The Grief Nurse
What would it be like if you could pass your grief and sorrow to someone else and only feel happiness? Lynx is a grief nurse, exclusively for the benefit of the influential Aster family, who lives on their secluded Scottish island. We join her story on the cusp of a death party gathering. The son, Sculptor, has died and Lynx is removing Mr. Aster’s grief. She will be busy at this party taking care of the family and, only with the Aster’s permission, certain party goers. Sculptor’s death is mysterious and when other bodies turn up during the party, Lynx knows there is a murderer among them.
During the grief-taking process, Lynx must hold the grieving person’s token. Other strict rules apply to grief nurses and their ownership. Only a few elite are allowed to own a grief nurse, which make them very coveted. A grief nurse, distinguishable by pure white hair, is exposed to exploitation and violence if they do not have a guardian. She is not allowed to touch or be touched for fear of contamination by the grief she carries. Only a Fader can give birth to a grief nurse. For the low classes, this is fortunate because they are paid for the child, but for the elite, a grief nurse born into the family is shameful. Disappointingly, the concept of a Fader is never clear.
Set in 1920s Scotland, historical detail is lacking to anchor this novel in time and place. This gothic fantasy with family drama, intrigue, sapphic love, and issues of class disparities also raises philosophical questions about the effects of emotional detachment, making this a thoughtful and worthwhile read. Is a life without emotional pain as fulfilling? When grief is removed, you also lose the memories associated with the loved one. Is this too high a price?
