mean everything is perfect between them.
i really enjoyed this and i’d recommend to anyone wanting a YA horror read!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
sixteen years ago, six girls in the town of sorrow were born on the same day. they grew up as a close-knit friend group, but their group is now fractured. on their sixteenth birthday, one of them goes missing. when she reappears three days later, there’s something wrong with her. the girls get back together to figure out what’s going on before they’re all taken.
this was a pretty unique horror book! i loved the small southern town drama and the weird happenings in said small southern town. isabeau was an interesting character and i loved how her relationship with reuel was explored. when the six split up, isabeau and reuel remained friends, but that doesn’t mean everything is perfect between them.
i really enjoyed this and i’d recommend to anyone wanting a YA horror read!
August 9, 2024
I wanted to give this author another chance since this new story was separate from her previous (and with sapphic rep) but, sadly, I had the same issue.
The writing is not bad, neither is the pacing nor the characters; I find her plots really uninteresting. The blurb sounds cool (both did) and the story didn't grab my attention at all (both didn't).
So, this is a goodbye to the author
The writing is not bad, neither is the pacing nor the characters; I find her plots really uninteresting. The blurb sounds cool (both did) and the story didn't grab my attention at all (both didn't).
So, this is a goodbye to the author
July 2, 2024
This book was fine... It wasn't bad or not worth reading but it was also not a book I would recommend either.
The premise being said to be like Yellow jackets, the description, the cover it all caught my attention.
The book though was flat and disjointed. There was a slow mysterious build up I loved and then it was just a rushed ending to pull it all together.
There was so much promise here but it felt like a TV show that had laid so many clues and then didn't know how to connect them all so it just threw everything at it at once.
It was good enough I didn't DNF it and I liked some characters. But some of the girls I just didn't either. The romance thrown in didn't fit either, it was just rushed.
I know it was YA but I've read so many YA that are there, it's one of my favorite genres. All of it was just almost there but not quite unfortunately.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Childrens for the ARC to read.
The premise being said to be like Yellow jackets, the description, the cover it all caught my attention.
The book though was flat and disjointed. There was a slow mysterious build up I loved and then it was just a rushed ending to pull it all together.
There was so much promise here but it felt like a TV show that had laid so many clues and then didn't know how to connect them all so it just threw everything at it at once.
It was good enough I didn't DNF it and I liked some characters. But some of the girls I just didn't either. The romance thrown in didn't fit either, it was just rushed.
I know it was YA but I've read so many YA that are there, it's one of my favorite genres. All of it was just almost there but not quite unfortunately.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Childrens for the ARC to read.
March 18, 2024
This was definitely something! The mystery was pretty interesting even though characters were at times generic. Pacing was also a but off but overall a sold book.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little spooky, a little witchy, and had a lot of teenage charm. Six girls, born on the same day, live in the spooky town of Sorrow. Named after a witch who founded the town, there's even a spooky cemetery. When one of the girls goes missing, the remaining 5 band together to find her. She is found, but she isn't the same. When another of the girls goes missing, they realize something is very wrong. The six girls have been targeted. Can they find the culprit before it's too late?
This book is fast-paced, with likable characters and charm. The overall message of friendship and young love was very sweet. While I did feel the ending was a little rushed, it was a very fun reading experience.
Six of Sorrow will be released June 25, 2024.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this book.
This book is fast-paced, with likable characters and charm. The overall message of friendship and young love was very sweet. While I did feel the ending was a little rushed, it was a very fun reading experience.
Six of Sorrow will be released June 25, 2024.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this book.
October 20, 2024
6 friends all born on the same day that have strayed apart reunite when strange things start happening in their town of Sorrow.
September 9, 2024
Promising premise, lackluster execution. The writing style and character development were too simple.
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June 29, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Honest review to follow.
Listen. The cover of this book is the reason I requested it on NetGalley. It's so pretty, right? Don't let that influence you though, because as far as I can tell there is literally no connection to the actually story. And the cover is the only good thing about it.
Now, the story? It was... fine. The concept was good and the framework was there but the execution was... not good. I refuse to say "well, it's YA, so it should be an easier read", or whatever bullshit people might say. High schoolers read Shakespeare, they can read a well-written book with more descriptive words than Terra Cotta, umber, sepia-brown, and burnt sienna to describe skin tones. Maybe even give us *something* about your diverse group of characters that means something other than "I better make sure I have a burnt sienna person to meet a self-imposed DEI quota". All 6 of the girls could have been the same girl; there was no depth, no differentiation, no development. One was rich, one was poor. One liked art, one like literature. Two were cheerleaders. One was goth (I guess, I mean she wore all black and wrote poetry, so...?) and one wore pink all the time. They all had weird-ass indescribable names. Idk. I just did not care about any of the girls.
