Kyle Lybeck's Literary Lair
When I saw this duo was back at it again, I was expecting a twisted, gruesome, horror novel, such was The Woman. Boy was I surprised. This novella didn't go anywhere I thought it would, and I was thoroughly happy with the final product.

Sam is a forensic pathologist who lives with her husband Patrick (a graphic novelist), and their aging arthritic cat, Zoey. They are a very happy married couple, living their lives just how they've always wanted to. After a great night of sex, they wake up, but something has changed. Sam... has changed. What was Sam is now in the form of Lily, a young five year old girl. Patrick is beside himself and can't understand what has happened. Lily freaks out and screams at Patrick every time he calls her Sam. His wife is now mentally a small child, wanting only to watch cartoons, play with Barbies, and hold her teddy bear.

Patrick takes Sam to their regular doctor, who can't find anything wrong with her. He suggests that a brain scan should be in order to see if something more serious is at play. In the mean time, Patrick is forced to be living with his wife in this state of mind. He has to treat her like a small child, buy her toys to keep her entertained, and make sure that she takes a shower like a good little girl. What starts happening though, is that Patrick has to try and hold back from doing things with his wife that he's used to. Holding her and touching her in a sexual way.

He takes her to get the brain scan, but that also leaves them with no answers. Patrick hopes that he can keep her in the house and that she'll magically change back. Day in and day out, she watches TV while he works on his graphic novels, dodging phone calls from her employer, and lying about taking Sam to a psychiatrist.

Does Sam come back from her state of being Lily? Can Patrick hold back the sexual urges from taking him over?

This was a very good novella, but I do wish it was more of a novel length. I kept imagining what else could have happened in their life with Sam in this condition. This was definitely more of a quiet, psychological style of work, and I was quite surprised at how much I liked it, as I was expecting a gruesome thriller from these two. Definitely recommend it.

Overall grade : A-

Review by Kyle Lybeck



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