The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher – Amazon Original Series
Published – Out Now
Price – £2.99 kindle eBook
Judith knows her sister, Alice, is the pretty one—but that doesn’t stop her from wishing for love. When a handsome and gentlemanly hunter appears in their village, seeking lodging from the cold, she believes her lover has finally arrived. He does, indeed, choose to stay—but as Alice’s husband, not her own. When another stranger comes out of the woods, looking every bit a vagrant, he offers Judith something mysterious and enticingly strange. Against reason and decency, she welcomes both men into her life, in different ways. As forbidden longings ensnare each of them, an unrelenting winter storm and an evasive wolf on the prowl have everyone on edge…and ravenous. By spring thaw, will any of their hungers be satisfied?
A folk tale can be charming; can be cosy but deep down I like a tale with a bite of some kind. Be that a monster or some depth in themes. Feet up with a tale on a cold night the occasional shiver is fun whilst reading. So one of my favourite authors Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a new short story and I really enjoyed The Lover for a host of reasons and yes there is a sharp edge or too awaiting you.
Judith is the younger sister to Alice and has been taught by her family to know her place. Alice marries wealthy; her husband dies and a wealthy guest house is the reward where Alice works hard. A young hunter captures her heart but very soon Nathaniel instead marries Alice. But there is clearly some connection between the two and Alice finds an unusual man hovering around the local town offering a challenge in other ways. Where is Alice’s future and is she in more danger than she thought.
Moreno-Garcia in a short tale brings about a tale of lust, betrayal, self-discovery and revenge. Everyone in this story is a flawed person – all acting on their own desires and not caring about the wider impacts and yet we understand them and their actions. In particular with Judith, it’s a woman discovering she can be more than a family servant – her discovery of sex, lust and taking what she wants is quite key to the story and Moren-Garcia paints this in suitably shadowy atmospherics of woods, small huts and possible monsters. At the same time there are men circling Judith and in the woods we have a hungry wolf too. Are the men just additional dangerous animals awaiting to ensnare Judith and will discard when they’re done. Will Judith really go ahead and betray her sister?
We have a really interesting family drama playing out quickly and on the edges the hint of the supernatural too at play. By the end no one ends the hero but everyone plays to their role in quite unexpected ways. Short, sharp and delicious reading awaits.