Then there were the moms. What in the actual f.....? These women were not only completely worthless, they were so, terribly, annoyingly, STUPID. They not only caused the trouble their 16 year old daughters were dealing with but they did NOTHING to help and in fact made it worse by not working with them and trying to send them all home separately while they worked out a plan even though the girls knew they needed to stick together and already had a well-researched and reasonable plan?! This could have been such a great moment of mother-daughter solidarity, and could have given the moms redemption for what they did 20+ years ago that started this all, but instead they just don't. do. anything? And don't even check in with the girls until morning? Fucking dumb.
And that's not even talking about Isabeau's mom's alcoholism and adultery and how that's all some weird after-school special-type storyline that just gets neatly wrapped in a bow at the end.
Anyway, my copy was an ARC, so maybe some errors and typos were fixed before going to print but there were some glaring issues that were so easy to fact check in 30 seconds right from my phone, I wonder how the editor has a job. For example, I'm not even from Louisiana, have never been, but I do have Google Maps, so I'm curious... what island ferry would drop you off at Toulouse Street in NOLA? Do you live in the Mississippi River? Also Frenchman Street should be Frenchmen Street, amiright? All the history of Voodoo in NOLA and all the metaphysical/magic shops you could imagine and you send these girls to a white woman named Melissa's crystal shop for advice? Weird. Anyway.
Guys, I did not like this book. I don't recommend it and I am truly sad about it. I really think it could have been something if it didn't sound like it was written by a 15 year old. Our kids are not stupid. Don't write for them like they are. Also, plenty of adults enjoy reading YA because of the stories/themes, not because they want to be talked down to by someone with a 64 count box of Crayolas in from of them who thinks you have to say "verdigris green" because apparently no one knows what verdigris is without your help.
Listen. The cover of this book is the reason I requested it on NetGalley. It's so pretty, right? Don't let that influence you though, because as far as I can tell there is literally no connection to the actually story. And the cover is the only good thing about it.
Now, the story? It was... fine. The concept was good and the framework was there but the execution was... not good. I refuse to say "well, it's YA, so it should be an easier read", or whatever bullshit people might say. High schoolers read Shakespeare, they can read a well-written book with more descriptive words than Terra Cotta, umber, sepia-brown, and burnt sienna to describe skin tones. Maybe even give us *something* about your diverse group of characters that means something other than "I better make sure I have a burnt sienna person to meet a self-imposed DEI quota". All 6 of the girls could have been the same girl; there was no depth, no differentiation, no development. One was rich, one was poor. One liked art, one like literature. Two were cheerleaders. One was goth (I guess, I mean she wore all black and wrote poetry, so...?) and one wore pink all the time. They all had weird-ass indescribable names. Idk. I just did not care about any of the girls.
Then there were the moms. What in the actual f.....? These women were not only completely worthless, they were so, terribly, annoyingly, STUPID. They not only caused the trouble their 16 year old daughters were dealing with but they did NOTHING to help and in fact made it worse by not working with them and trying to send them all home separately while they worked out a plan even though the girls knew they needed to stick together and already had a well-researched and reasonable plan?! This could have been such a great moment of mother-daughter solidarity, and could have given the moms redemption for what they did 20+ years ago that started this all, but instead they just don't. do. anything? And don't even check in with the girls until morning? Fucking dumb.
And that's not even talking about Isabeau's mom's alcoholism and adultery and how that's all some weird after-school special-type storyline that just gets neatly wrapped in a bow at the end.
Anyway, my copy was an ARC, so maybe some errors and typos were fixed before going to print but there were some glaring issues that were so easy to fact check in 30 seconds right from my phone, I wonder how the editor has a job. For example, I'm not even from Louisiana, have never been, but I do have Google Maps, so I'm curious... what island ferry would drop you off at Toulouse Street in NOLA? Do you live in the Mississippi River? Also Frenchman Street should be Frenchmen Street, amiright? All the history of Voodoo in NOLA and all the metaphysical/magic shops you could imagine and you send these girls to a white woman named Melissa's crystal shop for advice? Weird. Anyway.
Guys, I did not like this book. I don't recommend it and I am truly sad about it. I really think it could have been something if it didn't sound like it was written by a 15 year old. Our kids are not stupid. Don't write for them like they are. Also, plenty of adults enjoy reading YA because of the stories/themes, not because they want to be talked down to by someone with a 64 count box of Crayolas in from of them who thinks you have to say "verdigris green" because apparently no one knows what verdigris is without your help.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2024
Six of Sorrows is a creepy, dark YA fantasy that introduces you to six 16-year-old girls, who were all born on the same day. It's full of mystery and found family, the power of friendship with a bit of magic and occult intrigue and great LQBTQ+ rep.
