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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The most attached I’ve ever gotten to a group of characters in a long time. It starts off a bit slow but when it starts it hit its hard to put down. Beautiful yet heartbreaking story
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
She understands why pelicans peck their own breasts for blood, why cuckoos cast out eggs. She would do violence for this child. For any of her children.
3.5 stars. This had a lot of the same beautiful writing that I was impressed with in The Mercies, but here, somehow, it didn't feel as purposeful and effective and striking. It's definitely a personal thing, as the subject matters of this book doesn't hit the same chord for me. Lisbet is an unhappy wife, desperate to be a mother, devastated by her numerous past miscarriages. A dancing plague seizes the village, her mysterious sister in law has just come back from the nunnery, the powers that be are threatening the family's livelihood as beekeepers. These are some of the hardships she's facing, as well as a new love interest. And while I found the story historically compelling (Strasbourg 1518, not the most common historical setting, and I felt wonderfully anchored in the time), it didn't get me on the emotional front. For once, it wasn't the fact that this dealt a lot with pregnancy and child loss and motherhood; even though I couldn't relate in the slightest, that part of the narrative really made me feel for Lisbet. I enjoyed the queer subplot, and Hargrave has a very musical way with words that makes the telling of anything shine.
So I can't explain why this felt so very flat to me, but it did. Sometimes it felt like we were getting pulled in too many directions, with the dancing, the bees, Lisbet's past trauma with her mother, the Agnethe subplot, the Eren subplot, the dance tree of children... lots of good themes and ideas that could have sprouted books of their own, and seem like too much when they're all confined to one book. It wasn't very long, and I don't know that making it any longer would have helped. It just feels diluted. not packing as much of a punch as I expected.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Ruta Gedmintas, who has a lovely subtle quality to her voice that made it a very enjoyable listen. I really enjoyed the very unique setting and perspectives. but this was just missing something. I feel like this author brings something special to her historical fiction, so I'll def. read from her again.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
discussion of multiple miscarriages. child death, beatings, homophobia, deathLisbet knows what only those who tend to them know. That wildness is the key to their success, that freedom sweetens their honey. That you cannot truly keep bees. You can only make them want to stay.
I feel like I initially wanted to rate this higher because it is beautifully written and that has to count for something. But in reality a good 50% of this book is incredibly vivid descriptions of how disgustingly rank the medieval period was, especially the smell of it. There's only so many ways you can say people were sweaty and smelled bad before it gets tiring. I did enjoy Lisbet as a character, her dedication to the bees and to her children. Wish this author would write a gay historical story with a happy ending though.