I loved Rory Powers precious book Wilder Girls, and I was so excited when I saw she came out with a new book! I knew I had to read and wow she did not disappoint! I absolutely loved this book amd recomend it to everyone.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book was something else. I went into it pretty blindly and it was so good I’m basically speechless.

This story is about a girl named Margot who lives with her mother. Right off the bat you can tell they have a very rocky relationship and there’s a lot of secrets that Margots mother is keeping from her. The story quickly unfolds and Margot goes off to search for her grandmother, who lives about 3 hours away. The day Margot gets to phalene, there is a fire on her grandmothers farm. When Margot sees the fire, she spots a girl in the field. The girl is dead but she looks exactly like Margot. They have the same face.

This book was soooooo good and especially after about 50% I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! So many twists and turns at the end. The writing style was spectacular! I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future! I definitely recommend this to everyone.

Sometimes when I request a NetGalley arc to review, I chose solely on the cover, the author, the book title etc without reading the publishers blurb. Burn Our Bodies Down, (actually chosen for the title in this case) is a twisty, gothic-y, horror-ish story and it was only when I was halfway through did I realize it was categorized as a YA. Novel. Who knew they could be so good? Wish they were around when I was a teenager. My life would certainly have turned out differently.....with these kind of role models.

When I saw that Rory Power had a new book coming out, I was absolutely thrilled! Wilder Girls was a favorite in all of its bizarre glory and I was hoping for the same in Burn Our Bodies Down. I got what I wished for because it is utterly fantastic. The same eerie ominous atmosphere permeates throughout the book and kept me turning pages until the dramatic conclusion. I was still thinking about Burn Our Bodies Down this morning when I woke up. I have a feeling it’s going to stay with me for a while.

Margot, the main character is well-crafted, she is an abused and neglected girl whose mother has lied to her entire life. When she decides to seek out extended family, some awful truths emerge in one of the most bizarre towns imaginable with an even more bizarre family. Ms. Power does such an exceptional job writing the dysfunctional relationship between Margot and her mother, Jo. The storyline itself is perfectly paced, just enough to develop an overwhelming sense of unease that was pervasive pretty much right from the beginning but really ramps up when Margot arrives in the town of Phalene and meets her ‘family’. To say I enjoyed Burn Our Bodies Down is an understatement, this will be one that I’m going to be recommending to everyone. Although it’s considered young adult, I think it can be enjoyed by all ages.

A big thank you to Delacorte Press, Rory Power, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Burn Our Bodies Down in exchange for my honest review.

This follow-up to last year’s stunning (truly incapacitating) “Wilder Girls” is reason to celebrate: not just the book itself, which is great, but the proof that Rory Power appears to have a fully, diverse, limitless career before her. It makes me giddy to think of all the stories she may have inside, that she may write down, that she may share. But that’s for later. For now: “Burn Our Bodies Down.” It’s an enthralling tale of secrets, lies, family, destiny and the free will & strength to raise a middle finger to that destiny. Margot is a character for the ages, timeless as she is; she’s also very much a character of today, someone so stuck in her own head she might actually be living two lives simultaneously, one in the physical world and one locked away in her overcalculating brain. Like all of us. I won’t give any plot points away. I’ll just say it’s at once thrilling, introspective, surprising, maddening, tender, and vicious AF. It’s a gorgeous read, not because it’s beautiful, but because despite everything, Margot is. Beautiful. And awful. And deadly. And loving. And confused. And heroic. Now I’m rambling, so I’ll stop and just say: read it.

I couldn't get into Wilder Girls. And I managed to finish this I probably could have finished this in one sitting. It's a really easy read. Im just not sold on it. I felt like it fell flat and it was boring. Not one likeable character and the plot was weird.

*3.0

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start out by saying I did not read Wilder Girls so this was my first experience with a Rory Power book. This book was very strange and I'm not sure I really understand the explanation of what was going on behind all of the events in the book.

