I did not expect to read this book in (almost) one go. I picked it up yesterday, 50 pages in and I couldn’t go to sleep until I finished it. The allure of the book lies in its incredible storytelling. Kemp deftly sprinkles plot twists at strategic moments, keeping you engaged and eager to figure out the mysteries at the heart of the narrative.

The stormy told from a dual point of view, has Don Travers, a celebrated author and a manipulative narcissist at its centre. Don created a carefully curated circle of promising young writers, particularly women, to level up his own image but also to be admired, and revered by their attention. We see Don through the eyes of his youngest daughter, 10-year-old Nemony and Zoe, a young writer captivated by Don’s charm and influence.

The first part of the book is set in a lavish villa in Sicily, Don’s summer haven. Here, he gathers chosen artists, fostering a sense of artistic community while asserting his dominance as a patriarch. Beneath the surface lies a network of complex relationships: Don’s wife, Lydia, quietly manages the household, her silent suffering a deep contrast to Don’s flamboyant personality; their four children, acutely aware of their mother’s pain, harbour deep resentment against their father; adding another layer of tension is Tuva, a domineering presence to disrupts the family dynamic and becomes a target of the children’s anger. 

Zoe, a rising literary star, naively enters this world of covert family dynamics. Blinded by Don’s attention, she struggles with self-doubt as she seeks to prove herself worthy of being in his circle. Nemony, on the other hand, struggles to be seen and acknowledged in the shadow of her more illustrious sibling (a theme that will recur in the plot later on, when we see Nemoney as a young married new mother). A dramatic event disrupts their idyllic Sicilian summer, forcing a sudden departure and leaving lasting scars on everyone involved.

The novel then leaps forward in time, revealing Nemony as a young mother caught in her own unhappy marriage. A chance encounter with Zoe rekindles their connection, leading to a deeper exploration of the past summer’s secrets but also of themselves and their relationships with Don. This second half of the novel digs deeper, unpacking the complexities of Don’s relationship with Lydia and Lydia’s enigmatic past (she was an escapee from a cult in America). Slowly, we discover the stories behind the events in Sicily and, with each discovery, layers of distortion and misperceptions are removed, and dark family secrets are revealed.  

I believe that the dual narrative presents conflicting perspectives on the events in Sicily and the actions that triggered them. Nemoney’s innocent childhood view contrasts with Zoe’s youthful ambition but also a more objective assessment of what occurred. This allows you to piece together the truths behind these events slowly, revealing how each character’s individual experiences shape their interpretation of events. 

Finally, The Unwilding will appeal to readers who enjoy stories of complex family dynamics. It explores relationships between father-daughter, sisters, and daughter-mother in depth. While the novel has its tragic moments, they don’t take over the narrative, being just enough to keep you engaged and create a compelling story. Kemp’s brilliance as an author, though, lies in the storytelling and nuanced character development, in my opinion.