Wax (Parts 1-6)
Wax
By Amy Cross
Wax (Part 1)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
This is my first of many Amy Cross books. She is a very prolific writer. This particular book was originally written as a six part serial. Each being released separately. Now the only way you can find it is combined into one volume. Since I have the serial version I will be writing about each part in one entry. A lot like I do with short stories. First impression of this books it that it is, so far (50% of the way through), well written with a few error here and there. More than likely a kindle version trascription issue. I have a sensitivity to the subject matter. The main character Rachel is trying to find her biological mother and has been looking for quite some time. I myself have reservations about this kind of search but to each their own. The one redeeming factor for me is that both of her adoptive parents have passed away. They are described as loving, caring people who took very good care of Rachel. So I do appreciate this.
So far Rachel seems like a relatively intellegent individual other than her choice in men and her obsession with this search. I suspect that her search is going to come to an end here at the beginning. She has been researching for so long that it's going to be interesting to see how she reacts to no long having that purpose.
Then there is Brad. Very first impression is that he is a decent bloke. He's there with her. Visiting the Evelyn's with her. Being supportive. Aaaaand then he gains access to alcohol and becomes an annoying asshole who just can't seem to stop at tipsy. In fact, he's not very bright as he made the decision to mix wine and beer with the beer coming first. Dude is going to be worshiping at the porciline alter at some point. Or maybe he's just that much of an alcoholic that he won't. The sad thing is that he seems a decent type until he gets booze in him.
The Girl in the forest is an unknown still. I'm sure at some point we will learn her identity but thus far neither the reader or character knows who she is and what she is doing there. She has feelings but no true memories of her surroundings. I think that she is dead, perhaps an echo, but I could be wrong.
Bernard and Evelyn are also elusive. Bernard seems to spend all of his time with his phonograph going through wax cylinders and playing them. I'm wondering if this is the wax part but who knows. As for Evelyn we still have seen nothing of her but a hand. A frail, pale hand. I don't know if she is alive, a ghost, undead or something else. This is the women Rachel has traveled to see. She is the sixth and last Evelyn in the UK and her last chance to find the woman that gave birth to her. To get her questions answered.
Closing thoughts:
Wrapping the first part will leave you wanting. Which is exactly what a serial release is meant to do. I will say that the way Rachel handles her interaction with Bernard rubs me the wrong way. She is in his home. If he wants her to leave then she needs to get the fuck out. With or with-out her answers. When she grabs him I wanted to smack the shit out of her. It's completely inappropriate and potentially could be construed as assault.
The entrance of Evelyn comes just in time. If she had not shown herself would Rachel have searched the house? Would she have sat out front the house in the car waiting? I mean her obsession became clear when she put hands on an old man. Now I will say this...just as Rachel has made the decision to look for her birth mother, Evelyn has every right to deny her a meeting. Plus we have some information that points toward Evelyn being departed so when she comes down those stairs at the end it leaves you hanging.
Wax (Part 2)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Starting right where the last one left off, we meet Evelyn. She seems like an intelligent, kind, if not eccentric person. She is not surprised to see Rachel. In fact, I get the impression that she is glad to have her and to be able to share things with her. Rachel also seems to be quite happy to have made this connection with Evelyn.
It does seem that Evelyn and Bernard avoid certain questions. With some of it I'm not sure, Evelyn especially, even remembers details of certain events in their lives. They seem like very private people but I don't think it is because of societal reasons or anything like that. I think it is for far darker reasons.
I still don't understand the roll of the little girl. It seems that, so far, Brad is the only person to see her. I fell like there is going to be more of an interaction between the two of them; additionally, Brad snoops a bit and finds something interesting. Honestly, as long as he's not been drinking, Brad is okay.
Closing thoughts:
I think Evelyn did die. I think somehow Bernard brought her back and she is now immortalized in wax. Kind of a creepy thought, or maybe she is the mastermind and is using Bernard. A scheme to live forever perhaps? Regardless there is obviously something wrong within Harlham Hall, and our part 2 ends with Brad finding this out. He should have just gone back to bed.
