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kryzysowa_narzeczona's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Confinement, and Infidelity
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
micaelamariem's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.0
Last month, I ordered a one-time book box from the Unplugged Book Box. They are a book box focused on self-care, and in it I recieved beautiful smelling lotion and perfume as well as a copy of Extasia by Claire Legrand (published by Katherine Tegan Books). Due to the packaging, it made the read even more pleasant with a heady aroma on each page.
But more about the actual book.
Claire Legrand is a former musican turned author with eleven published novels under her belt. She tends to focus on darker and grittier subjects for middle grade and young adult audiences. However, her debut into the adult fantasy world is coming with the Middlemist trilogy, releasing in spring 2023.
Extasia is a young adult horror novel with a specific focus on religious trauma. When the World That Once Was came to an end, God spared one community of people to create Haven and live by His ways. The main character, who goes through a series of names, is about to be annointed a Saint. She hopes with her sainthood she can stop the evil that has been leaking into her village, killing men. But there are dark beasts that follow her and a dark power seeks her out.
I am quite new to the horror genre as a reader. I’ve always interacted with horror tv shows and haunted houses and reading dark fantasy, but I haven’t read a lot of actual horror. So, I’m not quite sure by what criteria I should review this by. It did have a great gothic dark atmosphere, perfect for the witchiness of the plotline. There were also plenty of gory scenes, for those more inclined to body horror. I will say that I personally didn’t find it scary so much as compelling and enticing, where I wanted to turn the pages to see what happens next. However, I’m weird and don’t scare by things that ought to be scary.
I also loved the themes of this book. As someone that has encountered a bit of religious trauma myself, I am curious and like to read about religious horror or books with religious themes–whether for good or for bad. But what really drew me in was the main character’s lesson that things in the world was not all black and white and that perhaps we all have a darkness inside of us.
I thought the main character’s development was really done as she went from someone blindly following what she’d been taught to opening her eyes and questioning everything, even herself. The other characters, however, were not as nuanced. Still, my favorite characters–Blessing and Samuel–didn’t disappoint me.
There were a few minor things that bothered me about this book. It bothered me that all the feminine names were nouns–Temperance, Rage, Hunger, Blessing, etc. It felt like we were too on the nose with these names, really overteaching the lessons of the book with their name changes. There were also a few minor inconsistencies–like when the girls had to write something and could despite saying they never learned their letters. And also, the main character’s father didn’t make sense to me, in some ways. There were a few scenes that made his whole arc confusing to me.
Overall, I’m giving this book three stars. It was good and I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t something I’m obsessed with nor can I ignore the flaws.
Some other forms of art this book reminded of: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The 100.
Trigger warnings: body horror/gore; violence against women; domestic violence; forced imprisonment; attempted rape; torture; cannibalism; someone being burnt alive; death of a parent; religious trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Gore, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Cannibalism, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Child death, and Sexual assault
mswarning's review
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
Finding it hard to rate this book. I liked some of the elements of the story: post-apocalyptic, feminism, patriarchy, high control society, witchcraft, and ghosts. But they didn't really fit together well in terms of plot. And the F/F romance feels a bit superficial, kinda insta-lovey in a disappointing way. Ending is left open for a sequel, but I'm unsure if we'll get one.
Check out the trigger warnings, there's a lot in this book.. Very misogynistic society.
Check out the trigger warnings, there's a lot in this book.. Very misogynistic society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Body horror, Violence, Death, Murder, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Sexual assault, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, War, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Torture, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
simplyammee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
thebeesknees79's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
I received an eARC from @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have students that will love this book. I have students mature enough in middle school that could read this book. But I won’t keep a copy in my classroom (I teach 7th grade).
Now, I think the easiest way for me to talk about this story is to put it into likes and dislikes.
What I Liked: unique concept, very Puritan/The Crucible vibes, loved the social horror aspect of women bearing the brunt of everyone’s sins, loved the female empowerment.
What I didn’t like: do you ever just read a book that seems way too long, but also like every little thing needed to be in there? That was this book. I don’t enjoy the way she writes dialogue using modern language, and I found the desire to thoroughly explain everything tedious (but somehow necessary?)
Overall it was a unique perspective on a witchy story, but I felt like the twists/plot choices didn’t live up to the foreshadowing.
I have students that will love this book. I have students mature enough in middle school that could read this book. But I won’t keep a copy in my classroom (I teach 7th grade).
Now, I think the easiest way for me to talk about this story is to put it into likes and dislikes.
What I Liked: unique concept, very Puritan/The Crucible vibes, loved the social horror aspect of women bearing the brunt of everyone’s sins, loved the female empowerment.
What I didn’t like: do you ever just read a book that seems way too long, but also like every little thing needed to be in there? That was this book. I don’t enjoy the way she writes dialogue using modern language, and I found the desire to thoroughly explain everything tedious (but somehow necessary?)
