Book Review: The Tearsmith by Erin Doo

The Tearsmith by Erin Doom
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Dark Contemporary Romance)
Date Published: December 20, 2020
Publisher: Dell

Growing up in a ghastly orphanage run by an abusive matron, Nica coped in the only way she could—by retreating to her imagination, where she lived out fantastical stories, especially about the Tearsmith, the man who makes tears, a terrifying figure who forges all the fears that dwell in people’s hearts.

When she’s finally taken in by an adoptive family at seventeen, Nica thinks she’s leaving the group home, its torments, and her prison of otherworldly tales behind her. That is, until Rigel—a young man raised from birth in the same dreadful orphanage—joins her new family.

Rigel is as mesmerizingly handsome as he is troubled, and he and Nica have a long history of distrust and hostility. But as they come to live together again under one roof, the deep shared trauma of surviving such vicious circumstances sparks something magical, and Nica begins to fall for Rigel’s forbidden love.

Before any relationship can become reality, though, they’ll have to face the darkness of their past . . . and the dangerous stakes of pursuing a future together.

I went into this one thinking there was going to be some kind of supernatural/fantasy aspect to it. Like the Tearsmith was going to jump out at any second, or Rigel was going to be a vampire. And, I thought for sure Nica was something with all of her quirky ways. Nope. It ended up being about mental health and abuse. Both big issues. But, after reading the blurb, I was expecting something Supernatural, so that was one thing that disappointed me.

I actually liked Nica. She was immature for her age, but I loved her love of all things living. 

I keep seeing people saying that it was incestuous… ummm. I have many issues with their relationship, but it’s not incest. They aren’t related. The adoption isn’t official. Sure, they grew up in an orphanage together, but they didn’t hang out. They weren’t even friends. The relationship was extremely cringy and toxic. I wasn’t a fan of the whole dynamic, but it wasn’t even close to incest. Many people grow up together and fall in love when they get older. What makes that ok and this not? So.. no, the love wasn’t incestuous or forbidden. Just toxic. 

 

Erin Doom is an Italian author whose debut novel Fabbricante di lacrime (The Tearsmith) shot to the top of the charts in 2022 and has since sold over half a million copies. Her second and third novels, Nel modo in cui cade la neve (The Way the Snow Falls) and Stigma (2023), are also bestsellers. Doom studied Law and currently resides in Italy.

To learn more about Erin Doom and her books, visit her on Goodreads & Instagram.

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