Review of Silk, by Caitlin R. Kiernan

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Silk was a fascinating book for someone who loves strange horror and creepy tales. The story is a wonderfully crafted tale that keeps the reader guessing. The theme of the story is slightly pessimistic and grungy, but that theme just adds to the mood of the story. However, readers who do not like that kind of atmosphere should beware, because the story becomes very dark as it progresses. There is some homosexual romance between two of the female characters, but is centered around their tragic story rather than their relationship. The element that adds mystery and suspense is that the theme of mental instability is often present. At times it is difficult to decide whether the horrifying events that take place are actually happening, or if it is all in the characters minds.

The story centered around three female characters who's paths continue to cross and pull each other deeper into darkness, however the main plot of the story is never clear. The characters are well developed, and their conveyed emotions are raw and moving. The main character, Spyder Baxter has an affinity for spiders, brought on by a horrible event in her childhood that possibly triggered her mental illness. The story becomes dark and frightening when her friends decide to perform a drug hazed ritual in the basement of her house that she refuses to enter. Her friends are found the next day in a state of hysteria and have experienced unspeakable horrors and babbling about various nonsense. Spider-like creatures are released and proceed to hunt anyone associated with her, causing her friends and acquaintances to take extreme actions in their fear. The following events become chaotic and eerie until the story is resolved, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions about the what the characters saw.
It is interesting to try to attempt to figure out whether the events that happened to the characters and the things they saw were real, or just drug induced hallucinations that lead to extreme paranoia. The human minds ability to imagine things and accept them as reality is often a theme, as the characters attempt to rationalize the frightening creatures that the encounter.

Overall this book was one of the most interesting stories I have read in a long time, and it quickly became one of my favorite reads. If you are into a psychological thriller that makes you think, this is definitely a book for you.