Wax (Part 3)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Well with the abscondment of Brad we find out a little bit about the process Bernard is using to keep Evelyn going. The question is: Is the real Evelyn alive somewhere in the house? I mean, wax Brad was able to function normally with real Brad still alive in the basement. I do wonder because it takes the blood of the person to make a wax replica so he has to have at least her blood somewhere. Who knew Bernard was such a force to be reckoned with!
I'm not sure why he thought that they would be able to keep their secret having Brad and Rachel in the house. Sooner or later they would have either found or suspected something was not right. Especially with Evelyn. Wax does not need to eat, or drink, or use the bathroom after all. Brad felt that there was something off from the first day. And he was right. When Brad disappeared for a few hours Rachel started to feel like something was not right...finally. And then she found out how very right she was at the end of this part. Not to the reader: Wax and heat do not mix...at least in this case. Man I would be scarred for life. It should be interesting to see how they explain this in part four, or if they even can; Although, I do have to say that it's probably a good thing that this happened before he got his trousers off. I can't see him being anatomically correct. In my minds eye I saw something like a Ken doll.
Closing thoughts:
The preface/1st chapter in part 2 and 3 have both taken us back 25 years to when Evelyn gave Rachel up and what happened. So far it's been pretty elusive in its explanation of who the father was and why she had to run away. It's dead obvious that Bernard has always been in love with her but his feelings are not reciprocated. While he seems nice enough, his feelings for Evelyn seem more obsession and less love. Kinda creepy.
Wax (Part 4)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
This whole part takes place 15-25 years in the past. Evelyn is alive and has just left Rachel at the hospital and makes the decision to try and kill herself. She almost succeeds but Bernard saves her. We learn who Rachels biological father is and honestly I'm not all that surprised. Turns out I was wrong about her feelings for Bernard. She does truly love him which makes this whole thing so very tragic. I don't like that Bernard is an ass to everyone when it comes to Evelyn. I understand emotions are running high but he's being an asshole to the people that are trying to help. Which is not helpful. I'm kind of suprised that Evelyn is so ingnorant about her illness. They are essentially telling her that she is terminally ill and she thinks that it's not serious. I just don't understand that part as I don't see her as a stupid woman. Honestly I'm suprised at how long she actually lasts. Something about their marriage that does bother me is that they seem to lie to eachother an awful lot just to save eachoters feelings. That's never a good idea though. Honesty is best...well with one exception in Bernard’s case.
Closing thoughts:
This part answers many questions yet it also brings about questions as well. We now know what happened to Evelyn but I can't understand how the wax spell works. It does seem that they are the people that they are meant to be yet only a shell of that person. Not quite the same. Original is always best. After all I actually started to like the Brad that believed in the supernatural. As long as he can stay off the sauce that is.
Wax (Part 5)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Okay so we start right where we left off in part 3...with Brad melting all over poor Rachel. The one thing that gets to me a little is the fact that she keeps asking to “wake up” and it's kind of annoying. I mean come on! This is no nightmare. A waking one maybe but it's reality unfortunately. Once she comes to terms with what is going on, which is something in and of itself, she starts to learn. She ends up there a year before she starts to become suspicious and starts snooping around. I would have been snooping about the same time that Brad started snooping. Speaking of Brad, I don't think that he is alive anymore. I think he died in that basement and his bits and pieces are in that walk-in.
Closing thoughts:
The conclusion to part 5 seriously makes you want to rush to part 6 right off. I can't believe what happens. Turns out good ol’ Bernard may not be past the point where he is willing to hurt Rachel after all.
Wax (Part 6)
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Yup Brad was indeed dead. Rachel found his head in one of the freezers. We learn the Rachel in part 5 was a recording of the real Rachel. Real Rachel has been in unlawful confinement for the past year, thanks to Bernard who kept bleeding her. As this is the last part the whole thing it is rather tragic and sad. Everyone suffers loss. Even though Rachel escapes with her life she has lost everyone. So I would say that the ending to this is very bittersweet for our main character.
Closing thoughts:
The question is, what did making those recordings actually do? Did they trap the persons soul? It certainly seems that way considering what happens in our epilogue. That is a happy moment. A story with a decent fake out for sure. Not overly violent. No explicit gore or adult content. Pretty mild language overall. Decent for most readers.
