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Myrrh
A woman searching for her birth-parents unlocks the secrets of her horrific past, as she tries to stop the goblin within in this kaleidoscopic dark psychological horror, with a dread-inducing climax you will never forget. Perfect for fans of Eric LaRocca and Catriona Ward.
Myrrh has a goblin inside her, a voice in her head that tells her all the things she’s done wrong, that berates her and drags her down. Desperately searching for her birth-parents across dilapidated seaside towns in the South coast of England, she finds herself silenced and cut off at every step.
Cayenne is trapped in a loveless marriage, the distance between her and her husband growing further and further each day. Longing for a child, she has visions promising her a baby.
As Myrrh’s frustrations grow, the goblin in her grows louder and louder, threatening to tear apart the few relationships she holds dear and destroy everything around her. When Cayenne finds her husband growing closer to his daughter, Cayenne's stepdaughter, pushing her further out of his life, she makes a decision that sends her into a terrible spiral.
The stories of these women will unlock a past filled with dark secrets, strange connections; all leading to an unforgettable, horrific climax.
Myrrh has a goblin inside her, a voice in her head that tells her all the things she’s done wrong, that berates her and drags her down. Desperately searching for her birth-parents across dilapidated seaside towns in the South coast of England, she finds herself silenced and cut off at every step.
Cayenne is trapped in a loveless marriage, the distance between her and her husband growing further and further each day. Longing for a child, she has visions promising her a baby.
As Myrrh’s frustrations grow, the goblin in her grows louder and louder, threatening to tear apart the few relationships she holds dear and destroy everything around her. When Cayenne finds her husband growing closer to his daughter, Cayenne's stepdaughter, pushing her further out of his life, she makes a decision that sends her into a terrible spiral.
The stories of these women will unlock a past filled with dark secrets, strange connections; all leading to an unforgettable, horrific climax.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
About the author
Polly Hall
7 books59 followersPolly Hall (born 1975) is a Bram Stoker Award Finalist and IPPY Gold Medal Award Winner for The Taxidermist's Lover.
Her work has been described as, ‘beautifully understated’, ‘raw and visceral’ and ‘highly imaginative’.
Her flash fiction, poetry and stories have been included in national and international anthologies, competitions and collaborative arts projects.
Her debut novel, The Taxidermist’s Lover, has been featured in the New York Times, Foreword Reviews and Kirkus Reviews.
Polly lives with her cat, Vishnu, next to a cider factory in Somerset, England. She hoards books and likes poking fires with a stick.
Follow on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @PollyHallWriter
Her work has been described as, ‘beautifully understated’, ‘raw and visceral’ and ‘highly imaginative’.
Her flash fiction, poetry and stories have been included in national and international anthologies, competitions and collaborative arts projects.
Her debut novel, The Taxidermist’s Lover, has been featured in the New York Times, Foreword Reviews and Kirkus Reviews.
Polly lives with her cat, Vishnu, next to a cider factory in Somerset, England. She hoards books and likes poking fires with a stick.
Follow on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @PollyHallWriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 7, 2024
Can insanity be shared? Does bad karma exist and won’t it leave involved persons alone until it is cleared, spoken of? And is the baby-crazy childless woman trope still a thing?
These are but some questions of many which occupy my mind having finished Poly Hall’s extremely enthralling latest novel Myrrh.
In astonishingly short chapters, each one often a page or two long, we follow the stories of Myrrh, who has been adopted as a baby and is looking for her birth mother as a young woman, and of Cayenne, who married a man who has a teenage daughter, just to find out her life is anything but what she wished for. A very ordinary story, maybe happening every day, and yet a uniquely extraordinary tale at the same time.
The interest and attention of the reader constantly spurred thanks to the brevity of the chapters, they assemble the story gradually, little by little, drop by drop – a very effective style through which time seems to fly by while reading.
Myrrh’s storyline consists of an understandable turmoil of having been adopted, rejected and given up at the very beginning of her life, but also of looking "different" due to her Egyptian heritage, of searching for her roots, and the constant murmuring of a certain “Goblin” in her head telling her she’s not wanted, not worthy, not treasured.
Meanwhile Cayenne’s storyline makes use of a less pleasant, rather trite stereotype, especially worn-out in horror fiction thanks to a surge of thriller movies such as Fatal Attraction or The Hand that Rocks the Cradle; the narrative of “dangerous” women who would like to have children, but have none. Still, it must be said that despite all their weak spots, both characters are profoundly interesting to follow.
Hall can definitely rock a psychological horror. The intensity of the story and the psychological dynamics between her characters are as solid here as they were in her debut, The Taxidermist’s Lover, from a couple of years ago. Back then I felt suffocating, I felt claustrophobic reading Hall’s very flawed, very sick characters, each plot a ticking bomb waiting to go off. And off they go since Hall can also rock a monumental ending. I like to read her in a car crash kind of way: I don’t like anything that’s going on but I can’t look away either. A powerful literary skill, for sure. Chapeau!
These are but some questions of many which occupy my mind having finished Poly Hall’s extremely enthralling latest novel Myrrh.
In astonishingly short chapters, each one often a page or two long, we follow the stories of Myrrh, who has been adopted as a baby and is looking for her birth mother as a young woman, and of Cayenne, who married a man who has a teenage daughter, just to find out her life is anything but what she wished for. A very ordinary story, maybe happening every day, and yet a uniquely extraordinary tale at the same time.
The interest and attention of the reader constantly spurred thanks to the brevity of the chapters, they assemble the story gradually, little by little, drop by drop – a very effective style through which time seems to fly by while reading.