I really enjoyed the raw explanation of the relationship with Margot and her mother. Margot's perspective was honest and vulnerable. I did sometimes get frustrated with the character of Margot's mother but I think that's the point. Margot, to me, ended up being quite the strong female character and I appreciated her journey to get there.

Overall, this was unlike any book I've ever read so this is hard to rate and review, in my opinion, but I feel like this could appeal to a large audience.

I was very excited to receive an eARC of this novel after reading Wilder Girls recently. With only two novels Rory Power has already become one of my favorite authors. Burn Our Bodies Down perfectly lived up to my expectations and exceeded them. The family dynamics and horror elements kept me on the edge of my seat and provided a very enjoyable read.

Wow, this book is so! fricking! good!

I didn't have the pleasure of being able to read Power's debut, Wilder Girls, mostly because I couldn't stomach the body horror in the first two chapters and figured it would only get worse from there. So, when I requested Burn Our Bodies Down (and actually received it! Thanks Netgalley and Random House!), I was hoping it would be more tame. For those of you who, like me, can't handle intense body horror, definitely give Burn Our Bodies a try!

Burn Our Bodies follows Margot Nielson, the daughter of Josephine Nielson, as a girl who has been walking on eggshells all her life. Margot has always wanted to know about the family her mother never talks about - they must exist, right? - and after a chance discovery that finally gives her the link to a grandmother she's never known and an escape from Jo's selfish, burning, barbed-wire love and care, she takes it and leaves to find herself in Phalene. But even when she arrives, all is not as it seems, because there's a fresh fire on the Nielson farm and a dead girl who looks an awful lot like Margot that leads to the unraveling of a family mystery that will leave you breathless and desperate to turn every page.

The Nielson family is super toxic, so if that's a trigger for you, please be warned. I'd list other content warnings, but Rory Power does it best on her website, so please consult her before reading this book if you have any concerns.

Once I started this story, I couldn't put it down. I read a quarter of it in one sitting, and the other three-quarters of it last night, because once I started it back up, I couldn't put it down until I knew the truth. Power's writing here is phenomenal; she does such a great job of using simple. short sentences and Margot to really push the story along. The twist was a bit unexpected, and it was a fun journey trying to piece together the fragments of the past that left Jo to want to leave Phalene a long time ago. The twist itself is unique; I personally haven't seen anything like that before, so I thought it was really cool. There's really nothing about this novel I don't like! Everything feels tight, and the story completely ties up in a way that is both appropriate and without any loose, unsatisfying ends.

If you wanted to read Wilder Girls but couldn't, definitely give Burn Our Bodies Down a try. It's so powerful both as a story and as a mediation on family, motherhood, and the bonds of the past. I completely recommend!

I received this book from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's - Delacorte Press for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story takes place with a teenage girl, Margot, who has a strained relationship with her mother and no real knowledge of the rest of her estranged family. After finding her grandmother's phone number, she contacts her and then runs away to stay with her. Her grandmother still lives in the house her mother grew up in and takes care of her now failing corn crops. There's a family mystery that Margot is determined to solve and once she does, she realizes it's corny ;) [pun]

I enjoyed this book and actually read it pretty quickly (for my usual pace) because of the twists and turns throughout it. It's definitely a thriller and just like Rory Power's last book, there is some paranormal-ish/magical realism type parts. Maybe can be labelled a little bit of horror and scifi? I'm not sure how to label it but weird stuff sure does happen and you really don't know what's going on until the end. There are some gory parts but not as bad as her first book.

Again, I thought this book was very entertaining and the concept was original to me. I recommend this book to people who like thriller/mysteries and domestic drama. Book comes out 7/7/20

4/5

Engrossing, dark, twisted, and beautiful. Rory Power continued her streak of must-read YA novels that will stick with you for a long time. Her character development and writing style allow for easy suspension of disbelief and it's hard to settle back into reality when the book is finished. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

This book was everything. At first it's hard to track what's happening, but that kept me going, kept me reading. I finished in 7 hours. I cannot wait for another Power book. Wilder Girls was amazing, and this was fantastic as well. 4 stars because of one little thing - huge spoiler - that didn't sit well with me, but wouldn't have made since in the story without it happening.

