Dead Girls Don’t Dream is a beautiful, haunting, eerie book. Nino Cipri has a knack for writing surreal body horror scenes that unsettle the reader. The imagery is a delightful, horrifying twist on every fairytale that takes place in the woods.
The storytelling structure is truly unique. The reader gets to experience plot events mostly through Madelyn, the daughter of the Witch of the Woods, and Riley, the daughter of a young woman who disappeared years earlier. Madelyn has magic of her own. Riley is touched by the supernatural when she’s resurrected from the dead. (This isn’t really a spoiler, it was in the book description on Libby.)
Some pieces of the story fit together easily. Readers will identify who the Witch of the Woods is early. They may even connect some less obvious plot points as the story shifts perspectives. Some details and resolutions are harder to connect. This makes it an enjoyable read for those who like the thrill of solving a mystery.
Themes of family connection and sisterhood are woven through the events of the novel. The book also deals with hard topics like loss and watching loved ones struggle with addiction. The presence of queer characters was a pleasant surprise. (I didn’t know anything about the author prior to starting the novel.)
Overall, I’d give it five stars and recommend it to anyone looking for an eerie supernatural read.
Trigger Warnings: addiction, overdose, parent death, witchcraft, body horror