Myrrh’s storyline consists of an understandable turmoil of having been adopted, rejected and given up at the very beginning of her life, but also of looking "different" due to her Egyptian heritage, of searching for her roots, and the constant murmuring of a certain “Goblin” in her head telling her she’s not wanted, not worthy, not treasured.
Meanwhile Cayenne’s storyline makes use of a less pleasant, rather trite stereotype, especially worn-out in horror fiction thanks to a surge of thriller movies such as Fatal Attraction or The Hand that Rocks the Cradle; the narrative of “dangerous” women who would like to have children, but have none. Still, it must be said that despite all their weak spots, both characters are profoundly interesting to follow.
Hall can definitely rock a psychological horror. The intensity of the story and the psychological dynamics between her characters are as solid here as they were in her debut, The Taxidermist’s Lover, from a couple of years ago. Back then I felt suffocating, I felt claustrophobic reading Hall’s very flawed, very sick characters, each plot a ticking bomb waiting to go off. And off they go since Hall can also rock a monumental ending. I like to read her in a car crash kind of way: I don’t like anything that’s going on but I can’t look away either. A powerful literary skill, for sure. Chapeau!
February 1, 2024
To be honest this book almost landed in my DNF pile. The synopsis was intriguing, and the blurb comparing it to one of my favorite authors compelled me to read it, but once I started it was a slog to get through. It felt much longer than its 128 pages and I kept checking to see how much longer I had to go.
I really wanted to love this but I can't. It's not horror. It's confusing what one character has to do with the other until you realize how it's forced to be connected, and it just doesn't work for me at all. Learning what the "goblin" is left me feeling cheated.
You may enjoy it more than I did but it's not one I can recommend.
My thanks to Titan Books.
I really wanted to love this but I can't. It's not horror. It's confusing what one character has to do with the other until you realize how it's forced to be connected, and it just doesn't work for me at all. Learning what the "goblin" is left me feeling cheated.
You may enjoy it more than I did but it's not one I can recommend.
My thanks to Titan Books.
February 2, 2024
DNF @ 30%.
It may be that the end of this book brings things together with a satisfying 'ah, that's what it all meant!'
But I shall never know, because the journey is just as important as the destination, and the journey here wasn't working for me.
I simply felt no curiosity about how the stories of Myrrh and Cayenne would intersect, or whether there's a reason they are named after the sidekick of frankincense and a pepper respectively.
The style of writing was perhaps intended to elicit intrigue but just felt oblique to me. Some books are very much "What's going on? I want to find out!', whilst others, such as this, are more 'What's going on? Actually, I don't care enough to find out.'
Also the voice of 'Goblin' had already become very grating at the point I reached.
Not one for me, I'm afraid.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
It may be that the end of this book brings things together with a satisfying 'ah, that's what it all meant!'
But I shall never know, because the journey is just as important as the destination, and the journey here wasn't working for me.
I simply felt no curiosity about how the stories of Myrrh and Cayenne would intersect, or whether there's a reason they are named after the sidekick of frankincense and a pepper respectively.
The style of writing was perhaps intended to elicit intrigue but just felt oblique to me. Some books are very much "What's going on? I want to find out!', whilst others, such as this, are more 'What's going on? Actually, I don't care enough to find out.'
Also the voice of 'Goblin' had already become very grating at the point I reached.
Not one for me, I'm afraid.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
January 25, 2024
This is a literary psychological horror novel that combines seemingly different narratives into something sinister and horrific.
Myrrh is the name of a woman who was adopted as a baby. She was raised by good people yet this feeling of not belonging blossoms inside until it becomes an obsession to find her birth parents. Inside of her is a voice which she calls Goblin. It tells her she's worthless, unwanted, and unloved. It also tells her to do horrific things to others.
Cayenne is a woman who married a man with a teenage daughter. As time moves on she feels completely alone and cast aside by both her husband and his daughter. Theirs is a passive aggressive relationship. She has an obsession also. She wants a baby of her own but gets nothing but contempt of the idea.
These two different characters make up the heart of this increasingly disturbing novel. We'll discover secrets from both as their obsessions begin to take dark turns. We'll soon start to see where these stories cross as issues of self identity, loneliness, and longing are explored with a sparcity of dialogue. The horror comes from being in the heads of these characters and seeing them slowly devolving mentally. It's effectively creepy and frightening.
I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Myrrh is the name of a woman who was adopted as a baby. She was raised by good people yet this feeling of not belonging blossoms inside until it becomes an obsession to find her birth parents. Inside of her is a voice which she calls Goblin. It tells her she's worthless, unwanted, and unloved. It also tells her to do horrific things to others.
Cayenne is a woman who married a man with a teenage daughter. As time moves on she feels completely alone and cast aside by both her husband and his daughter. Theirs is a passive aggressive relationship. She has an obsession also. She wants a baby of her own but gets nothing but contempt of the idea.
These two different characters make up the heart of this increasingly disturbing novel. We'll discover secrets from both as their obsessions begin to take dark turns. We'll soon start to see where these stories cross as issues of self identity, loneliness, and longing are explored with a sparcity of dialogue. The horror comes from being in the heads of these characters and seeing them slowly devolving mentally. It's effectively creepy and frightening.
I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
March 17, 2024
A story about family, belonging and the search for love, this was an intriguing unique novella, I wouldn't say this was horror, but definitely falls into the disturbing literary/speculative fiction genre, Myrrh was a compelling protagonist, short chapters and multiple POVs that are somewhat jarring and mimic the characters feelings of desperation and longing, I thought this was well written and I enjoyed my time with it, will definitely want to read more by this author, if you enjoy sad girl club books pick this up
March 28, 2024
This book was not what I expected. I would consider this more literary fiction rather than horror but it definitely gave some extremely unnerving amd anxious vibes during reading it. I thought the writing was beautiful and it all came together very well. But like I said, if you're looking for horror this won't satisfy.
