I had to wait some time after finishing this book before reviewing. It was unlike any other book I have read! The style and format of Idle Hands was thought-provoking and interesting to read. The characters felt like real people very quickly, especially Perdie and Rachel. The story was a difficult read at times. Please be aware that it deals with domestic violence in a very raw and real way. I had a feeling of dread the whole time. My only complaint would be that I wanted more of the story. It seemed to end very quickly. I want to be respectful of spoilers, so don't want to spoil the experience, but I definitely had unanswered questions! I thank #NetGalley for the opportunity to read such an emotional book. #IdleHands is well worth your time. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

This is such an amazing book, I don’t even know how to start this review. I actually waited almost an entire day to collect all my thoughts because I wanted to do justice to this book.

Idle Hands by Cassondra Windwalker is a book full of raw feeling. The topics, even the subject matter, that Windwalker writes about here are hard-hitting and she doesn’t flinch from presenting them as such. The decisions we make can seem to cause a butterfly effect, determining the course of our lives. However, are these single choices really that influential or have we simply taken the weight of the world upon ourselves? I don’t think the question is truly answered but perhaps after subsequent reads, things might get clearer.

By writing Ella as an omniscient being sharing the life of Perdie with us, the bigger questions regarding choice and morality were seamlessly interwoven into the story without disrupting the flow. It felt like a Greek chorus and it was refreshing to see such a device used in contemporary fiction. This was a bold creative decision and I love it, though I have a sneaking suspicion that it might not be for everyone.

I understand on some level why the ending is left as such, but I really do want more. Would it have been possible to include a denouement of some sort to Perdie’s story? It feels almost brutal that after everything she’s been through, she doesn’t even get one. Though that would be committing the fallacy of assuming that everyone’s lives will be tidily tied up like a main character’s. I should stop rambling before I give everything away, but this just shows how cerebral the book is despite it packing a visceral punch. It really isn’t everyday that a book comes along and does both so well.

Perdie has three children and an abusive husband. To protect her family, she decides to leave her husband and find safe harbour for her and the children.
'Ella' is the Devil, and the narrator, it works surprisingly well in this story.
There are thought-provoking comments made, and the nature of being human is challenged.
I cannot review to extensively without mentioning spoilers.
I enjoyed the story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Agora Books and the author Cassondra Windwalker for a pre-publication copy to review.

This novel takes you on a journey with Perdie, who is a mother of 3, and she is forced to make a decision between the (perceived) mental or the (actual) physical wellbeing of her children. She feels she made the right choice given the circumstances she was given. But that's the thing about choices once they are made you must live with the consequences… or do you?!

This novel is an extremely well written, quick little drive down the paths that we choose in life. About the love, despair and thought that is the background of those great decisions and how easily you can start to question yourself when times get tough.. and like with any good read they always do!

I have read many "cringe" worthy books, books with intensely dark subject matter but Windwalker brings such humanity and care to her characters that some of the scenes laid out upon these pages were extremely hard for me to read. That being said you have been warned if domestic abuse is a deal breaker for you, you may want to sit this one aside.

If you can continue past the moments that make your soul shutter, this novel is an enormously powerful and thought provoking one, I do wish it was a little longer and went into a deeper study of some of the more interesting characters but even still this one is not to be missed.

Honestly, I requested this because of that cover- amazing!!!

Idle Hands follows Perdie and her children struggling with an abusive husband. I read this in a day because I had to know what happened next. Our narrator offered interesting insights into why we do things the way we do- I really enjoyed that part.

This was a really great read that I'm glad I judged by it's cover.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

This was a fascinating read that I enjoyed. I love the idea of having the Devil be a narrator and it works in this novel. Some thought provoking observations are made and the nature of being human is questioned.

Idle Hands follows Perdie and her 3 kids struggling with an abusive husband. I don't want to give much else away because that would ruin the fun but I did speed through this in one day. I just wanted to know what would happen to everyone and if Perdie would be able to save her kids in the end. I found Ella, the narrating devil to be intriguing and offered some interesting insights about the human condition. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it.