Children of the Fog by C. W. Anderson

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When I was younger, I often felt like stories focusing sibling relationships were hard to find. There was often too much emphasis on romantic relationships or friend groups. I am not sure how much of that is true, or just in my memory. I have a brother who I am close to and because of all of this, I am drawn to stories that centre sibling relationships. I also enjoy stories about characters who experienced something while they were young that returns to haunt them in adulthood (thankfully, that preference is not based on my real life). Children of the Fog hits on both these themes.

Lizzy and Dylan went through a traumatic experience together when they were children, and it tore them apart. Lizzy dreams of a "normal life" where she can forget the scars of her past and Dylan refuses to let go. Lizzy has a career and a loving partner, while Dylan is a homeless nomad, existing in the less acceptable parts of society. But the sinister presence that ruined their childhood is back and they must face it, together.

I had some difficulty with this one. The author has crafted each scene with great care, but that comes through mainly in overly detailed descriptions and heavy prose. I often felt like there was a solid, terrifying story struggling to be told under the weight of the lengthy paragraphs and dream-like verse. I often found my mind drifting as I read, and I would have to refocus on the text to follow along. I could stop and appreciate the descriptions for what they were and the work put into them, but it detracted from the plot far too much for my personal taste.

The book does have a strong, creepy atmosphere that shines through the descriptions, if that is your taste. When the author reveals the tragedy that befell Lizzy and Dylan as children, that scene was one of the more horrifying things I've ever read. I can appreciate strong, literary writing, but I would have preferred this one be pared down into a shorter work with a tighter focus. 

Despite my less than stellar review, I do think there is potential here and some strong writing. I believe with some more experience, C. W. Anderson could develop into a writer I would rave about, and I am willing to check out their future work.

 

 

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