"Six girls born on a single day, though they they didn't know it. As the years passed, they became classmates, then friends, then best friends, held together not just by love but by fate."
The book takes place on an island called Sorrow. Just a short ferry ride away from New Orleans, the island lore is that a powerful Witch named Sorrow was the first to live on the island, hundreds of years ago.
The author does a great job setting up the creepy, Gothic atmosphere. I was thoroughly unsettled at times, in a fun way.
Due to a miscommunication when they're 13, the friend group splits. However, the day after they turn 16, one of them goes missing. The group re-knits in search of their missing friend, only to discover there's a lot more at play and all of their lives are at risk.
The plot is quite good, interesting with some twists and turns. The pacing is also good. Aside from the end I would say it's on the faster end of medium. The end is fast. The book is a quick read, enjoyable read.
The prose is good. There were some passages that I loved the writing, but then others that I disliked it. One I didn't like was super choppy and pulled me out of the story. There's a bit of beautiful poetry in Six of Sorrow.
The characters are really good, but I wouldn't quite say great. There's a lot of characters and the book isn't very long (336pgs). It isn't confusing, but I would've loved for them to be more dimensional and more background. I would've loved more info on the mom's, I feel like I don't know any of them. Outside of 2 of the mom's, I'm still not sure which mom is which (not that it matters for the plot).
The cast is diverse, and I love that.
I love that it looks at serious topics like sorrow, sexuality, broken friendships, family struggles, alcoholism, and the strife that can occur between parent and child.
Overall, it was an eerily fun, quick read. It's kind of like if American Horror Story was toned way down to be YA, meets Practical Magic and a bit of Gossip Girl.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @randomhousekids for the eARC of this book. This is my unbiased review.
"Six girls born on a single day, though they they didn't know it. As the years passed, they became classmates, then friends, then best friends, held together not just by love but by fate."
The book takes place on an island called Sorrow. Just a short ferry ride away from New Orleans, the island lore is that a powerful Witch named Sorrow was the first to live on the island, hundreds of years ago.
The author does a great job setting up the creepy, Gothic atmosphere. I was thoroughly unsettled at times, in a fun way.
Due to a miscommunication when they're 13, the friend group splits. However, the day after they turn 16, one of them goes missing. The group re-knits in search of their missing friend, only to discover there's a lot more at play and all of their lives are at risk.
The plot is quite good, interesting with some twists and turns. The pacing is also good. Aside from the end I would say it's on the faster end of medium. The end is fast. The book is a quick read, enjoyable read.
The prose is good. There were some passages that I loved the writing, but then others that I disliked it. One I didn't like was super choppy and pulled me out of the story. There's a bit of beautiful poetry in Six of Sorrow.
The characters are really good, but I wouldn't quite say great. There's a lot of characters and the book isn't very long (336pgs). It isn't confusing, but I would've loved for them to be more dimensional and more background. I would've loved more info on the mom's, I feel like I don't know any of them. Outside of 2 of the mom's, I'm still not sure which mom is which (not that it matters for the plot).
The cast is diverse, and I love that.
I love that it looks at serious topics like sorrow, sexuality, broken friendships, family struggles, alcoholism, and the strife that can occur between parent and child.
Overall, it was an eerily fun, quick read. It's kind of like if American Horror Story was toned way down to be YA, meets Practical Magic and a bit of Gossip Girl.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @randomhousekids for the eARC of this book. This is my unbiased review.
March 1, 2024
Amanda Linsmeier’s sophomore novel, “Six of Sorrow” takes place in the small town of Sorrow, Louisiana, following six teenage girls born on May 3rd. Some strange things start to happen to the girls after their 16th birthdays and together they are determined to solve the mysteries that unfold henceforth.
This fast-paced supernatural young adult thriller is perfect for those who enjoyed “Pretty Little Liars.” When I saw this recommended to fans of “Yellowjackets” I was all in - especially after enjoying the author’s debut novel “Starlings.” While I think the “Yellowjackets” comparison is a stretch - this modern day story has a charm of its own that will keep the reader engaged trying to predict what’s going on.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Delacorte Press for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I enjoy Amanda Linsmeier’s writing and I was itching to find out what was out to get these ladies.
3.5 stars !
