I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. The premise sounded so amazing that I knew I wanted to read it, even though I wasn't necessarily sure if it was more fantasy or horror. You Let Me In falls directly into the dark fantasy category, and more specifically this is a book about fae. Had I known that going in then I might not have requested it but I am so glad I did because this book is phenomenal.
Cassandra Tipp is an author with a dark past. When she vanishes mysteriously, her niece and nephew must provide her lawyer with a password in order to inherit her estate, a password which can only be found in one last story she had left. This though is the true story of her life. Chosen at a young age to be the property of a fae being, she explains how all the dark deeds she has been accused of doing were really the work of fantasy beings. But which story is real?
This book was extremely well-written. I was instantly sucked into the world and the prose manages to be poetic and fitting of the fantasy elements without veering too far into needlessly flowery. Cassandra really draws you in as a character and the whole 'doubting whether the story is fantasy or if she is merely deluded' stuff is handled very well in my opinion. It would be easy for an author to misjudge and either make her a caricature or else too unreliable to connect with but she remains a compelling and engaging narrator throughout. The other characters who featured were also interesting, particularly the sister and therapist.
I strongly recommend this book, even to those who don't normally read dark fantasy. This is not horror in the traditional sense but it does contain horror elements. There is also a romance plotline and some sexual scenes so be aware of that. I would not recommend it to people who dislike the use of mental health for unreliable narration, but if you want a dark and mysterious story that draws you in, this is a perfect pick.
Overall Rating:
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