Overall it was a unique perspective on a witchy story, but I felt like the twists/plot choices didn’t live up to the foreshadowing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Physical abuse
leahrosereads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Style: ⭐⭐⭐
What I liked
First, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thematically, this story is so smart. I really liked the conversations it was bringing about and the themes it explored. Well done. The horror was perfect for YA. Creepy, a bit gory, but still tame enough that I think folks who don't love horror will still enjoy it. Also I'm always down for a Sapphic story! Unfortunately, outside of that, not much worked for me.
I don't mind slower paced stories usually but the first 50% of this was a slog to get through. The second half got better for about 70 pages but then the end fell apart again for me.
I felt like a lot of this was disjointed, specifically the main character and how she changes. It felt really slow and then incredibly sudden.
This is definitely going to be a favorite for a lot of folks, and I'm very interested in seeing what Legrand writes next.
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Style: ⭐⭐⭐
What I liked
First, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thematically, this story is so smart. I really liked the conversations it was bringing about and the themes it explored. Well done. The horror was perfect for YA. Creepy, a bit gory, but still tame enough that I think folks who don't love horror will still enjoy it. Also I'm always down for a Sapphic story! Unfortunately, outside of that, not much worked for me.
I don't mind slower paced stories usually but the first 50% of this was a slog to get through. The second half got better for about 70 pages but then the end fell apart again for me.
I felt like a lot of this was disjointed, specifically the main character and how she changes. It felt really slow and then incredibly sudden.
This is definitely going to be a favorite for a lot of folks, and I'm very interested in seeing what Legrand writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse
onceuponabookcase's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was sent this proof for free by Harper360YA for the purposes of providing an honest review.
I have been really excited to read Extasia by Claire Legrand ever since it was first announced. I absolutely adored Sawkill Girls and how terrifying it was, so there was no doubt I would read Legrand's next horror novel. And as I expected, it was bloody brilliant!
Many years ago, in The World That Once Was, disease followed by war wiped out the majority of the population. Only a few survived. These few were saved by God, who spoke to them, and told them of a new way to live; if only they do as He says, there was a way to prosper and survive, a life without sin, a life of worship. He directed them to a place where they could build anew, a village named Haven. But evil still lurked in the world. The Devil that lives under the mountain. The only way to protect themselves from this evil, God told them, were the Saints. God would speak to the Elders of Haven, speaking the names of four girls yet to bleed, to be their Saints. They would keep the town safe from sin, by allowing them to unleash their anger and lustful depravities upon the Saints. They will keep the people of Haven of good, and pious, and safe.
Today, she will be anointed as a Saint, and named Amity. The day she has long been waiting for since her mother shamed the family five years ago in her sin. She will restore her family's honour. She will be Godly and good, and gladly take whatever the people of Haven land upon her during visitation. And she will defeat the Devil, who has taken the lives of nine Haven men, in gruesome and mysterious ways. She knows a story, one her mother once told her, of relics that call on the Devil. She will find these relics, and she will face the Devil and defeat him.
When her fellow Saints, Temperance and Mercy, talk of women living in the woods, women with power, Amity follows. Confused as to who these women are and where they come from, as the people of Haven are the only ones who survived The World That Once Was, Amity decides she will learn what she can of this power, this Extasia, and hope it helps her find the relics and defeat the Devil.
This book. This book! Extasia had me raging like you wouldn't believe. Right from the get go, we learn very quickly about the world, the religious fervour of the people of Haven, and Amity's excitement and pride at becoming a Saint, knowing until the day she bleeds, she will be subjected to the town's violence and worse. We quickly learn of the attitude towards women, who were of course responsible for the destruction of The World That Once Was because of their deceit and lustful, sinful ways. We learn it is the men who have the power, and that everyone has been brainwashed from birth that the way of the town is right and is good, and is how they are kept safe from the Devil. Extasia reminded me very strongly of elements of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, with a little of Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew - and though I've not yet read it, I think there will probably be similarities with The Seawomen by Chloe Timms. Haven is extremely cult-like, without anyone knowing they're living in a cult. Amity's belief and conviction is heartbreaking and unbelievably disturbing as we see exactly what it is she is expected to endure. I got so extremely angry very, very quickly.
I was reminded very much of how Puritans are shown on TV and films, not just their faith, but the way they speak - the ways Amity thinks, and narrates the story. Then she meets the witches in the Coven living in the woods, and these women speak like contemporary people, and the juxtaposition of the two, the Saints and the Coven, and their conversations is startling but brilliant. Slowly, slowly, Amity learns that things aren't necessarily as they seem. Haven obviously have got things wrong somewhere, because according to the Coven, there are small villages all over. It's strange, but it's not important. What is important is that the men of Haven are continually killed in more alarming and inexplicable ways. Amity's focus is on trying to save her people. And if it means sneaking out and meeting with these women and learning what she can in order to get the relics to face the Devil, then so be it.
Amity is seeing animals with white eyes, with patchy feathers or furs, looking like they're rotting. She's also seeing strange, giant grey women with only gaping mouths in their heads. Despite that, when we learn what's going on, they're not exactly things to be frightened of. Extasia wasn't the story I expected, considering it's a horror. There wasn't anything scary about this book for me, it felt more like a dystopian fantasy. I would have liked to have been scared by Extasia as I was by Sawkill Girls. But it is very much a horrifying story. It's disturbing and unsettling, sinister and uncomfortable, and completely messed up, and I felt very much like I do when I watch The Handmaid's Tale, when they've found another atrocious thing to do to women. But my main feeling throughout Extasia overwhelming anger, and had be screaming on social media that I hoped Amity would end up burning Haven right down to the ground.