This fast-paced supernatural young adult thriller is perfect for those who enjoyed “Pretty Little Liars.” When I saw this recommended to fans of “Yellowjackets” I was all in - especially after enjoying the author’s debut novel “Starlings.” While I think the “Yellowjackets” comparison is a stretch - this modern day story has a charm of its own that will keep the reader engaged trying to predict what’s going on.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Delacorte Press for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I enjoy Amanda Linsmeier’s writing and I was itching to find out what was out to get these ladies.
3.5 stars !
dnf
May 18, 20242.5/5 ⭐️
DNF
God I wanted to like this. Like the description being Pretty Little Liars meets American Horror Story, sold. Unfortunately I had to tap out after chapter one. If I can’t even get through the first chapter, that is not a good sign for me. It honestly came down to the writing style being everything I dislike. It honestly felt like I was reading an old school teen’s live journal, like from back in the early 2000s. There was so many pop culture references, which I don’t like, but especially when it adds nothing to the story or the characters. They’re just thrown it to be “relatable.” Which leads me to the abundance of unnecessary descriptions told to us. For example, “…I say back at my classmate from art.” Don’t care. Not necessary. Nor when she said things like I got a text from Reuel, my best friend. Then proceeded to say, my best friend, another six more times throughout just chapter one. Felt like I was being hit over the head with that detail. It would’ve meant a lot more if we were shown their relationship through their text and actions. Same goes with the other girls. Show us the state of the relationship instead of telling us like you are writing in your diary. Which leads me to my final point why I tapped out; all I wanted was to be SHOWN a reason to keep reading. Why should I care about this character and her journey? You keep telling me things, but in actuality, I don’t care. I felt like the narration kept me at a distance, not engaging me, or making me curious to know more.
However, I recognize from other reviews that I’m alone in this view. It seems like everyone else loved this story. So hey, if these things I just ranted about don’t bother you like me, I think you could potentially really love this story. For me, I was struggling to get through chapter one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
DNF
God I wanted to like this. Like the description being Pretty Little Liars meets American Horror Story, sold. Unfortunately I had to tap out after chapter one. If I can’t even get through the first chapter, that is not a good sign for me. It honestly came down to the writing style being everything I dislike. It honestly felt like I was reading an old school teen’s live journal, like from back in the early 2000s. There was so many pop culture references, which I don’t like, but especially when it adds nothing to the story or the characters. They’re just thrown it to be “relatable.” Which leads me to the abundance of unnecessary descriptions told to us. For example, “…I say back at my classmate from art.” Don’t care. Not necessary. Nor when she said things like I got a text from Reuel, my best friend. Then proceeded to say, my best friend, another six more times throughout just chapter one. Felt like I was being hit over the head with that detail. It would’ve meant a lot more if we were shown their relationship through their text and actions. Same goes with the other girls. Show us the state of the relationship instead of telling us like you are writing in your diary. Which leads me to my final point why I tapped out; all I wanted was to be SHOWN a reason to keep reading. Why should I care about this character and her journey? You keep telling me things, but in actuality, I don’t care. I felt like the narration kept me at a distance, not engaging me, or making me curious to know more.
However, I recognize from other reviews that I’m alone in this view. It seems like everyone else loved this story. So hey, if these things I just ranted about don’t bother you like me, I think you could potentially really love this story. For me, I was struggling to get through chapter one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
June 25, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
“We are surrounded by death”
2.75/5
After getting five chapters in I could finally pinpoint the vibes of this book, besides it having a tense overall theme it also reminded me of House of Hollow. When reading the book though I found it to jump from being tense to a slow pace. My other critique on it was that there was supposedly six main characters (Isabeau, Reuel, Georgina, Solaina, August, and Cori) it was made clear as I read on that Isabeau, Reuel, and Georgina were the main, main characters, even though we only got to really know Isabeau (because it was from her POV) but also a little bit of Reuel. I did enjoy the setting and getting to know the background of the town. I will say that I felt like it sounded like it was information dumping but not, since most of it came from the book in the story or Isabeau explaining to the reader.
“We are surrounded by death”
2.75/5
After getting five chapters in I could finally pinpoint the vibes of this book, besides it having a tense overall theme it also reminded me of House of Hollow. When reading the book though I found it to jump from being tense to a slow pace. My other critique on it was that there was supposedly six main characters (Isabeau, Reuel, Georgina, Solaina, August, and Cori) it was made clear as I read on that Isabeau, Reuel, and Georgina were the main, main characters, even though we only got to really know Isabeau (because it was from her POV) but also a little bit of Reuel. I did enjoy the setting and getting to know the background of the town. I will say that I felt like it sounded like it was information dumping but not, since most of it came from the book in the story or Isabeau explaining to the reader.
