Gretel grew up on a houseboat off the grid with her mother, speaking an invented language all their own. They lived in fear of a lurking river creature they called ‘the Bonak’.

One day Gretel is abandoned by her mum. As an adult, she seeks to understand why.

Emotionally damaged protagonist unravels the mysteries of her childhood to find her missing mother. This is not the sort of book I would usually choose. Reading about broken family relationships hits me right in the guts.

But I couldn’t pull myself out of the book’s grasp.

The writing style is just oozing with talent. The setting and characters are uncanny, even creepy.

The structure is non-linear, and you will need to go with the flow as the story unfolds. It feels like you are swimming slowly in a murky river of memories and observing moments as they float by.

My only criticism is that it was over-saturated with different symbolic elements. Language shaping reality, Greek and fairytale mythology, memory, gender fluidity, free will vs determinism. Some of these could have been spared.

‘Everything Under’ made my numb, emotionally avoidant heart quiver. Was this book cathartic? Not really. It’s more depressing and confronting.

If you’ve ever felt abandoned by family, ‘Everything Under’ is going to slither its cold tendrils through your lungs and squeeze.

The final revelations will make you writhe.

I have no choice but to give it 5 out of 5 dark and twisted secrets.

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Review: Fen by Daisy Johnson

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