Fates and Furies was an interesting read—written first from the perspective of the husband in this complicated relationship, then from the perspective of his wife. Their love seemed to take hold early with a brightly glowing flame, but as with many things that look so easy on the surface, darkness and secrets lingered underneath.
The book captured my attention early, and it mostly held it through the twists and surprises that come toward the end. I enjoyed the writing style, which was descriptive enough without being too metaphor-laden. And I enjoyed the different voices of Lotto and Mathilde, the two in this couple who each took a turn at narrating the tale of their lives.
Otherwise, the book was not particularly remarkable. At some points, the stories felt forced and crafted too much in a way that whispered (but did not scream) “trying to hold the reader’s interest.” At other points, though, the simplicity of the arc in the first half of the book felt comfortable. Or perhaps comforting.
The book is long, and but for a long drive I had planned, I’m not certain I would have committed to it. But I’m glad I did. It was not a story that will stay with me, but it is one that entertained me for a couple of weeks.