My Five Word TL:DR Review: Perfect Combo of Horror/History

I have to confess that after reading, and I might add absolutely adoring The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, Mazywood was perhaps my most anticipated read for 2027. To say I raised this up onto a pedestal would be to understate the fact. And, I was absolutely bouncing around like a maniac when I was approved a copy. So, big boots to fill in all respects. And, I’m very happy to say that TD really has put together a perfectly winning and unique story combining fascinating movie history with family dynamics that spans the 1920s to present day.

This book is perhaps the most unique story I’ve read for a long time. It manages to bring together a story of a family covering four generations and it perfectly wraps everything together in the most satisfying way.

In a nutshell. The story it told in dual timelines. We jump back and forth starting with a young Mazelle in 1926 Gracetown, Florida to the present day where we follow Johnny Washington and his family. The two stories are connected primarily by family ties, Mazelle being Johnny’s grandmother. The two also share links in the movie industry. Mazelle having been a child star of the lates 20s and Johnny being a movie producer currently awaiting the green light to start a project he has been longing to make.

Anyway, in the present day story the Washington family decide, on a whim, to take a weekend break. Johnny inherited a lodge in the woods from his grandmother (Mazelle actually built this as a ski resort with it’s own slope and ski lift, this was opened during the years of segregation as a resort for Black celebrities and it was an achievement that Mazelle was very proud of with good reason). Johnny hasn’t visited the lodge since he was a child and in fact has never taken his family, something from that time troubles him deeply but reluctantly he agrees to this weekened break.

In the alternative storyline we follow Mazelle. We witness her rise as a child star working on a movie set accompanied by her dog and constant companion, Scout, as they perform all sorts of roles. This is a story fraught with the prejudices of the period and we witness Mazelle as she grows up and suffers all sort of ups and downs, setbacks, hardships, loss and other unmentionable acts.

Its difficult to tell you too much about the story without giving away massive spoilers. Lets just say that Mazelle’s dog Scout is very important to the story, and you would be right in thinking ‘but he’s a dog, so he can’t follow her entire life story’ but, therein lies the magic in the story and the elements that bring it not only the surprise factor but also the horror aspecs. I won’s say more than that.

Mazelle’s timeline is filled with horrible and horrific experiences. She’s a young girl who becomes, at a time when she should be enjoying her childhood, the responsible breadwinner for the whole family. She suffers abuse from a certain family member and is cast aside by the studio when she no longer has the childlike appeal that they are looking for.

Johnny and his family are about to step into a situation that is much more horror soaked and pretty soon escalates into ‘the cabin in the woods’ type horror.

The writing is really amazing. The author really draws you into both storylines and although at first I was really puzzled about how everything would come together she pulls it off.

In terms of the characters, both Mazelle and Johnny have suffered set backs and frustrations, predominantly as a result of prejudice, and this has affected them in different ways. Mazelle, can be very prickly, she isn’t always the kindest mother to her children but at the same time she suffered herself in so many ways, abuse, domestic violence and racial discrimination. It’s not particularly an easy story to always read but it is always compelling. Johnny finds himself in an angry place as his latest project is stalling for all the wrong reasons, he and his wife have complications of their own that they were little expecting and the two girls have picked up on the tension. This break is to try and break the ice and talk about family matters that need airing. I will say that Johnny though is the opposite of Mazelle when it comes to his family. He is very dedicated to his wife and daughters and that really comes across.

What I really loved about this is that it’s incredibly unique, wonderfully written and absolutely astonishing in the way it manages to cram so much into the story. So, you could be wondering why I’ve rated this 4 stars instead of 5. For me, Mazelle’s storyline really shines and was absolutely compelling, fascinating, jaw dropping and frustrating (in terms of the way she was treated). It was such a good story, the voice is perfect. I really loved reading about all the aspects of the world she was living in, to such an extent that although the modern day, shocking horror story that the Washington’s are dragged into was also unique and shocking, it wasn’t, for me, on a par with the other timeline and I always found myself wanting to get back to Mazelle. This is a very personal element that may just be me. But, I did find myself frustrated when I had to jump to the present day. And, to be honest, I felt like the chapters with the Washington’s felt like they were perhaps a little too drawn out. I really liked all the characters. Their situation really does become very tense and Due is excellent at ramping up the tension and creating a fantastic atmosphere, but in between the shock elements it felt like there was too much dialogue and going back and forth and I felt like it could have been sharpened a little. To be fair to the present day timeline though, I think, for me, it would always have suffered a little bit by comparison with Mazelle’s chapters even though it is a really intriguing story because that storyline was perfection.

So, in conclusion. This is brilliant and has definitely confirmed for me that TD has some amazing writing chops. I would have no hesitation in recommending this and I would also chuck in here that if you haven’t read The Reformatory then you really should – it’s an absolutely brilliant book that I can’t talk (or rave) about enough.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars