A Spellbinding Review of My Lips, Her Voice by L.L. Madrid
There’s something about autumn that draws me into the world of witchcraft, mystery, and the supernatural. When I stumbled upon L.L. Madrid’s My Lips, Her Voice, its tantalizing premise of possession woven into a coming-of-age narrative instantly captured my attention. I couldn’t resist; it felt like a perfect potion for the season—a little magic, a dash of revenge, and a sprinkle of exasperating teenage angst.
Set in the eerie backdrop of Copper City, the story revolves around 17-year-old Audrey, who finds herself ensnared in a web of dark mysteries when her cousin, Mara, rises from the grave seeking vengeance. The thought of losing control over one’s own body—worse, having someone else commandeer it—was chilling and resonated deeply with me, making each page feel weighty with the fear of overstepping boundaries. L.L. Madrid does an admirable job of not relying on heavy gore or traditional horror, instead crafting a tale that gnaws at the psyche, leaving readers feeling claustrophobic in its tight grasp.
Audrey serves as the emotional anchor throughout the narrative, and her struggle with the impossible situation she finds herself in was palpable. As we travel between multiple perspectives, including the haunting presence of Mara and Zadie, Mara’s ex-girlfriend, Madrid’s skilled dual-timeline storytelling not only binds the narrative together but also enriches the character dynamics. Normally, I’m wary of stories with more than two POVs, but here, I found each voice distinct yet integral to the unfolding mystery.
The characters are vibrant and remarkably flawed. From Audrey’s quiet resilience to Zadie’s morally ambiguous choices, they felt authentic and relatable. I especially loved Shirley—a character who seems to straddle the line between Audrey and Mara, offering both a touch of levity and depth. This deliberate blend presented a fascinating exploration of identity that I couldn’t help but admire.
While the pacing occasionally lagged a bit in the latter half of the book, the gripping conclusion was refreshing. It was a tantalizing mix of shock and action, though I did find the resolution a tad tidy for my personal taste. And while the romance subplot involving a love triangle was definitely intriguing given the supernatural context, I yearned for a bit more emotional heft in its resolution.
Madrid’s atmospheric writing beautifully encapsulates Copper City’s eerie essence—a place where every whisper and shadow hints at a deeper mystery. The world-building crafted here is unsettling yet entrancing, reminiscent of tales I adore like Teen Witch and The Conjuring.
If you’re drawn to supernatural mysteries laced with revenge and the thick fog of unsettling intimacy, My Lips, Her Voice should definitely be next on your reading list. While I craved just a touch more in terms of horror, the intricacies of the plot and the depth of its characters had me hooked from beginning to end. I can’t wait to see what L.L. Madrid conjures up next!
A heartfelt thank you to Creature Publishing and L.L. Madrid for providing a gifted copy of this spellbinding read; these opinions are entirely my own. Happy reading!
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