February 12, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This rating feels harsh but... this book was so off-putting and I feel misled by its "horror" description. I considered not finishing it and I see from the other reviews that many people in fact COULD not finish it.
I like books that challenge the reader in various ways but this story with the chapters randomly alternating between four different women felt annoyingly confusing. The reader doesn't know until later how these women relate to each other, but it's not even fun to guess.
I didn't like the characters, I didn't like the story. I'm predisposed to dislike most things about pregnancy and birth, and this book included a lot of that in ways I hoped it wouldn't.
The writing did feel comparable to Eric LaRocca, which was cool, but not enough for me to like this.
This rating feels harsh but... this book was so off-putting and I feel misled by its "horror" description. I considered not finishing it and I see from the other reviews that many people in fact COULD not finish it.
I like books that challenge the reader in various ways but this story with the chapters randomly alternating between four different women felt annoyingly confusing. The reader doesn't know until later how these women relate to each other, but it's not even fun to guess.
I didn't like the characters, I didn't like the story. I'm predisposed to dislike most things about pregnancy and birth, and this book included a lot of that in ways I hoped it wouldn't.
The writing did feel comparable to Eric LaRocca, which was cool, but not enough for me to like this.
June 6, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Titan Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately this was confusing and ultimately unsatisfying. I do think that Hall is quite a gifted writer, but the plot here just didn’t really work for me, because I could barely follow it.
June 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ this was weird yet compulsive reading.
SYNOPSIS:
This dark horror follows two women:
Myrrh: Tormented by an inner demon ("goblin") and searching for her birth parents in creepy English seaside towns.
Cayenne: Unhappy wife, yearning for a child, lured by visions.
Both face escalating problems - Myrrh's self-destruction fueled by the "goblin," and Cayenne's desperation leading to a bad choice. Their stories intertwine, uncovering a shocking past with dark secrets. The climax promises a horrific revelation connecting their struggles and leaving a lasting impact.
MY THOUGHTS:
- I spent a lot of time wondering what was going on, but not in a bad way.
- I loved jumping between the inner monologues/narration of Myrrh, Cayenne and the other supporting characters.
- Hall drip feeds you their stories through very short chapters from each of their POVs
- The characters are so complex and their interactions so intense that you get completely drawn into the story, almost (as another review I read said) like watching a car crash, it's very uncomfortable.
- Whilst I say all this, there were a lot of times I was confused and wondered "what the hell is going on?" Maybe I'm supposed to.
- Hall has a very unique style of writing which I found intriguing but may not be everyone's cuppa tea.
- Hall brings uncomfortable storytelling filled tension that builds towards a truly unforgettable climax.
SYNOPSIS:
This dark horror follows two women:
Myrrh: Tormented by an inner demon ("goblin") and searching for her birth parents in creepy English seaside towns.
Cayenne: Unhappy wife, yearning for a child, lured by visions.
Both face escalating problems - Myrrh's self-destruction fueled by the "goblin," and Cayenne's desperation leading to a bad choice. Their stories intertwine, uncovering a shocking past with dark secrets. The climax promises a horrific revelation connecting their struggles and leaving a lasting impact.
MY THOUGHTS:
- I spent a lot of time wondering what was going on, but not in a bad way.
- I loved jumping between the inner monologues/narration of Myrrh, Cayenne and the other supporting characters.
- Hall drip feeds you their stories through very short chapters from each of their POVs
- The characters are so complex and their interactions so intense that you get completely drawn into the story, almost (as another review I read said) like watching a car crash, it's very uncomfortable.
- Whilst I say all this, there were a lot of times I was confused and wondered "what the hell is going on?" Maybe I'm supposed to.
- Hall has a very unique style of writing which I found intriguing but may not be everyone's cuppa tea.
- Hall brings uncomfortable storytelling filled tension that builds towards a truly unforgettable climax.
December 30, 2023
Myrrh consists of three interwoven narratives, each intriguing in their own right. The titular Myrrh is trying to track down her birth father, who abandoned her mother shortly after impregnating her. She is also dealing with a goblin who lives inside her head.
Marian is the wife of the aforementioned absent father, reflecting on this unexpected turn of events at a late stage in her life.
Cayenne's relationship is failing, and she is navigating the terrain of dealing with a teenage step-daughter, while trying to become pregnant herself.
I loved this book for so many reasons. Polly Hall takes her time in revealing the link between the three female narrators, and allows each story and character to develop beautifully.
The roles of parent and child can take so many forms, and I loved how many perspectives were covered in Myrrh; including adoption, step-parenting, and surrogacy. As someone who constantly overthinks her position as a mother, a lot of these situations resonated with me.
I’m sure the ending of Myrrh will get a lot of people talking, but I think the real appeal of this novel is the strength of the writing and the characters. No spoilers, but I don’t think many readers will be entirely shocked by the ending, which while undoubtedly disturbing, is not gratuitous.
In terms of similar books, I’d say that the tone reminded me a little of Anna Metcalfe’s brilliant Chrysalis. Myrrh is completely unique, and incredibly well-written. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Marian is the wife of the aforementioned absent father, reflecting on this unexpected turn of events at a late stage in her life.
Cayenne's relationship is failing, and she is navigating the terrain of dealing with a teenage step-daughter, while trying to become pregnant herself.
I loved this book for so many reasons. Polly Hall takes her time in revealing the link between the three female narrators, and allows each story and character to develop beautifully.
