Review of Orinthia

[Harikesh Kumar 1]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Orinthia" by Most Everyone.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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This book aims to discuss mental health seriously, bringing light to the struggles that are not openly mentioned, such as intrusive thoughts, high-functioning anxiety, and non-suicidal depression. In this story, Orinthia is one of those accepted to take part in a trial to test medication, therapy, and physical exams to monitor their physical and mental health during the process. The story represents those who struggle with mental health and uses Orinthia and other characters to demonstrate how serious anxiety and depression are.
 
Orinthia decides for herself that she needs to participate in the trial for mental health, believing Potentia auxilium. In fact, it has to be a cure. Orinthia no longer wants to experience her panic and anxiety attacks or her tendency to overthink. Within the first twelve months, Orinthia doesn’t experience a change. Then she begins to hear voices in her head. Over time, Orinthia believes this is the cure from the trial, and she pushes through this change. But everything gets worse before things get better.
 
The book is written in the present tense, so readers read the narrative in real-time. This is a personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters. The first-person narrative also helps readers relate to the character as Orinthia shares her thoughts and feelings in real-time. On the one hand, this is a very descriptive book, taking the day one step at a time, even highlighting Orinthia’s observations. For example, there’s a spider in the corner, and the color of someone’s eyes reminds her of hunger.
 
On the other hand, the information provided in the story is important to the narrative, such as Orinthia’s thought process and surroundings. However, this is a very heavy book, both in regards to mental health awareness and story duration. In addition, the story begins to focus less on mental health and more on money-hungry companies, such as Potentia auxilium, and Orinthia’s tumultuous life.
 
This is not a casual read, not just because of the subject matter but also because of the extent of descriptions featured throughout the book. This book highlights that people struggling with mental health are tired of hearing the same speech every day about getting through their struggles; it is made clear that mental health is not psychological but rather a genuine illness, just like liver disease or kidney failure. The brain is an organ, and mental health needs to be taken seriously.

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Orinthia
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