Odd & True by Cat Winters

Let me startoff by saying, I have never read a book by Cat Winters and boy have I been missing out. More than once, the story was so gripping that I cried. I am fond of historical fiction with paranormal elements and this book fits perfectly. Going in, I was expecting a quick and fun paranormal novel, but it’s so much more than that. First and foremost it’s a story about family. There are lots of secrets, which causes misery as secrets tend to do. That’s not all though. It also deals with hope.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars.

Comes out 12 September.

Odd & True focuses on the close relationship between two sisters. I find it refreshing to read about sisters who stand up for each other, instead of tearing each other down. The youngest sister, Trudchen or Tru, is permanently disabled and suffers from chronic pain due to having polio as a child. Despite struggling, it doesn’t stop her from living life to the fullest. That is one of the many reasons why I love this story.

The story is told from both sisters’ perspectives. The chapters from the oldest sister, Odette or Od, are set in the past before she comes home, while Tru’s are set after Od’s return. It fits the story well. The mystery unravels organically throughout the story as we learn more about their family and upbringing. All the way through there is an underlying sense of otherworldliness, which drives you to keep turning page after page.

At first glance it seems that Tru is weak while Odette is strong. Looking beyond first impressions, there is an air of desperate sadness about Od. She holds on to tales of the supernatural with an almost frightening fierceness. Tru, on the other hand, is skeptical, she’s not completely convinced that the stories her sister told her are true. Right until the very end, you’ll experience a feeling of uncertainty. It makes you question what is real or not.

The story brings darkness in spades. In fact, I think repeated heartbreak should be listed as a side effect of reading Odd & True. Fortunately, the darkness never becomes too much to distinguish the hope in the sisters’ hearts. The perseverance of these sisters is admirable. The ending is beautiful, it ties up everything perfectly. It’s a standalone, but I love Od and Tru so much that I would gladly read a whole series focused on their adventures.

*I received an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*