The roles of parent and child can take so many forms, and I loved how many perspectives were covered in Myrrh; including adoption, step-parenting, and surrogacy. As someone who constantly overthinks her position as a mother, a lot of these situations resonated with me.
I’m sure the ending of Myrrh will get a lot of people talking, but I think the real appeal of this novel is the strength of the writing and the characters. No spoilers, but I don’t think many readers will be entirely shocked by the ending, which while undoubtedly disturbing, is not gratuitous.
In terms of similar books, I’d say that the tone reminded me a little of Anna Metcalfe’s brilliant Chrysalis. Myrrh is completely unique, and incredibly well-written. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
February 29, 2024
This is a conundrum. See, I like the writing a lot and I believe it’s a pretty great story, but I’ll argue till I’m blue in the face that this is not horror. It’s just not. I see why it was out with the genre, but it feels a little misleading. This is not what it’s described to be.
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for this ARC. This book will be out in April!
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for this ARC. This book will be out in April!
April 7, 2024
A very strange and winding read. We have multiple POV’s, the main two being Myrrh and Cayenne. Lots of twists and everything is left in shadow and mystery until the end.
Myrrh is an adopted adult seeking out information about her biological family. She also has a “goblin” in her head that is abusive and full of negative self talk.
Cayenne is desperate for a baby of her own. Not happy with her current situation, husband and step daughter, she seeks out other ways of having a child.
These two stories are enter twined with a few others. Lots of winding,mysterious turns. I can’t say I knew how everything fit together, but I did enjoy the journey and really enjoyed the writing style. Unreliable narrators are a favorite of mine.
For fans of psychological horror, unreliable narrators and lots of mystery.
Myrrh is an adopted adult seeking out information about her biological family. She also has a “goblin” in her head that is abusive and full of negative self talk.
Cayenne is desperate for a baby of her own. Not happy with her current situation, husband and step daughter, she seeks out other ways of having a child.
These two stories are enter twined with a few others. Lots of winding,mysterious turns. I can’t say I knew how everything fit together, but I did enjoy the journey and really enjoyed the writing style. Unreliable narrators are a favorite of mine.
For fans of psychological horror, unreliable narrators and lots of mystery.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 9, 2024DFN’d @ 28%
I really struggled with this one, the writing was so jolting and the short chapters didn’t work at all. I felt it hard to connect to any characters, their motives, or their actions and I found the entire thing a little flat unfortunately.
I really struggled with this one, the writing was so jolting and the short chapters didn’t work at all. I felt it hard to connect to any characters, their motives, or their actions and I found the entire thing a little flat unfortunately.
April 23, 2024
I quite enjoyed this. It's not exactly horror per-say but there is a creepy / disturbing element to the book that I think really worked in favour of the story which on a broader level is a story of identity, uncovering truth, and acceptance.
I loved the way everything tied together in the end - I have to admit that the main thing that kept me reading was Cayenne's side which had me puzzled as to how it was connected to the rest. I like to think I'm normally good at guessing plot points in advance but this one did keep me wondering until the end, and the reveal around the goblin was (although maybe slightly far-fetched) an interesting way to round everything up and tie it all together.
I do wish I'd had a chance to get attached to the characters, specifically Myrrh, a bit more as we follow her on her quest to find out more about where she came from. The only strong personality trait I got from her was self-loathing, which is obviously important to the story, but I do feel like there was an opportunity to create a very interesting, multi-dimensional female character, and that missed the mark a little for me.
Cayenne's psyche and downward spiral on the other hand had me hooked - I still don't understand why I liked her so much!
All in all, it took me a little while to get into and then feels like it all wraps up very fast unexpectedly, but the story itself really resonated with me and I loved the general atmosphere that the book created.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I loved the way everything tied together in the end - I have to admit that the main thing that kept me reading was Cayenne's side which had me puzzled as to how it was connected to the rest. I like to think I'm normally good at guessing plot points in advance but this one did keep me wondering until the end, and the reveal around the goblin was (although maybe slightly far-fetched) an interesting way to round everything up and tie it all together.
I do wish I'd had a chance to get attached to the characters, specifically Myrrh, a bit more as we follow her on her quest to find out more about where she came from. The only strong personality trait I got from her was self-loathing, which is obviously important to the story, but I do feel like there was an opportunity to create a very interesting, multi-dimensional female character, and that missed the mark a little for me.
Cayenne's psyche and downward spiral on the other hand had me hooked - I still don't understand why I liked her so much!
All in all, it took me a little while to get into and then feels like it all wraps up very fast unexpectedly, but the story itself really resonated with me and I loved the general atmosphere that the book created.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
April 6, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan books for the eARC!
This is one of those books that I knew right away I was going to love!! I’ve marked so many thought provoking passages and things to reflect on. Story of jealousy, identity, obsession, loss/pain Myrrh is all vibes not very much plot. The novel was so weird and disturbing but I loved it! Myrrh is equal parts thought provoking and “wtf am I reading.”
The novel is told through switching POVs told in 3rd person narration. All the characters and their stories come together by the end, it was very well done!
I loved the author’s note saying “horror allows you to shine a light on murky depths.” I think this perfectly sums up how I felt reading the book! It’s horror and disturbing and strange but it has very real issues at the heart of it.
I felt very connected with a couple of the characters and found them to be complex. It was especially interesting with one character reflecting on wanting to be a mom but unable to get pregnant. We see her contemplate her purpose if she can’t have kids and it felt eerie being parallel to this idea of women “only being useful to society as mothers” which we see play out in the US today with the laws being passed.
