Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys

I picked this book based on appreciation for Tor and to support Ruthanna Emrys after looking up her website. I'm only familiar with Lovecraft in the most basic sense so Winter Tide was my introduction to his lore. I'm always open to new genres and thought Emrys' work might be the stepping stone to get me hooked on this area of speculative fiction. 

I was drawn into the book quickly and connected with the narrator's voice. It was just harder and harder to come back to it when I lost interest in the plot. The pacing is slow and moments that could have held suspense or surprise seemed to be presented in a way that made them bland rather than intriguing. 
Ultimately just not a book for me. I probably wouldn't have finished it were not an obligatory read. But it has its strengths that I assume will appeal to a niche group. I absolutely applaud Emry's for making her characters in the Lovecraftian universe the antithesis of the xenophobia apparently present in his work. I did really appreciate the found family that Aphra gathered, even if I wasn't invested in their aims.
I'm planning to recommend Winter Tide to a friend who's currently taking up Lovecraft to see what he thinks, but based on my personal lack of connection won't be recommending it generally.

​--Hannah Starling

Release Date: April 4, 2017