Scan barcode
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Misogyny
kimmillington's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.5
I was compelled to get through this book but I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it.
Much of the landscape and the plot is bleak, foreboding and inescapable so there is a dull misery and inevitability to the course of the story. There are no surprising twists and when Agnes finally tells her tale, it is much as the reader would anticipate.
This book therefore has very little in terms of plot development and is all about reflecting on the thoughts and actions of the characters.
There are a diverse range of complex characters which adds interest and the reader does become particularly sympathetic to Agnes. She is a well rounded character, illiciting a feeling of sympathy but also dread when she makes decisions and takes action to do things that are as damaging to herself as the actions and decisions of others.
I am unsure about why Tóti’s story includes some level of desire and romantic feeling for Agnes as this element didn’t have legs and didn’t develop into anything. Is this perhaps a spiritual aside- the difficulty for those that give their life to God to walk the line between feeling a higher spiritual purpose whilst experiencing carnal desires.
I am also unsure why Margrét laid out her clothes near to the end of the book. Obviously Lauga relinquishing her brooch was relevant to her realising all was not as it first seemed, but I don’t understand the relevance of Margrét’s actions.
I also don’t understand why Tóti suffered a long and debilitating illness- Agnes could have told her story through Tóti as easily as she did through Margrét so I’m unsure why the author chose to cut Tóti from the narrative for several months.
I did not like the historical letters included. I found them dull and two dimensional and did not really add anything to the story. I understand it was important to the author to include them to nail the narrative to the true story but I felt they were unnecessary.
A dark and mostly depressing read- well written but uneventful and unsurprising.
Much of the landscape and the plot is bleak, foreboding and inescapable so there is a dull misery and inevitability to the course of the story. There are no surprising twists and when Agnes finally tells her tale, it is much as the reader would anticipate.
This book therefore has very little in terms of plot development and is all about reflecting on the thoughts and actions of the characters.
There are a diverse range of complex characters which adds interest and the reader does become particularly sympathetic to Agnes. She is a well rounded character, illiciting a feeling of sympathy but also dread when she makes decisions and takes action to do things that are as damaging to herself as the actions and decisions of others.
I am unsure about why Tóti’s story includes some level of desire and romantic feeling for Agnes as this element didn’t have legs and didn’t develop into anything. Is this perhaps a spiritual aside- the difficulty for those that give their life to God to walk the line between feeling a higher spiritual purpose whilst experiencing carnal desires.
I am also unsure why Margrét laid out her clothes near to the end of the book. Obviously Lauga relinquishing her brooch was relevant to her realising all was not as it first seemed, but I don’t understand the relevance of Margrét’s actions.
I also don’t understand why Tóti suffered a long and debilitating illness- Agnes could have told her story through Tóti as easily as she did through Margrét so I’m unsure why the author chose to cut Tóti from the narrative for several months.
I did not like the historical letters included. I found them dull and two dimensional and did not really add anything to the story. I understand it was important to the author to include them to nail the narrative to the true story but I felt they were unnecessary.
A dark and mostly depressing read- well written but uneventful and unsurprising.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, and Toxic relationship
nannahnannah's review
4.0
Ouch. This one will make you cry. Ugly cry, too--none of them single and clean down-the-cheek tears.
Burial Rites is based on the last arc of Agnes Magnúsdóttir's life, after she was charged with murder and sent to live with a reverend's family. It's part mystery (what really happened that night at her former master's house? Did she really kill him?) and part character drama, with slow-moving arcs that really make these historical people feel real.
Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled with this book until I hit the halfway point. I'm not altogether sure why. The writing was fine, the book was moving, it just didn't hook me. Then, about that time, I was caught and suddenly the writing was haunting, the passages gripped my heart, and I was in deep. Again, I can't explain this change. The notes I had around the beginning half consisted of "PoVs and dialogue sound stilted and awkward etc. etc. etc." and the second half, these notes changed to, "I love Agnes's PoV, everything is so lyrical and the writing is so haunting, etc. etc. etc." So I guess, if you feel less than enthralled during the first half, stick with it! It's worth the read, I promise you.
What I love most about this book is that it's one of those stories within a story. Much of the time, characters are explaining to others about things that happened before, but what they're saying is just as interesting as what's happening in the story's present time. And because of that, the plot consists of both the past events and the present.
There are also actual historical documents preceding each chapter, which reminds you that what you're reading more or less took place. Its frightening to read Agnes's PoV and then to see calm and indifferent (Real, by the way) people discussing her death in official papers or letters.
As much as I cried, and as much as I use the words "frightening" and stuff, I read this book into the night. It's beautiful.
Burial Rites is based on the last arc of Agnes Magnúsdóttir's life, after she was charged with murder and sent to live with a reverend's family. It's part mystery (what really happened that night at her former master's house? Did she really kill him?) and part character drama, with slow-moving arcs that really make these historical people feel real.
Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled with this book until I hit the halfway point. I'm not altogether sure why. The writing was fine, the book was moving, it just didn't hook me. Then, about that time, I was caught and suddenly the writing was haunting, the passages gripped my heart, and I was in deep. Again, I can't explain this change. The notes I had around the beginning half consisted of "PoVs and dialogue sound stilted and awkward etc. etc. etc." and the second half, these notes changed to, "I love Agnes's PoV, everything is so lyrical and the writing is so haunting, etc. etc. etc." So I guess, if you feel less than enthralled during the first half, stick with it! It's worth the read, I promise you.
What I love most about this book is that it's one of those stories within a story. Much of the time, characters are explaining to others about things that happened before, but what they're saying is just as interesting as what's happening in the story's present time. And because of that, the plot consists of both the past events and the present.
There are also actual historical documents preceding each chapter, which reminds you that what you're reading more or less took place. Its frightening to read Agnes's PoV and then to see calm and indifferent (Real, by the way) people discussing her death in official papers or letters.
As much as I cried, and as much as I use the words "frightening" and stuff, I read this book into the night. It's beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
also: cissexismlaurenmvmills's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Child death
brittany_alleman_ayers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Heartbreaking. Incredibly well researched and gripping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
amooseinwater's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
So tragic and beautifully written. Explores the complexity of life as a woman, as a worker, as a human. The power of narrative to shape our life is a strong feature.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence
littlewishling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? No
4.5
This must've been a hard story to write but Kent does so beautifully. It's compelling and heartbreaking but well worth the read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Death
More...