The book also made me pause and reflect on the ideas of identity, belonging, and family. This is for sure a favorite for April and maybe for the year. Myrrh had me hooked and obsessed from page 1, highly recommend and will be checking out more from Hall!
This is one of those books that I knew right away I was going to love!! I’ve marked so many thought provoking passages and things to reflect on. Story of jealousy, identity, obsession, loss/pain Myrrh is all vibes not very much plot. The novel was so weird and disturbing but I loved it! Myrrh is equal parts thought provoking and “wtf am I reading.”
The novel is told through switching POVs told in 3rd person narration. All the characters and their stories come together by the end, it was very well done!
I loved the author’s note saying “horror allows you to shine a light on murky depths.” I think this perfectly sums up how I felt reading the book! It’s horror and disturbing and strange but it has very real issues at the heart of it.
I felt very connected with a couple of the characters and found them to be complex. It was especially interesting with one character reflecting on wanting to be a mom but unable to get pregnant. We see her contemplate her purpose if she can’t have kids and it felt eerie being parallel to this idea of women “only being useful to society as mothers” which we see play out in the US today with the laws being passed.
The book also made me pause and reflect on the ideas of identity, belonging, and family. This is for sure a favorite for April and maybe for the year. Myrrh had me hooked and obsessed from page 1, highly recommend and will be checking out more from Hall!
August 17, 2024
Myrrh was a book I was unsure of to begin with, but I'm so glad I read it. Haunted by a disparaging inner voice called 'Goblin', the novel follows the protagonist as she fights against 'Goblin' as it torments her about being adopted. Through the addition of characters, Cayenne and Marian, they add to the depth of Myrrh's plot. Marred with themes of jealousy, identity, obsession and loss/pain, the disturbing atmosphere creates a thought-provoking space and makes you think 'What am I reading?'
Polly Hall certainly has a talent for creating a tense, disturbing atmosphere that adds to the story as it feels claustrophobic, suspenseful and heart-rasing. It had me eating the story up in a day. Although NetGalley classifies Myrrh as horror, I would call this disturbing/psychological, instead. If you love horror or the disturbing, I highly recommend Myrrh as your next read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Polly Hall certainly has a talent for creating a tense, disturbing atmosphere that adds to the story as it feels claustrophobic, suspenseful and heart-rasing. It had me eating the story up in a day. Although NetGalley classifies Myrrh as horror, I would call this disturbing/psychological, instead. If you love horror or the disturbing, I highly recommend Myrrh as your next read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2024
This book was dark and weird, everything got progressively more unhinged as the story went on. I liked the different POVs and the writing was lovely. Inner goblins and ghost lovers, scandal and blended families, all revolving around the hunt for Myrrh’s birth parents. An interesting look at race and identity with Myrrh, and coping with a disinterested husband and awful stepdaughter while desperately wanting a child of her own with Cayenne.
Was I confused? Yes. But, the way it all came together was incredible and horrifying. It’s a bit of a slow burn but, the air of mystery in finding the connection between the different women kept the pages turning - even if at times it felt like it was dragging a bit.
Was I confused? Yes. But, the way it all came together was incredible and horrifying. It’s a bit of a slow burn but, the air of mystery in finding the connection between the different women kept the pages turning - even if at times it felt like it was dragging a bit.
May 11, 2024
3 stars. half the time i was wondering if the goblin was an actual goblin. i expected better but it is what it is. i really liked the synopsis and to hear that this is a horror got me really excited but instead i got disappointed. most of the plot is centered around the characters’ emotions and their insecurities. the ending was satisfactory as it pieced the entire puzzle together. i think it could’ve been written in a more intriguing way if more insane stuff happened. i could literally explain the entire book to you in a minute lmao. myrrh myrrh myrrh murrrrrmurrrrrrr bye
June 1, 2024
Interesting concept, very unlikeable characters. It quickly become a chore to read and I found myself skipping over it to get to the end.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 24, 2024Didn’t grab me
August 7, 2024
This is so hard to rate- it’s either just under a 4, or just over a 4 and for some reason I just cannot land on a number that feels right! But, if you like Eric LaRocca, then you should have this on your radar
April 4, 2024
Cerebral and Eloquently Written Excavation of Four Souls….🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 19, 2024DNF at 27% ...
June 28, 2024
Probably not for everyone, but I love shots of randomness and piecing together a story from snippets, so I loved this (mostly).
Energy: Erratic. Disorienting. Ambiguous.
Scene: 🏴 Various Southern towns along the coast of England.
Perspective: We get snippets of inner thoughts from various characters. One was adopted as a child. They grew up in a supportive family, but always wondered about the circumstances, which has led to them hearing a disparaging inner voice they’ve termed the ‘goblin’. Another is living with their older spouse and stepchild, desperate for a child of their own. Two other characters are parents whose kids are grown up now.
🐕 Howls: Part of the ending was lost on me (a little too fantastical?)
🐩 Tail Wags: Snapshot chapters. Not always knowing who we’re reading from or why. Unpredictable strangeness (it could be a ‘slice of life’ moment or a ‘wtf did I just read’ moment). Randomness. How the characters and plot end up interconnected.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This could be a fun buddy read predicting what’s going on, especially if you like discussing symbolism or deeper meaning in stories.
I wouldn’t recommend taking long breaks in between reading, it can be really easy to lose the nuances of the plot, especially earlier in the book.
The thoughts of Myrrh and her worries about why she was put up for adoption are all consuming and brutal sometimes. Check content warnings – this could be too much for some especially in the beginning, or a cathartic read, especially at the conclusion.
