Reviews

The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns

fiendfull's review

3.0

I didn't know what to expect from this book or if I'd like it as I'm not a fan of fairytale retellings particularly, so I appreciated how different this was to what I'd think of as a fairytale retelling, but at the same time I was expecting it to get much weirder/darker by the end. The tone and vibe feels earlier than the 80s, but I enjoyed it.

lecturadrix's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

happy_stomach's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Somewhat hard to characterize. Both the protagonist and plot kept me intrigued, delivered little jolts.

alixfitz0926's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.0

joann_l's review

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dagdraumar's review

4.0

Oh, I really enjoed The Juniper Tree. Read it in one sitting. I haven't read the original fairytale, so I didn't know how dark it was going to get. It's a good book, a good story. Everything seems to go just fine, until it doesn't. You could see it coming, but still, it was thrilling to see how the story unfolded.

Spoiler

I always thought that Bernard was somehow out of reach for Bella, that they shouldn't be together. That she would do better without him.

It's tragic, really. I could easily have given it five stars, but the ending keeps me from it. It seems like Comyns was bored with her story, just wanted it to end.

From the moment the stepson dies until the book ends, there's just a few pages. It ends somewhat abruptly, I think.

cathyjane's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

sawyerbell's review

4.0

I very much enjoyed this revision of one of the creepiest fairy tales of all time: The Juniper Tree. This was my second novel by Comyns and I can't wait to read more by her.

klimts15thchild's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thegothlibrarian_'s review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0