a review by Elizabeth Vinton
Possessing Freedom is a clever thriller/supernatural story written in three parts with four authors collaborating to bring to life the perspectives of many different characters involved in the unfolding events.
As I strongly believe the story should reveal itself as it is being read, I will keep the description of the plot brief.
A young woman by the name of Alice is surviving as best she can inside the psychiatric ward of a hospital, after being brought there and abandoned by family. After a tragedy and the arrival of a new face among the staff, Alice’s world changes and the events she gets caught up with, along with others whose tales are told along the way may change the world of the living drastically.
I quite enjoyed the transition from intimate story involving one girl with a sad past and present, to one that verges on something epic in scope with quite serious consequences for many, and that brings forth many varied characters.
The setting being in Melbourne, Victoria Australia, at least for Melbournians/Victorians, adds a familiar edge to it, and it was nice to read literature where the places are known, and helps to create the scenes in your mind.
Having different authors contribute to one continuous piece does not always work, especially when they are authors of varying experience, but in this case, the various styles of the four authors find a rhythm, and each character takes on a distinctive flavour which is a great strength by the end.
All in all, this is a wonderful piece to read, with a plot that grows into something quite thrilling and involving characters that you find yourself becoming attached to.
I would love to hear of and read more projects that bring authors together to create interesting pieces of literature that are very Australian.
