Magic and Murder - A Review Of Memories of Sorrow Book 1: Obsession

Obsession, By Ang Roffe

One of the things I love most about writing for What Sleeps Beneath is that it always challenges me in a way that makes you feel like you’ve learned or experienced something new. In the same way we ask our readers to think about horror and to talk about horror with others, we ask ourselves to explore the genre—and the sub- and niche-genres within it. While I have notably been the true crime expert since we launched, I’ve been proactively trying to expand my reach and introduce myself to some of the other dark corners of this community. With the winter months upon us, the easiest way to do this has been through books and short stories, which is why I agreed to pick up Ang Roffe’s Memories of Sorrow Book 1: Obsession for an honest review.

For me, the decision came quite easily; the prose was moreso a novella (easy to get through in one sitting, but I took my time), was written for young adults (yes, I think even though I turned 30 six months ago I still am one), and it had one very obvious detail pulling at my heartstrings: a serial killer. In a nutshell, Obsession follows protagonist Shion, a loner-type teenage boy struggling with his relationship with his parents, his friends, and keeping his magic abilities secret. To make matters worse, he’s quickly becoming a suspect in the gruesome murders plaguing the small town—especially because he’s been drawing them before they happen.

Just as I’ve dropped that little-big bomb on you, Roffe thrusts readers into wanting to unravel the mystery, in a way that reminded me of the styles found in classic Goosebumps novels. Against the backdrop of a less-than-ideal school attended by Shion, his only two friends, and other characters in the novella, the story ventures into other imaginative alternate realms all while intertwining emotional turmoil with social issues. 

We learn rather early on of Shion’s drawing coincidences and are also able to quickly pick up on his friend’s suspicion and the community’s view of magic. While the reader is not sure whether they should trust Shion, the amount of action, unexpected plot turns, and emotional depth contribute to a compelling and cohesive reading experience. What’s more is that while I was able to breeze through each cinematic-like detail with pleasure and ease, I was also able to pick up on details and things about the novella’s characters, exposing ideas about how people adapt to extraordinary circumstances of every kind—death, especially.

Desperate to prove his innocence and unmask the elusive killer, time seems to be the enemy in this story—and it’s running out. Obsession’s well-crafted narrative, memorable characters, and exploration of forbidden magic will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment to unravel the dark tapestry of magic and murder.

I’m very grateful to have been one of the winners of Ang Roffe’s book giveaway and looking forward to the release of the second.

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Article written by Destiny King

Destiny writes about true crime and thrillers. She likes movies and stories that make you question the world around you, more so than what makes you jump.

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