MM Reviews: Wilted

Title: Wilted
Author: Nereid
Type: Original Fiction
Genre: Tragedy | Teen
Rating: R

“Sunrise was at 7:38. It was the edge of winter, early December and frost was biting bitterly at my windows, trying to get in and take my little rain forest into a much colder climate. I’d brought the plants in from my little balcony a week ago, before the temperatures dipped into the negatives.”

Kat likes to garden. She potters around in the garden, ignoring the stress of the real world and instead engrossing herself in a world full of green and light. Latin phrases seem to roll effortlessly off of her tongue as she tends to her plants, ensuring that each and every one of them is given a chance at life, a possibility to grow and survive with the love and nurture they deserve.

However, as the days go on, it is evident that something far darker than gardening is growing on the edge of Kat’s mind. From the light and airy carefree feeling that gardening exudes, her narrative slowly descends into the darkness of the ground as evidence of her mental illness start to materialise from deep within.

Wilted is a story filled with beautiful imagery and stunning vocabulary. With a seamless transition between seeming normality and a sharp spiral downwards, this story is not for the faint of heart. Kat is a strong, well-rounded character that many will find themselves relating to as they learn more about her. Whether you relate to the solace she finds in gardening or her sharp temper, you will find yourself appreciating her more and more the more you read.

Dealing with a subject matter as heavy as mental illness can be harrowing, but Nereid does a fantastic job of portraying it in a realistic light. With 15 chapters currently posted, Wilted is a story that readers can really get their teeth stuck into!

Special thanks to losing control. and isak valtersen for editing!