Darling Beasts, Michelle Gable (Review by Shanna Thornsbury)
3.7/5 Stars
This book gave me Succession meets Schitt’s Creek vibes The book follows the Gunn siblings—Gabby, Talia, and Ozzie—heirs to a media empire now in tatters after a series of scandalous missteps. Their father, desperate to restore the family’s reputation, demands they reunite for his long shot senatorial campaign. What follows is a chaotic journey filled with political maneuvering, family drama, and an unusual element: exotic animals that appear as omens before every new debacle.
The novel is nothing if not unique, blending elements of family saga with magical realism in a way that’s both charming and occasionally disorienting. The Gunn siblings are complex and well-drawn characters, each struggling with their own set of challenges, insecurities, and addictions to privilege. Their father’s political ambitions force them back into the spotlight, and it quickly becomes apparent that the Gunns’ reunion isn’t as much a happy reconciliation as it is a begrudging survival tactic. Their interactions are sharp, often fraught with tension, but there’s an undeniable undercurrent of love—though it’s buried under layers of cynicism, resentment, and competitive sibling rivalry.
The magical realism aspect, embodied by Gabby’s condition—Portum Bestiae Syndrome—brings an added layer of absurdity to the narrative. The illness causes strange physical symptoms, each of which is followed by the appearance of an exotic animal. One moment, Gabby might be feeling intense stress, and the next, an obscure animal might wander into the scene. At first, the exotic creatures feel like a quirky narrative device, a fun addition that brings a sense of whimsy to the proceedings. But as the story progresses, the animals start to take on symbolic weight. Gabby’s affliction mirrors the family’s dysfunction, both of which seem unpredictable and uncontrollable, often emerging at the worst possible times.
What works particularly well in this story is the author’s exploration of family dynamics. The Gunn siblings may have grown up with immense privilege, but they are also products of a highly dysfunctional family. Their father has conditioned them to live under the pressure of his expectations, and their lives are a constant balancing act of trying to please him while also managing their own emotional baggage. Each sibling’s story is different, but their shared struggles with identity bind them together. Gabby is the most developed character, her emotional pain and frustration simmering beneath the surface as she tries to navigate her condition, her relationships, and her place within the family.
Talia, on the other hand, feels a bit underutilized. While her character has moments of depth, especially in her interactions with Gabby’s friend (and fellow PBS sufferer), Raj, there are times when she feels more like a foil to her siblings than a fully fleshed-out person in her own right. Ozzie, the brother, seems to be the most detached from the family drama, but he too has his own demons, particularly in how he copes with his serious money troubles. Their relationships are complex, filled with both affection and resentment, and it’s this tension that keeps the plot moving forward.
The sibling’s relationship with their stepmother is a bright spot in the book. She brings a bit of sprinkled in comic relief in her interactions with the Gunn sibling’s.
The political backdrop is where the book falters slightly. While the senatorial campaign adds a sense of urgency and high stakes, it sometimes feels like a distraction from the heart of the story—the family drama. There are moments when the narrative gets bogged down in political maneuvering, and the stakes of the campaign itself are never fully explored. It often feels like a setup for bigger revelations, but those revelations don’t always land with the weight they deserve.
In the end, this is a smart, funny, and often poignant novel that stumbles in its ambition but succeeds in capturing the complicated reality of family ties and personal reinvention. It won’t be for everyone, especially readers who prefer their satire or magical realism a bit more grounded, but it offers a unique ride—complete with hot-air balloons, hidden secrets, and a surprising amount of heart.