HEX by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight

 

Hex by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We found a copy of this book in one of our local Street Libraries. I didn't know anything about it, but the blurb sounded interesting and the cover caught my eye, so we grabbed it.

Nell Barber was a PhD candidate in biological science, but after someone on her team died, she was expelled.

Now, she's decided to continue her work exploring poisons and antidotes via plants inside her empty apartment. While keeping an eye on her mentor, her mentor's annoying husband, staying in touch with her dreamy ex, interacting with her smart best friend, and her best friend's alluring boyfriend...

What a wonderfully strange and seductive book this turned out to be! Like I said above, I didn't know what to expect, so this little gem was an entertaining surprise.

As soon as Nell started telling her story, I got caught up in her weird and messy world. Her voice is blunt and seems straightforward, before you realise it's actually quite disorientating and leads you down a winding path full of problems. Her narrative isn't linear but then it is. She's judgy, but so damn interesting.

Her obsession with her mentor Joan borders on disturbing, but is so fascinating that I couldn't stop reading. The intense way she idolises this woman fuels her brash attitude and I enjoyed the turbulent ride.

Actually, all of the characters are quite annoying and on the arrogant or flippant side, but the way Nell tells her story makes everyone and everything so interesting I just wanted to know more. Needed to find out where this was going because I could tell it wasn't going to end well.

I loved the complicated relationships between these six characters, how they're all so intertwined in academic ways as well as by so many emotional ties. It really was quite an experience!

The friendship between Nell and Mishti was so cool. And all the informative poison plant/flower talk was really interesting too.

I had a hell of a good time reading this book because the writing style is so unique! 😊



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