🤓 Reader Role: Peeking into the characters’ innermost thoughts, picking up on their energies, without knowing where we are exactly.
🗺️ World-Building: Whispy and intimate. Built through emotion and inner thoughts.
🔥 Fuel: Philosophical insights, moral quandaries, and catharsis. What is Myrrh’s goblin? Can she stop it from taking over her thoughts? Why does Cayenne want a child so badly? Who are the other mothers we hear from?
📖 Cred: Bizarro with a heaping side of hyper-realism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Petrol. Door slams. Snores. Sighs. Babies crying. Goblins muttering. Garlic breath. Tears. Gardens.
-Bizarro exploration of motherhood, choices, and families of all sorts
-Literary psychological horror
-Absurd allegorical endings
-Surreal, existential elements
-Gradually revealed plot, mostly vibes
-Mundane randomness, subtle strangeness, unraveling madness
-Confusing but clever (and meaningful) stories
-Random snapshots of inner minds and moments
-Adoption ponderings, trauma, and anxiety
-No idea what’s going on so just go with the flow writing style
-Grotesque imagery and bit of body horror (see spoiler on my StoryGraph if curious)
Content Heads-Up: Parental rejection/abandonment. Vomit. Foster care. Adoption (in supportive family). Anxiety, insecurity, self-doubt. Childless in want of a child. Struggling to get pregnant. Body horror. Grotesque visions/delusions. Negative, cursing intrusive thoughts. Pregnancy. Loss of a child (baby).
Rep: Egyptian ancestry, White, and ambiguous British. Heterosexual. Cisgender.
📚 Format: Kindle
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Energy: Erratic. Disorienting. Ambiguous.
Scene: 🏴 Various Southern towns along the coast of England.
Perspective: We get snippets of inner thoughts from various characters. One was adopted as a child. They grew up in a supportive family, but always wondered about the circumstances, which has led to them hearing a disparaging inner voice they’ve termed the ‘goblin’. Another is living with their older spouse and stepchild, desperate for a child of their own. Two other characters are parents whose kids are grown up now.
🐕 Howls: Part of the ending was lost on me (a little too fantastical?)
🐩 Tail Wags: Snapshot chapters. Not always knowing who we’re reading from or why. Unpredictable strangeness (it could be a ‘slice of life’ moment or a ‘wtf did I just read’ moment). Randomness. How the characters and plot end up interconnected.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This could be a fun buddy read predicting what’s going on, especially if you like discussing symbolism or deeper meaning in stories.
I wouldn’t recommend taking long breaks in between reading, it can be really easy to lose the nuances of the plot, especially earlier in the book.
The thoughts of Myrrh and her worries about why she was put up for adoption are all consuming and brutal sometimes. Check content warnings – this could be too much for some especially in the beginning, or a cathartic read, especially at the conclusion.
🤓 Reader Role: Peeking into the characters’ innermost thoughts, picking up on their energies, without knowing where we are exactly.
🗺️ World-Building: Whispy and intimate. Built through emotion and inner thoughts.
🔥 Fuel: Philosophical insights, moral quandaries, and catharsis. What is Myrrh’s goblin? Can she stop it from taking over her thoughts? Why does Cayenne want a child so badly? Who are the other mothers we hear from?
📖 Cred: Bizarro with a heaping side of hyper-realism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Petrol. Door slams. Snores. Sighs. Babies crying. Goblins muttering. Garlic breath. Tears. Gardens.
-Bizarro exploration of motherhood, choices, and families of all sorts
-Literary psychological horror
-Absurd allegorical endings
-Surreal, existential elements
-Gradually revealed plot, mostly vibes
-Mundane randomness, subtle strangeness, unraveling madness
-Confusing but clever (and meaningful) stories
-Random snapshots of inner minds and moments
-Adoption ponderings, trauma, and anxiety
-No idea what’s going on so just go with the flow writing style
-Grotesque imagery and bit of body horror (see spoiler on my StoryGraph if curious)
Content Heads-Up: Parental rejection/abandonment. Vomit. Foster care. Adoption (in supportive family). Anxiety, insecurity, self-doubt. Childless in want of a child. Struggling to get pregnant. Body horror. Grotesque visions/delusions. Negative, cursing intrusive thoughts. Pregnancy. Loss of a child (baby).
Rep: Egyptian ancestry, White, and ambiguous British. Heterosexual. Cisgender.
📚 Format: Kindle
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
February 23, 2024
I read this as an ARC from NetGalley.
I started off being confused by the characters monologues, but the pieces fell into place one by one. Sad, creepy and ultimately enjoyable.
I started off being confused by the characters monologues, but the pieces fell into place one by one. Sad, creepy and ultimately enjoyable.
April 1, 2024
dreadful
April 12, 2024
On occasion, when I have strong opinions on a book that I've read I'll head over to the internet to have a look at what others have said about it, curious to see if my love or hate of a book is common, or if it's just me. On occasion, I'll also check out other people's thoughts when I struggle with a book. If I ended up confused, or found the journey something of a chore, I'll go and see if I'm the only one who went through this. Myrrh by Polly Hall kind of falls into this later category. It's a winding, maze-like narrative with some difficult and occasionally dark themes, and was a book that made me uncomfortable to read at times. I needed to see if that was just me or not; and this time it seems like Myrrh is the kind of book that has gotten under a lot of people's skins.
At it's heart, Myrrh is a story about family and belonging. It covers the topic from a range of perspectives, including adoption, step-families, marriage, and parenthood in three interweaving narratives that meet and interact in some unexpected and surprising ways. The two main stories follow Myrrh, a young woman who was adopted as a baby and is now searching for answers to her past by looking for her birth parents; and Cayenne, who has married a man with a teenage daughter, who struggles with her desires to have a child of her own and has to watch as her husband and step-daughter bond in ways she's always wanted for her own child. There's also a smaller plot involving Marian, who has a connection to Myrrh and her birth father.
