They Bloom at Night out now from Bloomsbury YA; 272 pages
Content Warning: Foul language, body horror, body dysphoria, gender dysphoria, death, drowning, sexual assault (off-page, also discussed), racism, parental abandonment, murder, mention of domestic abuse
About the Author: “Trang Thanh Tran is a Vietnamese American writer telling all stories scary, otherworldly, and emotional. Trang grew up in a big family in Philadelphia but now calls the South home. When not writing, they’re busy trying new food and watching too many zombie movies. Their debut She is A Haunting was an instant New York Times and Indie bestseller” (Bio from author’s website).
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Mercy, Louisiana, is a scientific anomaly. Scientists abandoned the city, leaving it in the hands of the few remaining locals, and the strange, red algae that appeared after the last hurricane overtook the town, invading water sources and reaching for structures abandoned by those who fled. Noon and her mother chose not to run from the water, but rather to it, using their boat, Wild Things, to catch shrimp and other genetically mutated sea creatures to sell. When a scientist and some locals begin to go missing, Noon finds herself teaming up with her boss’s daughter, Covey, to chase the seemingly invisible trail of the unknown presence terrorizing Mercy. The monster could be anywhere or anyone, and Noon has to rely on sparse evidence to survive. But, there are two things she knows for certain: don’t answer the knocking, and don’t believe everything you see.
They Bloom at Night is a blend of Vietnamese mythology and sapphic horror, exploring scientific yet supernatural themes through Noon, a teen suffering an identity crisis. The thriller aspect of the book impressed me, as I found myself genuinely spooked by the graphic scenes and eerie monsters lurking in the water. Thanh Tran has a special way of setting the scene and making the reader fear their own shadow, and I love that I was left wanting more after every chilling event. The inclusion of scientific facts and details adds so much substance to the story, and I loved that I felt like I was learning along with the characters. The friendships explored in the novel felt genuine and meaningful, as the group of teens stuck by each other and helped one another through their own personal struggles. The relationship between Covey and Noon was particularly refreshing, as the two were set up to be rivals but found themselves growing closer as they investigated the town together. Noon’s character alone was extremely complex and layered, and the way her mind struggled between gender identity, familial struggles, and self-worth helped me grow closer to the character as the reader. There are countless details to the story of They Bloom at Night, and I found it to be a unique and diverse read. I have never read a YA thriller quite like this, and I applaud Thanh Tran for her phenomenal storytelling.
Callie Andrews, Pine Reads Review Writer, Social Media, and Web