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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
Really loved this. It was just weird enough for my tastes without making me feel overly icky. I did have a visceral reaction to the Birthing Day scene but it's the kind of reaction I wanted to have. The writing was well crafted, and I would say the story as a whole is well crafted. It unfolds really nicely and we're introduced to just the right characters at just the right time. The only thing that prevented it from being 5 stars for me is that it wrapped up a little too neatly. The last 2ish chapters could have been cut for a more powerful ending I think.
Hm. I think this is a good book overall, but I also think it's going to fall into what I think of as 'forgettable modern fiction'. Modern fiction where it touches on some ever hot topics like feminism and religion, the writing style is interesting but not necessarily unique, characters who are thought-provoking but won't keep you up at night, a plot that's there but really the focus is on exploring the humanity of the characters. I think readers who actually want things happening to be the focus of their books will be disappointed, the focus really is on the what everyone is feeling, their motivations, the relationships.
Definitely not bad, I just don't think it'll stick with me and someday when I see the cover I'll vaguely remember I read it and what it was about but won't really think much on it. Maybe that's my bad memory, maybe that's the book, maybe it's both, who knows.
Definitely not bad, I just don't think it'll stick with me and someday when I see the cover I'll vaguely remember I read it and what it was about but won't really think much on it. Maybe that's my bad memory, maybe that's the book, maybe it's both, who knows.
This book hit a lot of high notes for me. Very dark and sad but also humanizing and connecting. It is a gorgeous redemptive story, a showcase of brilliant female strength and resilience.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel is unusual, at times even weird. I picked it up because of its description about evangelical Christianity, and the way she writes about it makes me think Chelsea Bieker has dealt with the subject personally. I wasn’t sure about it, but the more I read, the more I liked it and became deeply invested in Lacey May’s journey which is both horrifying and tragic. This isn’t just about an evangelical cult, it’s about how they regard and treat (cis, straight) women. It’s about motherhood and trauma... which seems to be a theme based on the last few books I’ve read!
Had to power through several overwritten / verbose sections. A cool story