A Hawk in the Woods by Carrie Laben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve been a big fan of Carrie Laben’s short fiction for years now and am pleased to discover her debut novel, A HAWK IN THE WOODS, is just as excellent. It’s chock full of dark magic, family feuds, and complicated characters with equally complicated relationships (which, come to think of it, sums up the idea of family pretty well). Laben’s prose is confident and adroit, and her narrative voice is strong and compassionate, even when her characters are being the opposite. Lurking just beneath the surface are some entertaining, surprising connections to H.P. Lovecraft’s classic story “The Thing on the Doorstep,” which adds an extra layer of depth to the novel, although familiarity with that tale isn’t necessary to enjoy and understand this one. A truly pleasurable and satisfying novel, featuring twin sisters you won’t soon forget, A HAWK IN THE WOODS, like so much of Laben’s fiction, is well worth seeking out.
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