TW: Allusions to violence and SA (graphic depictions of SA in the novella) Three Days in the Pink Tower is not for the light-hearted. It pulls no punches, it doesn’t hold back, it is intense and at times uncomfortable to read. It follows the story of a girl who is kidnapped and confined in the titular Pink Tower, based on the author EV Knight’s true experiences. Besides the brilliant cover design which originally captured my attention when it came to reading this book, Knight’s writing is sincere and to the point. No words are wasted as she brings you along the harrowing story of trauma and tragedy that far too many innocent people have to face. Josey’s story is one of survival, and how she used the power within her and the help of tarot cards to guide her through her darkest times and lead her to sanctuary. The tarot cards serve as an interesting and unique story mechanic, introducing us to each new day while also clueing us in on what the next few pages may hold. The story perfectly interweaves tarot cards into the narrative in a way that is easily accessible to readers who don’t have much experience with them (such as myself). Although I have not personally dabbled with them before, it is refreshing to see a story depicting tarot cards as a source of hope and guidance rather than the cliché ‘demonic’ cards that should be condemned and shunned. Going back to the story itself, although it was not too long, it took me a while to read it. I can’t remember the last time a book made me feel such dread. After reading the author’s note of the story, we all know what exactly is going to happen, but we don’t know when. Every word is dripped in suspense and agony as we wait for the inevitable, all while getting to know more about our young protagonist whose life is just beginning. Finally, when we do get to the pivotal moment of the story, we watch as Josey naively falls into a trap. She shouldn’t have to have her guard up and she shouldn’t have to be scared, but (like all of us) she lives in a world where we constantly face danger. And by the end of it, no amount of hoping is going to save her from her fate. Josey herself is a really remarkable protagonist. In every aspect, she feels real, as if she’s someone you know or could’ve known. Her thoughts, emotions and reactions are organic and it’s easy to imagine yourself in her shoes. Through her eyes, readers can clearly see how there isn’t a certain type of ideal victim: this can happen to anyone. I love how the story depicts her, going against the idea that in order to be absolved of blame or given sympathy, victims need to be perfect, flawless and innocent. Oftentimes victims are judged based on what they were wearing, where they were going, when they were outside etc., and even throughout the novella our main character sometimes blames herself for the situation she’s ended up in. However, one thing that the book makes absolutely clear is that Josey is in no way responsible for the hand that has been dealt to her. Josey’s not a perfect, straight As, church-going girl. She is just a simple teenager, playing around and having fun with friends. She questions her faith, she wears silk panties and she flirts with guys who aren’t her boyfriend. Yet this doesn’t make her at fault for anything that happens to her or her pain any less heartbreaking. The only mistake she ever made was showing kindness to two strangers. This story stayed with me for a long time after reading, and I still think of it to this day. It definitely isn’t an easy read, even for myself who usually reads dark content, and I wouldn’t recommend it to a sensitive reader. However, if you can brace yourself to read through the powerful tale of one girl’s journey through a very real, human horror, then I’d definitely recommend this novella. I think, more than anything else, this is a story of survival and perseverance. Of finding your source of hope in dark times and pushing through to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Find your tarot cards. Find your beacon of hope, and live another day. Three Days in the Pink Tower is forthcoming from Creature Publishing. You still have time to pre-order it right before its release on July 12th. Jaidah-Leigh Wyattis a Canadian-Jamaican student, slowly making her way through the writing world. She aims to not only write, but be impactful and play her part in making the world a less judgmental and more accepting place for people everywhere.
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