[Book Review] Asylum Daughter by Natasha Sinclair

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Asylum Daughter by Natasha Sinclair is a gut-wrenching tale that leads readers along a dark and brutal path. But no matter what Natasha throws in the way, readers won’t be able to stray, dedicated to seeing it through to the end.

CW: At the beginning of the book, there is a content warning note. This book covers some very dark elements! While the author handles each with care, she certainly doesn’t sugarcoat anything. For example, one chapter focused on a very descriptive suicide. If you are easily triggered, proceed with caution with this one!

Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book from the author per request of an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on Asylum Daughter by Natasha Sinclair

In the Acknowledgements section, Natasha writes:

I hope my ‘Asylum Daughter’ gives you a taste of something you didn’t know you were craving, makes you think, makes you shiver, makes you feel something.

Full capital letters here to answer that: YES. This book certainly made me shiver and feel something. There were so many dark feelings like disgust, anger, sadness, and fear. But there were also feelings of hope and love!

The set up of this tale was absolutely brilliant. At first, I have to admit that I was having trouble keeping up with the various characters as I was trying to figure out how they were all tied together. My anxiety rattled brain wasn’t letting me just sit back and enjoy the story… Later on, we see how connected each of these people are… and oh boy, do I wish I hadn’t been asking to learn that connection!

Each chapter bleeds perfectly into the other, slowly building the history around the individuals and their lives, all leading up to the main event. Natasha did an awesome job leaving breadcrumbs along the path to keep readers on track!

There were a slew of characters that all come into play, but the two that the tale centered upon were Nancy and Bella.

Nancy’s storyline was brutal and heartbreaking. The things people put this poor woman through… My heart also broke for Bella, who was just searching for answers about her birth mother. The struggle and beauty of working to overcome traumatic things of the past was so powerful!

And with that, I will have to stop as this is a tale that you just need to experience on your own.

My Favorite Passages from Asylum Daughter

But life as a woman merits a content warning. Our experience in life can often be, yes, triggering. We attempt to pacify the monsters, manager their fragile egos for our own safety.

The voice wanted to connect, breaking through energy cracks like the sun splicing between the wisps of cloud, branches and leaves; veins of light squeezing between the dark.

Hues of colour washes popping the beckoning dusk; an intense watercolour painting. Ochre, lavender, and fuchsia bands painted the sky as the friends made their way from the village through muddy, rocky path between the vast footprint of meandering meadows in full blossom. The musical backdrop of rustling reeds swaying, grasshopper whistles and birdsong was their adventure soundtrack.

She could’ve been beneath the water; words lost in the building wave, the watery panic of a nightmare teased her heart which galloped hard against her ribs, racing towards her throat.

Tragedy and horror steeped the still air; a spine-chilling soup. Bella’s skin crawled. Horror had left a deep imprint, deeper than eyes could see. Beyond words and time, the energy around Lochwood was putrid, rotten and riddled with dread, trapped beyond the brick — embedding itself in root and bark like an entirely living-dead entity.

My Final Thoughts on Asylum Daughter

If you’re a fan of unflinching horror that blends brutality and beauty, this is one you need to pick up!