The novel shifts between the various characters and their narratives often, using fairly shot chapters to keep things moving at a fairly fast pace. Whilst this does move things forward well, it's also done in a way that helps to make the story feel more confusing too. It often feels like the reader is having to play catch-up, that events are moving from one thing to another before we've had a chance to get our heads around the first thing. This kind of feels like it's meant to mirror Myrrh's own sense of confusion, and her somewhat unusual mental state (she has an internal voice called Goblin that doesn't seem healthy at all). It's an interesting choice from Hall, and it does put you in Myrrh's shoes well, though it also does make the book a little bit harder to digest at times too.
One thing that I did enjoy about the book was the complexity of the characters. They're the kinds of characters that seem to have a fairly clearly defined trait, ones that are easy to describe and are great starting out points. However, as the book went on you begin to learn that there's a lot more to Myrrh and Cayenne than you first think. The story changes them, it makes them face some shocking and life changing truths about themselves and the way that they view the world, and watching them go through that journey is a big draw to the book for me.
Something that I saw when looking at other people's thoughts on the book was that some people didn't finish the book. The long, interweaving narratives, and some of the dark content were cited as reasons why, and I can understand that perhaps those things might not be for everyone. However, I also saw several people talk about the books ending. It feels like Myrrh is one of those books where when you discover someone else has read it the first thing you're going to say it 'oh my god, the ending!'. I'm not going to say much on the actual content as I don't want to spoil it, but it's certainly one where you're going to be thinking about it a good while after you've put the book down, and whilst some people might be tempted to not finish the book, those that do are going to find something quite surprising and memorable waiting for them.
Whilst Myrrh has been described as horror, it's definitely more of a psychological thriller with some dark, horror-like elements. It relies heavily on mystery, and complex characters rather than overt horror imagery. If that's the kind of book that appeals to you, then Myrrh is definitely worth your consideration.
At it's heart, Myrrh is a story about family and belonging. It covers the topic from a range of perspectives, including adoption, step-families, marriage, and parenthood in three interweaving narratives that meet and interact in some unexpected and surprising ways. The two main stories follow Myrrh, a young woman who was adopted as a baby and is now searching for answers to her past by looking for her birth parents; and Cayenne, who has married a man with a teenage daughter, who struggles with her desires to have a child of her own and has to watch as her husband and step-daughter bond in ways she's always wanted for her own child. There's also a smaller plot involving Marian, who has a connection to Myrrh and her birth father.
The novel shifts between the various characters and their narratives often, using fairly shot chapters to keep things moving at a fairly fast pace. Whilst this does move things forward well, it's also done in a way that helps to make the story feel more confusing too. It often feels like the reader is having to play catch-up, that events are moving from one thing to another before we've had a chance to get our heads around the first thing. This kind of feels like it's meant to mirror Myrrh's own sense of confusion, and her somewhat unusual mental state (she has an internal voice called Goblin that doesn't seem healthy at all). It's an interesting choice from Hall, and it does put you in Myrrh's shoes well, though it also does make the book a little bit harder to digest at times too.
One thing that I did enjoy about the book was the complexity of the characters. They're the kinds of characters that seem to have a fairly clearly defined trait, ones that are easy to describe and are great starting out points. However, as the book went on you begin to learn that there's a lot more to Myrrh and Cayenne than you first think. The story changes them, it makes them face some shocking and life changing truths about themselves and the way that they view the world, and watching them go through that journey is a big draw to the book for me.
Something that I saw when looking at other people's thoughts on the book was that some people didn't finish the book. The long, interweaving narratives, and some of the dark content were cited as reasons why, and I can understand that perhaps those things might not be for everyone. However, I also saw several people talk about the books ending. It feels like Myrrh is one of those books where when you discover someone else has read it the first thing you're going to say it 'oh my god, the ending!'. I'm not going to say much on the actual content as I don't want to spoil it, but it's certainly one where you're going to be thinking about it a good while after you've put the book down, and whilst some people might be tempted to not finish the book, those that do are going to find something quite surprising and memorable waiting for them.
Whilst Myrrh has been described as horror, it's definitely more of a psychological thriller with some dark, horror-like elements. It relies heavily on mystery, and complex characters rather than overt horror imagery. If that's the kind of book that appeals to you, then Myrrh is definitely worth your consideration.
February 3, 2024
Myrrh is a novel about adoption, belonging, and family, as an adopted woman searches for her birth parents and an unloved wife dreams of a baby. Myrrh was adopted as a baby and is now an adult looking for her birth parents whilst tormented by a voice in her head, Goblin. Cayenne is wife to a husband who seems far closer to his daughter—her stepdaughter—and yearns for a child of her own. As their stories are told in parallel, the narrative unravels their respective desperation as it builds towards the unravelling of secrets.
Told in distinctively short chapters, Myrrh moves between multiple narratives in a whiplash-inducing way that feels like it matches snippets of reason and desperation, and particularly Myrrh's own confused sense of self and time. The opening builds up a sense of dread, particularly with Cayenne's story and Myrrh's "Goblin", leaving you wondering what is going to happen and how the book is going to develop into the psychological horror that it is described as.
