Constellations of Scars

by Melissa Eskue Ousley

• ISBN10: 1953238203
• ISBN13: 9781953238207
• Publish Date: 15 December 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Midnight Tide Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 258
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Melissa Eskue Ousley's latest novel, Constellation of Scars, is a novel with one of the most unique premises I have ever read.

Amelia is what her mother calls blessed, while she considers herself cursed. You see, every month, pearls sprout from her back. Given that her family needs the money, her mother is happy to collect the pearls and sell them.

Amelia would prefer they never come back, as each time they do, they cause nothing but pain – literally. Even their removal doesn't ease her pain much, as they leave behind nothing but scars. Worse, she lives in constant fear of somebody wanting her as their golden goose. Only to realize that she has already become exactly that.

Constellation of Scars is without a doubt one of the most chilling novels I've read in quite a long time. Amelia's story, while it sounds extraordinary, is actually terrifying. Imagine how it must feel to have something so beautiful yet painful stem from your skin. And worse, to then be held captive because of it.

It hits hard, and it gets worse the more you think about it. There's no escaping her reality, especially as Melissa Eskue Ousley did such a fantastic job of setting the scene. Almost too well, in some instances.

Knowing the truth of what is happening here makes the title extremely evocative. And okay, it also ups the terrifying level a bit, at least for me. That, combined with the unique idea, left me completely engrossed in this tale right up to the end.

Thanks to Midnight Tide Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Inkslinger]

'Constellations of Scars' by Melissa Eskue Ousley had such an unusual premise, I just couldn't pass it up. The story follows Amelia, a girl in her early twenties with one incredibly unique attribute. Her body grows pearls.

 

Every month, a crop of valuable pearls breaks through the skin along her back. Her mother considers it a blessing, but to Amelia it's the opposite. It's painful and humiliating. Each harvest offers a brief respite from the agony of the crop, but the scars left behind are almost as embarrassing as the cause.

 

Kept hidden, home-schooled, and even locked away at times in the attic to 'keep her safe,' Amelia just dreams of freedom. Having been told since the pearls began growing that if anyone finds out about her gift, she'll be held captive out of greed, she soon realizes she's already in that situation at home.

 

This is such a strange little story and I mean that in the nicest way. Amelia is not a weak girl, she really suffers with the crops of pearls and she has been through an awful experience with her mother. She's been isolated and controlled for almost half her life, stripped of any semblance of privacy, berated and tormented.

 

Determined to achieve a better existence for herself, she sets goals and pushes hard toward them. She doesn't give up at the first sign of difficulty. Amelia is probably one of the strongest female protagonists I've ever read, without becoming overbearing or being turned into a tough stereotype. She shows moments of vulnerability, but perseveres.. even in the worst of moments.

 

Along the way, she finds a new family.. a group of human oddities that help run a museum on the coast. While she discovers what it's like to be on her own, experiences a lot of firsts, and even begins to form deep, long-lasting relationships.. not everything is sunny in the beachside town. There are dangers lurking that she isn't equipped to recognize.

 

While I did see part of the twist coming, it still went a completely different direction than I expected and I really enjoyed that. The supporting cast is a bit stereotyped, but they were lovely characters.. especially Gabriel.

 

If you're looking for something a bit strange, this one is a quick read. There is quite a bit of darkness here, but that just added to the atmosphere. It's not complex storytelling, but I think you'll find it's so intriguing that you won't mind.

 

(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)