Mental illness often feels like a storm, tearing through your life and shattering the very pieces that make you whole. Its impact ripples outward, touching everyone around you in ways they may never fully understand. Yet, for some, there’s a strange comfort in its constancy. What happens when that storm finally begins to settle? When the chaos, once familiar, starts to fade—who do you become then? These are the central questions explored in Muses, where a young author, after learning to manage their mental health, embarks on a global journey to piece their fragmented self back together.

In Muses, Abigail Mandlin creates a deeply immersive story that pulls readers in with its introspective narrative and raw emotional journey. The choice of an unnamed, undefined protagonist, coupled with a first-person perspective, allows readers to experience the story on an intimate level. I often found myself feeling like I was the one traveling, trying to gather the scattered parts of myself and make them whole again. Mandlin’s approach to storytelling makes it easy for readers to see themselves in the character’s shoes, making the journey both personal and universal. While there are slower moments in the novel, the pacing feels deliberate. As the narrator moves from one destination to another, Mandlin constantly shifts the scenery and the emotional landscape. This keeps the story fluid and engaging, providing a fresh perspective at every turn. The sense of movement, both physically and mentally, gives the book a dynamic quality that resonates long after reading. That said, while the first-person narrative and expansive scope are compelling, there were times I wished for more depth. Mandlin is clearly a talented writer, and her ability to evoke emotion and a sense of place is evident throughout the book. Certain scenes shine brilliantly, making me feel as though I was right there, walking in the narrator’s shoes. But other moments left me craving a deeper exploration, an emotional pull that didn’t quite materialize.

I highly recommend Muses to anyone who enjoys fiction that feels both reflective and expansive. It’s a novel for those who want to lose themselves in a journey, not just across the world but within the human experience. Mandlin’s storytelling is promising, and I look forward to seeing how she continues to evolve as a writer in her future works.

Pages: 174 | ASIN : B0CGL1ZN84