Reviews

Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

jessiemcg's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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? It's complicated

2.0

meh, not for me. I did find it interesting how initially the time period wasn’t made clear - until gradually little clues were dropped and the reader could work out it was present day. 

I kept imagining it set back in the day, so I found the present context an interesting and thought provoking choice. I thought that worked well. 

Didn’t care about the story or characters unfortunately. 

nhm0108's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

jansbookcorner's review against another edition

4.0

I like Ms Fuller's writing style. She tells a quiet story that has depth. This was my read during Hurricane Ida and it kept me engaged. A good one.

eypsbooks's review against another edition

2.0

I can understand the acclaim that Fuller as an author receives and I have no doubt that she deserves it, but I found myself really unenthralled by the story in this book. Unfortunately, this just was not for me. I think potentially older audiences would resonate with this more as it follows twins who are in their fifties living the small village life; I personally found little to relate to. Even the promise of unveiled secrets and the undercurrents of mystery struggled to motivate me to finish.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Penguin: Fig Tree for providing me with an E-Arc, in exchange for an honest review!

sjhaug's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

tastietoastie's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

If you enjoyed Strange Sally Diamond, I think you'd like this book!
The author has you begging for hope for the fmc. Who struggles through life's adversities.

mariefrost's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

bholmes415's review against another edition

challenging reflective 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

2.0

Absolutely had to drag myself through this one. So terribly slow and so terribly boring. 

I honestly should have DNF’d but I was convinced more plot had to be coming. 

It never did. 

nicolaburton's review against another edition

3.0

With thanks to the publishers for an advance Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m new to Claire Fuller’s work. Whilst I felt the plot development was somewhat slowly paced, and the supplementary characters weren’t developed to great depth, this was made up for by the fascinating depiction of the central characters - twins Julius and Jeanie - as they go through a pretty terrible time on the face of it. I was particularly drawn to the detailed descriptions of nature, their garden and their work outside; beautiful prose and a striking mix of tender and raw imagery.

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this book as its themes were very dark and at times depressing, but I did love it. It's a slow burn about Jeanie and Julius 51 year old twins, who live their  mother, Dot, in an isolated cottage. Their mother dies suddenly at the start of the book. Jeannie is hardly able to read or write, and Julius finds it hard to keep down a job. Their lives unravelling due to the secrets their mother held. I can't say too much more regarding the plot so as not to give spoilers, but it is an emotional, reflective read, I felt for Jeannie and the situations she found herself in. If you are wanting an uplifting read, this is not one for you. But I found it brilliant, multi layered, sensitive, and a super read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Medical content

Minor: Infidelity