Unfortunately, that is where I found the book to disappoint me. If it hadn't been marketed as horror, focusing more on the ideas of adoption and belonging and family with maybe some focus on a thriller element, then maybe I would've found the ending to be more satisfying, but for me, it just felt predictable and not really dark at all, just a bit grimly predictable. It's not that it's a bad story, it's just that it is set up to be a different book, and it doesn't really delve into some of the darker elements enough. There are a couple of "unreal" elements that could be something unexplainable or something in the heads of the characters, and there's one chapter that delves into one of these in an experimental way that I liked, but the ending just doesn't really do them justice either.
I like how the story is told and Myrrh in particular is a gripping character, but Myrrh wasn't quite the book for me, with an ending that fell a bit flat. Not marketing it as horror might help with expectations, and I've seen other reviews pointing this out as well—it does have some psychological elements at times and will probably appeal to fans of psychological thrillers, but if you're coming to it looking for horror, it felt at least to me like a bit of a let down in that regard.
Told in distinctively short chapters, Myrrh moves between multiple narratives in a whiplash-inducing way that feels like it matches snippets of reason and desperation, and particularly Myrrh's own confused sense of self and time. The opening builds up a sense of dread, particularly with Cayenne's story and Myrrh's "Goblin", leaving you wondering what is going to happen and how the book is going to develop into the psychological horror that it is described as.
Unfortunately, that is where I found the book to disappoint me. If it hadn't been marketed as horror, focusing more on the ideas of adoption and belonging and family with maybe some focus on a thriller element, then maybe I would've found the ending to be more satisfying, but for me, it just felt predictable and not really dark at all, just a bit grimly predictable. It's not that it's a bad story, it's just that it is set up to be a different book, and it doesn't really delve into some of the darker elements enough. There are a couple of "unreal" elements that could be something unexplainable or something in the heads of the characters, and there's one chapter that delves into one of these in an experimental way that I liked, but the ending just doesn't really do them justice either.
I like how the story is told and Myrrh in particular is a gripping character, but Myrrh wasn't quite the book for me, with an ending that fell a bit flat. Not marketing it as horror might help with expectations, and I've seen other reviews pointing this out as well—it does have some psychological elements at times and will probably appeal to fans of psychological thrillers, but if you're coming to it looking for horror, it felt at least to me like a bit of a let down in that regard.
April 26, 2024
Thank you Titan Books for sending me a copy to review.
I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand Myrrh kept me absolutely hooked throughout, I found myself staying up late to read just a biiiit more. Polly Hall is very, very good at writing hooks that will keep you searching for answers. On the other hand I felt like the ending fell a little flat, I just wanted things to come together a little more in respects to Myrrh and Cayenne’s stories.
The way Myrrh is written is jarring at first but once I adjusted to Polly Hall’s rhythm I found myself flying through the book. The goblin inside Myrrh interjects at opportune moments and I think it gave a really interesting look into Myrrh’s psyche. She may be thinking one thing but the goblin inevitably interjects with her deepest fears or wants. Cayenne doesn’t have this inside voice but this works really well as her story unfolds and its better to now know where it is going.
Coming in at just under 300 pages this is a pretty speedy read, which I really appreciated. I think it’s the perfect length for the story that Hall tells within it’s pages and the length keeps the story moving quickly. The story is mainly told through alternating chapters between Myrrh and Cayenne, with the occasional other women interjected throughout. I did have to keep reminding myself to read the names at the top of the chapter because I did confuse Cayenne for others a few times, Myrrh is really the only character with a distinctive voice thanks to the goblin.
I do think the ending could have been more cohesive. While the events at the end of the book fit the horror theme well I just wished that Myrrh felt more like a main character than just a character to tell the story. I definitely ended up caring more for Cayenne’s journey in the end.
I think this is another case of a book that is marketed as horror that is more of a thriller with some horror elements. This seems to be a theme in the horror I read recently and while I don’t mind it just means I expect more from the books than I get by the end.
Overall, I’d say pick this one up if the synopsis really speaks to you. I did enjoy reading Myrrh and the story is captivating, it just got let down a bit by how the stories merge in the end.
I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand Myrrh kept me absolutely hooked throughout, I found myself staying up late to read just a biiiit more. Polly Hall is very, very good at writing hooks that will keep you searching for answers. On the other hand I felt like the ending fell a little flat, I just wanted things to come together a little more in respects to Myrrh and Cayenne’s stories.
The way Myrrh is written is jarring at first but once I adjusted to Polly Hall’s rhythm I found myself flying through the book. The goblin inside Myrrh interjects at opportune moments and I think it gave a really interesting look into Myrrh’s psyche. She may be thinking one thing but the goblin inevitably interjects with her deepest fears or wants. Cayenne doesn’t have this inside voice but this works really well as her story unfolds and its better to now know where it is going.
Coming in at just under 300 pages this is a pretty speedy read, which I really appreciated. I think it’s the perfect length for the story that Hall tells within it’s pages and the length keeps the story moving quickly. The story is mainly told through alternating chapters between Myrrh and Cayenne, with the occasional other women interjected throughout. I did have to keep reminding myself to read the names at the top of the chapter because I did confuse Cayenne for others a few times, Myrrh is really the only character with a distinctive voice thanks to the goblin.
I do think the ending could have been more cohesive. While the events at the end of the book fit the horror theme well I just wished that Myrrh felt more like a main character than just a character to tell the story. I definitely ended up caring more for Cayenne’s journey in the end.
I think this is another case of a book that is marketed as horror that is more of a thriller with some horror elements. This seems to be a theme in the horror I read recently and while I don’t mind it just means I expect more from the books than I get by the end.
Overall, I’d say pick this one up if the synopsis really speaks to you. I did enjoy reading Myrrh and the story is captivating, it just got let down a bit by how the stories merge in the end.
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