Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal

Abstract

Reviewed by: Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal Kiri Palm O’Neal, Kristen Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses. Quirk, 2021 [384p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781683692348 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781683692355 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 Priya should be at Stanford, but instead she’s stuck at her family’s home in New Jersey, struggling with chronic Lyme disease. While her parents and siblings try to support her, it’s in her relationship with online friend Brigid that Priya feels most normal. Brigid is chronically ill, too, suffering from a mysterious condition that leaves her exhausted and weak, unable to go to college or work a full-time job. When Brigid ghosts her for several days, Priya gives in to her worry, driving across states to try to find her never-before-seen friend and make sure she’s okay. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished, and Priya reaches Brigid’s home to find a terrifying, wolf-like beast who, impossibly, walks on its hind legs. O’Neal’s debut novel is a rollercoaster of emotion, full of dark humor, heartbreaking descriptions of life with illness, hints of romance, and frightening sequences of human vs. monster. The surprise reveal of Brigid’s ailment is spoiled by the title, but there’s an odd enjoyment that comes with being in on her secret when Priya is not. Text and online exchanges allow heavy conversations to clip by with raw honesty and wry jokes that will ring true for readers with health issues of their own. At the heart of both the story is the relationship between Priya and Brigid, which beautifully illustrates the strange, codependent connection of close friends. Their love for one another is fierce, occasionally volatile, and enduring in the face of adversity while it’s also frequently at the root of the girls’ problems. Fans of fantasy, horror, and friendship will be sure to gobble this up. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois