Early Review – Odd & True by Cat Winters (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: September 12, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1419723100
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: eGalley from NetGalley.com
Rating: 5/5 stars

“Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s curse. But now that Tru’s older, she’s starting to wonder if her older sister’s tales were just comforting lies, especially because there’s nothing fantastic about her own life—permanently disabled and in constant pain from childhood polio.

In 1909, after a two-year absence, Od reappears with a suitcase supposedly full of weapons and a promise to rescue Tru from the monsters on their way to attack her. But it’s Od who seems haunted by something. And when the sisters’ search for their mother leads them to a face-off with the Leeds Devil, a nightmarish beast that’s wreaking havoc in the Mid-Atlantic states, Tru discovers the peculiar possibility that she and her sister—despite their dark pasts and ordinary appearances—might, indeed, have magic after all.”

I have read all of Cat Winters books and I have to say this one ranks up there with A Steep and Thorny Way (which was my favorite book of hers to date). I enjoyed this so much more than her previous book, Yesternight.

I really enjoyed this Cat Winters book about two monster hunting sisters. It’s an interesting story that is as much about the hardships of growing up, as it is about hunting down a monster. I enjoyed the idea of these monster themed stories driving a lot of the characters’ lives.

This was a unique read in an interesting setting. I loved the close relationship between the two main sisters, Od and Tru. Despite all of the chaos (or maybe because of) they support and help each other in a way that is admirable and sweet.

The story ends in an excellent place and I absolutely loved it. I would love to read more about Od and Tru. The story ends up having more of a magical realism tone to it than paranormal or urban fantasy. By the end you are not really sure what is real and what is not.

Overall this was an excellent story about hardships, growing up, monsters, and myths. I would recommend to those who enjoy paranormal stories set in the 1920’s (or thereabouts in this time period). I can’t wait to see what Winters comes up with next!

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– New Release Reading Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
– Paranormal Reading Challenge
– YA Reading Challenge