October 20, 2024
2.75⭐️
this was a quick and easy witchy read
the storyline was well thought out but the book was okay. i didn’t feel addicted or obsessed or in love with the characters or the plot. it was an okay book idk what else to say
this was a quick and easy witchy read
the storyline was well thought out but the book was okay. i didn’t feel addicted or obsessed or in love with the characters or the plot. it was an okay book idk what else to say
June 18, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books for the ARC of 'Six Of Sorrow' in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely one of those books where you want to put off doing other stuff so you can keep reading to see what happens next. It's a nicely witch-crafted (so to speak) chill-you-to-the-bone brew of bubbling toil, trouble and growing dread.
I loved the setting of Sorrow, a little island-town parked off the Louisiana coast across from New Orleans. Supposedly named after a legendary witch, the town's supernatural elements rise up to bedevil six teen girls, all born on the same day. Why them? And why now? And what or who is the source of all this scary torment afflicting these girls? Now you know why this book's guaranteed to keep you glued to it till you find out.
Through childhood Isabeau and her five friends, Reuel, Georgia, August, Cori and Sloane were inseparable. But starting after their tweens, something split them apart, with only Isabeau and Reuel remaining BFFs. But then Reuel's mysterious three day disappearance rocks the community and serves to re-bond the girls' sisterhood. Though she's found safe and sound, Reuel's health and physical appearance alarmingly deteriorate - as if her life force is being drained out of her to make something (or someone else) stronger.
And it's clear to the girls that one by one, they're in the cross hairs of some terrible vengeful entity......and it's up to them to find out what's after them and save their own lives. Are they cursed? And what's the how, why and who of it?
Those questions and their answers kept me pinned to the pages all the way through. Filled with moments of unease, suspense and nightmarish dreams, I can't think of a better way to add real chills to your summer reading. I can also imagine 'Six of Sorrow' as a top Halloween season read and would make a surefire mini-series to rival 'Pretty Little Liars'. .....
(Please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Definitely one of those books where you want to put off doing other stuff so you can keep reading to see what happens next. It's a nicely witch-crafted (so to speak) chill-you-to-the-bone brew of bubbling toil, trouble and growing dread.
I loved the setting of Sorrow, a little island-town parked off the Louisiana coast across from New Orleans. Supposedly named after a legendary witch, the town's supernatural elements rise up to bedevil six teen girls, all born on the same day. Why them? And why now? And what or who is the source of all this scary torment afflicting these girls? Now you know why this book's guaranteed to keep you glued to it till you find out.
Through childhood Isabeau and her five friends, Reuel, Georgia, August, Cori and Sloane were inseparable. But starting after their tweens, something split them apart, with only Isabeau and Reuel remaining BFFs. But then Reuel's mysterious three day disappearance rocks the community and serves to re-bond the girls' sisterhood. Though she's found safe and sound, Reuel's health and physical appearance alarmingly deteriorate - as if her life force is being drained out of her to make something (or someone else) stronger.
And it's clear to the girls that one by one, they're in the cross hairs of some terrible vengeful entity......and it's up to them to find out what's after them and save their own lives. Are they cursed? And what's the how, why and who of it?
Those questions and their answers kept me pinned to the pages all the way through. Filled with moments of unease, suspense and nightmarish dreams, I can't think of a better way to add real chills to your summer reading. I can also imagine 'Six of Sorrow' as a top Halloween season read and would make a surefire mini-series to rival 'Pretty Little Liars'. .....
(Please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
June 6, 2024
pride month book #2! thank you netgalley for the arc!
i actually really liked this. while there was no huge 'twist,' the atmosphere was consistently spooky and despite having six protagonists they didn't really blend together much---they all had their own distinct personalities and made for a good group. also i honestly loved the character names for all of the main six, isabeau is an AWESOME name. i am writing it down.
the spooky island delivered as a spooky island and the girl sleepover friendship delivered blood pacts and unyielding devotion. about what i wanted from it really!
i know i was complaining about the amount of adjectives at the beginning but honestly i only really noticed during the less tense scenes in the beginning and the end. when the stakes were high the writing changed to reflect that, which i respect, and i enjoyed the book a lot more because of that!
also damn look at that gorgeous pink cover
i actually really liked this. while there was no huge 'twist,' the atmosphere was consistently spooky and despite having six protagonists they didn't really blend together much---they all had their own distinct personalities and made for a good group. also i honestly loved the character names for all of the main six, isabeau is an AWESOME name. i am writing it down.
the spooky island delivered as a spooky island and the girl sleepover friendship delivered blood pacts and unyielding devotion. about what i wanted from it really!
i know i was complaining about the amount of adjectives at the beginning but honestly i only really noticed during the less tense scenes in the beginning and the end. when the stakes were high the writing changed to reflect that, which i respect, and i enjoyed the book a lot more because of that!
also damn look at that gorgeous pink cover
May 3, 2024
Six girls born on the same day.... friends...all of their mothers have moved back to town.
