Publication Date: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Harper Prenennial
Pages: 416
Genre: Thriller with horror elements
Rating: 4/5
*I was gifted a copy of this book through Netgalley but I also preordered a copy.
Rainbow Black follows Lacey, who is a 13 year old girl in 1990 as she is trying to come to terms with her sexuality amongst the back drop of the Satanic Panic. The Satanic Panic is a time in history that I have been intrigued by since I first heard of it because I can’t believe that people just went along with the craziness. And for that reason I really loved the premise of this book.
Lacey’s life is completely upturned when her parents are arrested for ritualistic abuse of the kids, past and present, that are/went to their day care. What happens from there is a series of shocking and horrifying events as Lacey is trying deal with what is happening with her parents, as well as just being a teenager in a town where she is being ostracized and also coming to terms with being a lesbian in a time where it was less socially acceptable.
Thrash completely transported me to the 90’s and did such an incredible job of making that time in history come alive. She also did an impeccable job of perfecting the setting while telling a compelling story and creating Lacey, who is a character that your heart just aches for. I could not put the first half of this book down and it seemed like something shocking or interesting was happening all the time. Which unfortunately did not translate to the second half. It was not as interesting and I didn’t like Lacey in the second half nearly as much as I did Lacey in the first half.
Overall though this was a really well done thriller. I honestly had no idea where this story was going to go the entire time I was reading it. Thrash blew me away with her fantastic writing and the whole premise of this book was well thought out. Rainbow Black is Thrash’s first adult novel and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Books With Cassie 