Lute

(2,5) I feel like the bones of a great book are here, but unfortunately they are the bones of a decomposing corpse. A shame, cause I enjoyed the vibe of this overall, but it feels like the author had a great idea, wrote it down, and then stopped there :( This missed refinement, it missed depth, and worst of all, it missed having a strong conclusion of all the big themes it brought up.

Feels like a cross between They Both Die in the End and Pines, but is an interesting enough journey and the reveals that utilizes the plot device where the reader is understanding things as the main protagonist is, works to good effect.  Events and happenings are written in very good detail and characters are decently developed, but there is a sense that you are missing the endearing main party to root for or care about.  Very strong last third, once the day starts, and an excellent ending that feels earned and is the best part of the read.

A chilling atmosphere and a pleasant slow burn make Lute an enjoyably folksy read.