If that doesn't give you chills and scary fable vibes I don't know what will!
Isabeau and her five friends turn 16 at the start of the story and slowly but surely bad things begin to happen. When Isabeau finds a spell book in her attic, she begins to suspect that their mothers know more about what is happened then they let on. The girls need to work together fast - it's a matter of life and death.
Some of the twists were a bit too much, but this spooky book was incredibly entertaining and I would recommend to any YA lover. Linsmeierc creates a whole atmospheric world where magical happenings seem normalized along with your every day pep rallies and school drama!
#randomhouse #randomhousechildrens #sixofsorrow #amandalinsmeier
If that doesn't give you chills and scary fable vibes I don't know what will!
Isabeau and her five friends turn 16 at the start of the story and slowly but surely bad things begin to happen. When Isabeau finds a spell book in her attic, she begins to suspect that their mothers know more about what is happened then they let on. The girls need to work together fast - it's a matter of life and death.
Some of the twists were a bit too much, but this spooky book was incredibly entertaining and I would recommend to any YA lover. Linsmeierc creates a whole atmospheric world where magical happenings seem normalized along with your every day pep rallies and school drama!
#randomhouse #randomhousechildrens #sixofsorrow #amandalinsmeier
August 27, 2024
"The trees bow their heads together and whisper about me; the night knows all my secrets, and some I don't even know, some I won't even say."
What a perfectly eerie witch story! I loved that the setting is a small island just off of New Orleans - Louisiana is the perfect place for hauntingly beautiful stories.
"Long live the witch, long buried the bones"
This story is about 6 girls born on the same day, their connection to a local legend, and a tiny bit of romance.
"They don't know what's coming. Don't know what's been. They don't know what's waiting for them."
It's been a long time since I've read a really good witchy story. This made me think of like the craft or practical magic. The author did a good job encorporting enough creepy descriptions that I was just scared enough....but not too scared.
I think this story would make an excellent limited TV series! 🍏
What a perfectly eerie witch story! I loved that the setting is a small island just off of New Orleans - Louisiana is the perfect place for hauntingly beautiful stories.
"Long live the witch, long buried the bones"
This story is about 6 girls born on the same day, their connection to a local legend, and a tiny bit of romance.
"They don't know what's coming. Don't know what's been. They don't know what's waiting for them."
It's been a long time since I've read a really good witchy story. This made me think of like the craft or practical magic. The author did a good job encorporting enough creepy descriptions that I was just scared enough....but not too scared.
I think this story would make an excellent limited TV series! 🍏
June 24, 2024
ARC via NetGalley.
It's got a Practical Magic reference and therefore, I am sold on it. There's nothing like the friendship between teenage girls, and this is another great story capturing the complex dynamic. The capacity of teen girls for fury and forgiveness. That's the real magic.
I could have actually gone with this being about a hundred pages longer. There's a rich source of lore in this book and while I love that we focus on our main character in the present and how she finds her inner strength and conviction, but the history of Sorrow would be interesting as well. Don't worry, Iz's story is fully complete and her growth arc is beautiful, but I would not have blinked at spending more time in the lore.
I was genuinely unnerved at the last 20% or so of the book, as the threat became clearer and more powerful. I don't recommend reading this in the dark unless you're looking to get the creeps - I had to turn a light on when I finished and tried to go to bed.
Girl power in it's best form, and the truth the friendships only end when we let them. Definitely recommend.
It's got a Practical Magic reference and therefore, I am sold on it. There's nothing like the friendship between teenage girls, and this is another great story capturing the complex dynamic. The capacity of teen girls for fury and forgiveness. That's the real magic.
I could have actually gone with this being about a hundred pages longer. There's a rich source of lore in this book and while I love that we focus on our main character in the present and how she finds her inner strength and conviction, but the history of Sorrow would be interesting as well. Don't worry, Iz's story is fully complete and her growth arc is beautiful, but I would not have blinked at spending more time in the lore.
I was genuinely unnerved at the last 20% or so of the book, as the threat became clearer and more powerful. I don't recommend reading this in the dark unless you're looking to get the creeps - I had to turn a light on when I finished and tried to go to bed.
Girl power in it's best form, and the truth the friendships only end when we let them. Definitely recommend.
March 1, 2024
Another fun YA horror from Amanda Linsmeier! I love the creepy gothic atmosphere in her books and how easy they are to read. The mystery in this one was great - six ex-best friends all born on the same day come together again after one of them goes missing. There are witches, spells, and demons, but also friendships, mother daughter relationships, and a bit of romance. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a spooky and fast paced yet heartwarming read!
Thank you to Random House for the ARC!
Thank you to Random House for the ARC!
May 20, 2024
I loved how this felt like a 90’s teen horror film and also a sweet ode to sisterhood/girlhood wrapped into one. Several of the chapters had me leaving the light on to go to sleep, which is very rare for me. It wasn’t in-your-face scary but just so very deeply unsettling! Excellent sophomore book by a wonderful writer!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 1, 2025
What the helly???
I don’t even know what to say about this book.
Pros: I always love a tale about female friendship and it was nice that the girls spent more of the book being friends than hating each other. It had a happy ending?
Cons: insufferable narrator. Author seems to be more focused on winning the diversity bingo than actually writing meaningful characters of color. Sometimes we can just say blue eyes instead of calling everything sea foam bullshit. The feud that split them up was so annoying and not justified for all this drama. The supernatural aspect made no sense!!! Why didn’t the demon just kill the girls?? Why did they each have different symptoms from interacting with him??? There wasn’t even a good reason, like the girl throwing up all the time was just puking, it wasn’t like connected to a supposed punishment for her greed or something. Also, if they are supposed to be stronger together, why didn’t they lose the final battle given one of the girls wasn’t even there??? They completely abandon Reuel in the last third of the book and insist she goes to the hospital. Sorry but she has a demon disease, I don’t think the island hospital can deal with that.
I don’t even know what to say about this book.
Pros: I always love a tale about female friendship and it was nice that the girls spent more of the book being friends than hating each other. It had a happy ending?
Cons: insufferable narrator. Author seems to be more focused on winning the diversity bingo than actually writing meaningful characters of color. Sometimes we can just say blue eyes instead of calling everything sea foam bullshit. The feud that split them up was so annoying and not justified for all this drama. The supernatural aspect made no sense!!! Why didn’t the demon just kill the girls?? Why did they each have different symptoms from interacting with him??? There wasn’t even a good reason, like the girl throwing up all the time was just puking, it wasn’t like connected to a supposed punishment for her greed or something. Also, if they are supposed to be stronger together, why didn’t they lose the final battle given one of the girls wasn’t even there??? They completely abandon Reuel in the last third of the book and insist she goes to the hospital. Sorry but she has a demon disease, I don’t think the island hospital can deal with that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2024
Six of Sorrow started off strong. The first third of the novel was clever, atmospheric, and had a level of sophistication in its plot and dialogue that made it enjoyable to read as an adult, despite it being geared towards teens. Unfortunately, I felt like it lost that sophistication about a third of the way through, and, although I admit I am not the target audience, I had a hard time getting through it after that point. Between the noticeable gaps in logic in the plot, emotional beats that seemed inconsistent or unearned, and fantasy elements that went unexplained, I hate to say that the book felt like it still needed several more revisions and a bit more refinement. That being said, the storyline was sweet, the town of Sorrow was fleshed out and atmospheric, and I loved the sapphic subplot. While I can’t say I’d recommend this to adults, I think younger teens would love this cozy, witchy story. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
November 17, 2023
Amanda Linsmeier has a style all of her own and uniquely suited to her storytelling. Six Of Sorrow weaves a mesmerizing tale of friendship and deceit, love and magic. Deliciously creepy, this book kept me spellbound from the first line to the last.
July 6, 2024
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like I requested this one based on the cover, and as I’ve never actually watched Yellowjackets, I cannot attest to how similar it is to the show (although every blurb I’ve read certainly wants me to think that!).
Our protagonist is Isabeau (Iz for short). She used to have a group of five other best friends - they were drawn together because all six of them share the same birthday (even though only two of the six were actually born in Sorrow). But when they were 13, they had some kind of falling out (we do eventually get an explanation for it - basically boils down to teenaged poor communication skills) and now it’s just Iz and her best friend Reuel. The town of Sorrow is this little island off the coast of Louisiana - I have no idea if it’s a real place, or just based on a real place, but the scene setting is really effective. There’s a legend of a witch, named Sorrow, who once lived on the island, and every year on a certain day (which happens to be the girls’ birthday), people burn bonfires and wishes (like, literal wishes on a piece of paper) in her “honor.” There’s definitely some magical realism at play here - at first everything seems like it’s grounded in reality, but it eventually becomes clear that there are supernatural forces at work.
Iz and Reuel skip the beach parties and have their own party…in the cemetery. But after they part ways for the night, Reuel goes missing. It’s awful, obviously, but it has the unintended side effect of reuniting the other girls. And then Reuel returns, but something isn’t quite right. She’s clearly really sick - starving but can’t eat, her skin has a weird pallor, etc. And then one of the *other* girls also goes missing, so it’s clear there’s something really wrong here.
I was ready to call vampire, given the “I’m starving but I can’t eat” angle, but without spoiling anything I’ll say it does NOT go that route, which is a relief. It’s been years since vampire mania, but I confess to still feeling vampire fatigue. It reminded me a lot of both The Grace Year and Wilder Girls - those intense friendships, a world that isn’t *quite* right. Without giving too much away, we do eventually learn that the girls’ mothers, who they’d always thought didn’t get along as a group, were closer than they realized, and they’re involved with all the weirdness currently going on.
As has been the case with so much of the YA I’ve read lately, I eventually found myself more interested in the mothers than the daughters. To be clear, I was all in on Iz and Reuel and the rest of the crew. But once it became clear that their mothers actually were involved, I wished we’d had more perspective from them instead. But again, that’s not the story we’re here for. I kind of wish they’d left the mothers out of it entirely, especially because the romance element at the end feels a little rushed, and for perhaps the first time ever, I wish we’d had a little more focus on that instead!
This has its flaws, but I did really enjoy it! It’s creepy but not super scary, and it’s kind of walking that line between outright fantasy and magical realism (I’ll be interested to see what sticker ends up on its spine once we catalog it!). It also helps that it’s a stand alone rather than a series starter - I think we’re starting to see more stand alone YA books again, and I for one am thrilled about it. It’s also NOT 500 pages long, which is sadly a trend that persists in YA (my teen librarian and I were literally just talking about this earlier today, although it seems like it strikes more established authors - like no one wants to tell them to cut anything!). So bonus stars for both of those things!
I feel like I requested this one based on the cover, and as I’ve never actually watched Yellowjackets, I cannot attest to how similar it is to the show (although every blurb I’ve read certainly wants me to think that!).
Our protagonist is Isabeau (Iz for short). She used to have a group of five other best friends - they were drawn together because all six of them share the same birthday (even though only two of the six were actually born in Sorrow). But when they were 13, they had some kind of falling out (we do eventually get an explanation for it - basically boils down to teenaged poor communication skills) and now it’s just Iz and her best friend Reuel. The town of Sorrow is this little island off the coast of Louisiana - I have no idea if it’s a real place, or just based on a real place, but the scene setting is really effective. There’s a legend of a witch, named Sorrow, who once lived on the island, and every year on a certain day (which happens to be the girls’ birthday), people burn bonfires and wishes (like, literal wishes on a piece of paper) in her “honor.” There’s definitely some magical realism at play here - at first everything seems like it’s grounded in reality, but it eventually becomes clear that there are supernatural forces at work.
Iz and Reuel skip the beach parties and have their own party…in the cemetery. But after they part ways for the night, Reuel goes missing. It’s awful, obviously, but it has the unintended side effect of reuniting the other girls. And then Reuel returns, but something isn’t quite right. She’s clearly really sick - starving but can’t eat, her skin has a weird pallor, etc. And then one of the *other* girls also goes missing, so it’s clear there’s something really wrong here.
I was ready to call vampire, given the “I’m starving but I can’t eat” angle, but without spoiling anything I’ll say it does NOT go that route, which is a relief. It’s been years since vampire mania, but I confess to still feeling vampire fatigue. It reminded me a lot of both The Grace Year and Wilder Girls - those intense friendships, a world that isn’t *quite* right. Without giving too much away, we do eventually learn that the girls’ mothers, who they’d always thought didn’t get along as a group, were closer than they realized, and they’re involved with all the weirdness currently going on.
As has been the case with so much of the YA I’ve read lately, I eventually found myself more interested in the mothers than the daughters. To be clear, I was all in on Iz and Reuel and the rest of the crew. But once it became clear that their mothers actually were involved, I wished we’d had more perspective from them instead. But again, that’s not the story we’re here for. I kind of wish they’d left the mothers out of it entirely, especially because the romance element at the end feels a little rushed, and for perhaps the first time ever, I wish we’d had a little more focus on that instead!
This has its flaws, but I did really enjoy it! It’s creepy but not super scary, and it’s kind of walking that line between outright fantasy and magical realism (I’ll be interested to see what sticker ends up on its spine once we catalog it!). It also helps that it’s a stand alone rather than a series starter - I think we’re starting to see more stand alone YA books again, and I for one am thrilled about it. It’s also NOT 500 pages long, which is sadly a trend that persists in YA (my teen librarian and I were literally just talking about this earlier today, although it seems like it strikes more established authors - like no one wants to tell them to cut anything!). So bonus stars for both of those things!
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