Constellations of Scars
by Melissa Eskue Ousley
Published by: Midnight Tide Publishing
Publication date: June 9th 2021
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy
“An indelible story of loving yourself in a world of dreadful realities.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Not all gifts are a blessing. Some are a curse.
When Amelia turned 12, she began growing pearls. Every month, a crop of beautiful pearls bursts from the skin on her back. Her mother, Denise, believes her daughter is blessed, and sells the pearls to put food on the table. Amelia sees her condition as a curse. As the pearls form, her body aches and her skin grows feverish. The harvest of pearls brings temporary relief from the pain, but leaves her back marred by scars. Denise hides Amelia away from the world, worried that Amelia’s gift will be discovered and she will be abducted for the wealth she can provide. Now a young woman, Amelia realizes she has become her mother’s captive, and plans her escape. When she runs away from home, she finds a new family in a troupe of performers at a museum of human oddities. She soon discovers the world is much more dangerous than her mother feared.
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Review:
Constellations of Scars by Melissa Eskue Ousley was a hard to put down, addicting read that was fast paced and thoroughly entertaining. It’s a bit of a fairytale and a horror story, which was a really intriguing mix of genres.
The cover is what drew me to reading this story and thankfully, I judged a book by its cover this time. What was inside the pages was excellent. I loved the writing. It kept me engaged from page one.
The characters are excellent as well. I felt like I was able to connect to them, easily.
The only downside was, I wish it was longer! Otherwise, I loved it. Definitely recommend giving it a read!
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the review copy and opportunity to honestly review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Rating:
5/5☆
Melissa Eskue Ousley is an award-winning author living on the Oregon coast with her family, a neurotic dog, two charming cats, and a piranha. Her suspense novel, Pitcher Plant, is set in Seaside, and won a 2018 Independent Publisher Book Award. Her young adult novel, Sunset Empire, debuted in a bestselling boxed set. Her short stories have been included in Rain Magazine, The North Coast Squid, and various anthologies. When she’s not writing, she can be found volunteering for her local wildlife center, caring for injured owls and hawks.
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Jessica Belmont 
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