Sofie’s Reviews > Hazelthorn > Status Update

i think i remember cg drews using a similar "gap in memories" plot device in don't let the forest in, but i think that can get tricky bc it can make the reader get frustrated with questions of "okay but why won't character b just tell character a what they don't remember?" but with so much of this book being about reclaiming autonomy, i actually like that laurie seems to want evander to remember for himself. it works

okay SICK so he's definitely noticed!!!! and he's *pondering*
their dynamic is so juicy and full of messy desire and hunger UGH i love it

i wonder how long it'll take evander to notice that laurie has literally jumped on every single opportunity to protect him from his family of vultures. he has complicated feelings towards evander obviously but it's also pretty clear that he's sickened by how he's been treated all these years

OH WHAT THE FUCK??? so they’re both insane and have always been obsessed with each other cool cool cool and byron DEFINITELY gave evander the worst of his wounds. cause it seems like laurie was responsible for the initial head gash but not his stomach being fucking torn open……but WHY?? did the garden get INSIDE of him and byron wanted to dissect it?? which is why he has all the surgeries??? my brain is spinning

the horror of medical abuse and having your agency and autonomy taken away from you under the guise of “protection” is SO strong here i love it

okay so not just that but ALSO the intense desire to overcome his fear and trauma and be wild and free and bite and fight back and ALL of that is centered on laurie who he also is clearly attracted to MMMMHMMMMMM cg drews you have done it again, their ability to write the intersections of love and desire and hunger and obsession is unmatched

at first i was a bit unconvinced about evander supposedly being obsessed with laurie but NOW it makes perfect sense and i’m so here for it. of course he’s absolutely mesmerized by this person who has such ironclad control over his emotions (which i’m sure is a byproduct of his own terrible experiences and potential abuse/neglect) when evander himself is constantly made to feel like an erratic child

evander were you by chance wearing a fuck ass yellow blouse when you were buried alive or