After a whirlwind romance aboard a cruise ship, the newly married Nina Treadway, a Florida Native finds herself on the small British Island of Lute. Nina has always struggled to fit in and is finding it difficult in the small close-knit community especially since she married Lord Hugh Treadway and she is now Lady Treadway. Now, Nina is in her seventh year on the island and is a mother of two. The family is supposed to take a vacation on the summer solstice, but bad luck and circumstance keep the family on the island. Lute has always had a strong tradition around the summer solstice that Nina has never quite understood. The locals simply call every seventh summer solstice The Day. The Day is when the island takes its tithe for good weather, good luck and overall harmony for the next seven years. Hugh's father died seven years ago on the last Day, so Nina is no stranger to what it can bring, but still doesn't believe the superstitions of the people of Lute surrounding The Day; until now, when Nina has no choice to be part of the day as Lady Treadway.
Lute is folk horror combining the mythology of the shining ones with a dash of Midsommar and Final Destination. The horror and tension surrounding The Day builds slowly as Lute prepares. The story is told through Nina's point of view alone, so everything about The Day is new and confusing as an outsider, wondering how an island could possibly make seven people die every seven years. Then, the terror hits, sneaking, taking it's time, making your wonder what is next, questioning every move you make and if it could somehow do you in. I was really interested in the source of The Day, a mysterious, supernatural power. Through Nina, some of the history of the island unfolds, but I really wish there could be a deeper dive. Intense, well-drawn characters create an even more interesting atmosphere. Nina's backstory unravels with the day as she finds her place amongst the town as a leader of Lute while Hugh descends into resentment of his position on Lute and what it means for his family. With all horror, the source of the worst parts aren't what you can't see, but what you can. A surprising ending left me wanting to know more about Lute and its future.
Lute is folk horror combining the mythology of the shining ones with a dash of Midsommar and Final Destination. The horror and tension surrounding The Day builds slowly as Lute prepares. The story is told through Nina's point of view alone, so everything about The Day is new and confusing as an outsider, wondering how an island could possibly make seven people die every seven years. Then, the terror hits, sneaking, taking it's time, making your wonder what is next, questioning every move you make and if it could somehow do you in. I was really interested in the source of The Day, a mysterious, supernatural power. Through Nina, some of the history of the island unfolds, but I really wish there could be a deeper dive. Intense, well-drawn characters create an even more interesting atmosphere. Nina's backstory unravels with the day as she finds her place amongst the town as a leader of Lute while Hugh descends into resentment of his position on Lute and what it means for his family. With all horror, the source of the worst parts aren't what you can't see, but what you can. A surprising ending left me wanting to know more about Lute and its future.
RSS Feed