ARC provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was much better than Wilder Girls since it gave an ending and didn’t leave me with conspiracy theories.

This book is a mystery within a mystery, a secret within secrets. It’s the story of Margot who is searching for her family. Her mum refuses to tell her about the past and she goes to search for it on her own.

The story goes from “who’s my family?” To “who is this strange girl on my family’s land that died in this fire and is wearing my face?” It’s such an interesting story of how finding out the truth can set you free, but it can also set you on a path for redemption.

I thought the idea of her grandmother using this outlawed chemical and spawning generations of the same person was interesting, especially when you find out that it’s spreading and how it grew little girls out of the ground.

One flaw with this book is just minute details: for instance, at one point, Margot is asleep and her grandmother comes in and goes “we have to be in town by 5:00” and then they get there and she’s like “be back at 4:00”. I really encourage a second look through this book since that’s just one example of that happening.

Otherwise it was an interesting read and just wish Tess had been slightly more developed.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an e-arc for me to review this book.

I don't know what i expected and i requested this book on Netgalley. I DNFed the author's debut release so this decision of me to give her a second chance felt a bit off. To say the least, I am not the biggest Rory Power fan nor her biggest hater. Her talent shows in her works but they might not be my favored pieces of literature. To say the least, i didn't care. Some say Jo gave more care about her daughter than me caring about this book. I was invested, but i didn't care. Like a cheesy horror movie where every cliche is present and nobody captivates your attention. Yet you keep watching said movie, all 120 minutes of it. The ending was mediocre. Tess felt a bit wonky. She was sometimes described as messy and bitchy. And some other times the opposite. The science-y part felt a bit gimmicky, much like in her previous work.

BURN OUR BODIES DOWN has me in absolute awe! Rory writes the best spare sentences that pack a wallop. I adored Margot’s complex feelings toward her mother and the twisting dread only horror that would. Not. Stop! What an incredible sophomore book!

I. Adore. Rory. Power.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Wilder Girls last spring -- it was one of the first ARCs I ever reviewed and it has a special place in my heart, both for starting my ARC reviewing journey, but also introducing me to a person I was sure was going to be a new favorite author.

Burn Our Bodies Down didn't disappoint.

A much more personal story about a girl named Margot who tries to untangle the mysterious web of a family she's only just discovered, Burn Our Bodies Down was at once very familiar and incredibly creepy.

The small town, midwest setting was such a good touch for me right now, as a homesick Midwestern girl living a thousand miles away, and there were so many moments that Power just hit the nail on the head so perfectly and made me so nostalgic for summers at my grandparents' house and just frolicking among the corn.

I wouldn't say that Margot (or really anyone in this story, to be honest) is all that likable as a protagonist, but she's unflinchingly real. She's running from a strained relationship with her mother, and trying desperately to get out from under the unhealthy upbringing she's been dealt. Even as she's noticing all of these disconnects in her life and all of these creepy things happening, she's ignoring them with all her might, because all she wants is a family who will love her unconditionally, the way she's never been loved before. Her denial of the eerie happenings isn't stupid or ignorant, it's just heartbreaking.

I still love the way Power writes -- it feels so organic and lyrical. I can see why some people don't like it; it's pretty non-traditional. But I mentioned in my review of Wilder Girls that Power's writing feels like if I was capable of stretching the best of my own writing into an entire book, and it's a joy to read. This sophomore book is very different from the first -- more personal drama, less action, more creepiness and mystery, less straight-up horror. But honestly, somehow, I liked it better. I look forward with excitement for Power's future work. Thank you, Rory, for the corn book.

This book kept me riveted to it, with me inhaling it in one sitting. Everything Powers does in this book, from the haunting, lyrical writing to the gripping, horrifying elements to the commentary on generational trauma made this book sit at the top of the books I've read so far in 2020. Absolutely recommended.

Ok I really, really tried to like this book. Halfway through I realized it just wasn't for me. I don't know if I'm being biased because I have read some really great books lately or this book was just not for me. I read it quick, trying my damndest not to rush through it. But bejesus, it was hard. And I hate to give a book a not so great review, especially since I'm so grateful for this ARC copy.

Ok let's get to it, their is Margot Nielsen,, the main character, not quite 18. A social outcast. Greying hair at her temples who lives with her strange mom, Jo. "There is no other family" her mom tells her. "We are all we got". By the way, her mom went grey early too and they have the same pinched features and maybe can pass for sisters. Maggots, not Maggots jeez, Margot's mom never hugs her, hardly takes care of her since she's a little girl, and constantly picks fights with her. Not a great life for either of them. And they have or Margot was taught to have a strange fascination with fire with a candle lit all the time. But why?

Oh boy this is where it gets a little better and then truly weird again a couple of chapters later. Margot finds out she has a grandmother living 3 hrs away and boy is she livid. She leaves her mom and goes searching for long lost Gram, whom she accidentally stumbled upon knowing in her mom's old Bible, which was across the street in a pawn shop. Nice guy huh, the pawn shop here won't take my gold for Pete's sakes. Maybe I will go there and try to pawn my dirty socks cuz this guy takes anything of her mom's and sells it back to her mom at a higher price. So I'll go sell my stinky socks for $1 and buy them back for $5 When I start missing them. And no I'm not comparing the Holy Bible to my sweaty socks!!!! Sorry I went mental for a second.

Well, When Margot enters her mom's hometown, she meets two kids her age Eli and Tess, who befriend her but after taking one look at her they know she's a Nielsen (Her grams last name) and takes her to her grams farm, which is burning. But Margot is not afraid of fire and apparently this is not the first Nielsen farm fire.

After things settle down and someone perished in th fire who Alex and Eli and Margot try to rescue here except the girl looks like a sister or twin of Margots. Does Margot have more family that her mom has taken great pains to hide from her? Well the po-po are suspicious of the Nielsens and have always been, but they are scared of gram or Vera, who sweeps in and gives them a mouthful. Margot finally thinks she's found long lost family and love but her mom is very reluctant to come get her. Why? Has she found the love and family she's yearning for or more crazy and also endless casseroles? Yum no wait yuck! I'm a foodie. Now if good ole Gram had a feast with lobster, lamb chops and filet mignon or was a female version of Gordon Ramsey, I might be able to do without the love and stay for the food. Wait what am I saying? Her gram makes her an egg with a tooth in the shell. WAIT! WHAAAT? I'm not eating eggs anytime soon. Jeez!

I still am scratching my head. The story just gets more and more weird. It just wasn't my cup of tea and I was so excited to get this book. I'm almost ashamed to give it 3 stars. I'm writing this and feel like I'm burning down or burning up. Maybe I have the flu and am delirious. Chalk it up to the Corona Virus, which is no laughing matter. I honestly don't feel good but I am rounding up my 2.5 to three burnt stars.

A special thanks to Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and Rory Power for this ARC copy for my very honest opinion. I just feel like I did something bad. I hate to be the meanie.

I've read both Rory Power's books, and I'm not sure it's the author for me. While she's very talented with description, the endings of both BOBD and Wilder Girls left a lot to be desired for me. The book had a fast pace and I did burn through it quickly, but it just wasn't for me. I think anyone who appreciates unexpected endings may enjoy this, so I would recommend giving it a shot.

I was soooo excited when I was approved for an ARC of this book! I loved Rory Power's debut novel, Wilder Girls, and was eager to read something else by her. Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me. It's more of a "me-thing", though. I couldn't get invested, and even though I kind of saw where the mystery and plot was heading, it just wasn't enough to hook me. I do plan to give this another go after it's published, just on the off chance it was more of a "wrong-place-wrong-time" situation.

I will say, Rory Power's writing is phenomenal. The writing style she chose for this was so distinct and interesting and easily the strongest part of the book. Whether or not the book worked for me, I cannot deny that she is a truly talented writer.