It's incredible to see the change in Amity, as she learns more, as she witnesses things she never would have expected, and reacts to them in ways she never would have expected. She starts to question everything. She starts to consider what is truly important to her, what truly needs protecting. It's like a spark that falls on a trail of oil, the flame that follows its path, inching its way closer to the source, until it finally reaches the source, and explodes into a devastating inferno. That's what it's like watching Amity learn, and question, and finally has her eyes opened. Her rage is all-consuming, and it's beautiful. Hell hath no fury like a woman who is awakened to the truth. Her rage matched my own, and I reveled in it. There is a very sweet, very quiet sapphic romance in Extasia, and becomes one of very few lights in Amity's life, something that balances out the anger, and reminds her of her softness when her razor sharp edges.
I have been really excited to read Extasia by Claire Legrand ever since it was first announced. I absolutely adored Sawkill Girls and how terrifying it was, so there was no doubt I would read Legrand's next horror novel. And as I expected, it was bloody brilliant!
Many years ago, in The World That Once Was, disease followed by war wiped out the majority of the population. Only a few survived. These few were saved by God, who spoke to them, and told them of a new way to live; if only they do as He says, there was a way to prosper and survive, a life without sin, a life of worship. He directed them to a place where they could build anew, a village named Haven. But evil still lurked in the world. The Devil that lives under the mountain. The only way to protect themselves from this evil, God told them, were the Saints. God would speak to the Elders of Haven, speaking the names of four girls yet to bleed, to be their Saints. They would keep the town safe from sin, by allowing them to unleash their anger and lustful depravities upon the Saints. They will keep the people of Haven of good, and pious, and safe.
Today, she will be anointed as a Saint, and named Amity. The day she has long been waiting for since her mother shamed the family five years ago in her sin. She will restore her family's honour. She will be Godly and good, and gladly take whatever the people of Haven land upon her during visitation. And she will defeat the Devil, who has taken the lives of nine Haven men, in gruesome and mysterious ways. She knows a story, one her mother once told her, of relics that call on the Devil. She will find these relics, and she will face the Devil and defeat him.
When her fellow Saints, Temperance and Mercy, talk of women living in the woods, women with power, Amity follows. Confused as to who these women are and where they come from, as the people of Haven are the only ones who survived The World That Once Was, Amity decides she will learn what she can of this power, this Extasia, and hope it helps her find the relics and defeat the Devil.
This book. This book! Extasia had me raging like you wouldn't believe. Right from the get go, we learn very quickly about the world, the religious fervour of the people of Haven, and Amity's excitement and pride at becoming a Saint, knowing until the day she bleeds, she will be subjected to the town's violence and worse. We quickly learn of the attitude towards women, who were of course responsible for the destruction of The World That Once Was because of their deceit and lustful, sinful ways. We learn it is the men who have the power, and that everyone has been brainwashed from birth that the way of the town is right and is good, and is how they are kept safe from the Devil. Extasia reminded me very strongly of elements of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, with a little of Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew - and though I've not yet read it, I think there will probably be similarities with The Seawomen by Chloe Timms. Haven is extremely cult-like, without anyone knowing they're living in a cult. Amity's belief and conviction is heartbreaking and unbelievably disturbing as we see exactly what it is she is expected to endure. I got so extremely angry very, very quickly.
I was reminded very much of how Puritans are shown on TV and films, not just their faith, but the way they speak - the ways Amity thinks, and narrates the story. Then she meets the witches in the Coven living in the woods, and these women speak like contemporary people, and the juxtaposition of the two, the Saints and the Coven, and their conversations is startling but brilliant. Slowly, slowly, Amity learns that things aren't necessarily as they seem. Haven obviously have got things wrong somewhere, because according to the Coven, there are small villages all over. It's strange, but it's not important. What is important is that the men of Haven are continually killed in more alarming and inexplicable ways. Amity's focus is on trying to save her people. And if it means sneaking out and meeting with these women and learning what she can in order to get the relics to face the Devil, then so be it.
Amity is seeing animals with white eyes, with patchy feathers or furs, looking like they're rotting. She's also seeing strange, giant grey women with only gaping mouths in their heads. Despite that, when we learn what's going on, they're not exactly things to be frightened of. Extasia wasn't the story I expected, considering it's a horror. There wasn't anything scary about this book for me, it felt more like a dystopian fantasy. I would have liked to have been scared by Extasia as I was by Sawkill Girls. But it is very much a horrifying story. It's disturbing and unsettling, sinister and uncomfortable, and completely messed up, and I felt very much like I do when I watch The Handmaid's Tale, when they've found another atrocious thing to do to women. But my main feeling throughout Extasia overwhelming anger, and had be screaming on social media that I hoped Amity would end up burning Haven right down to the ground.
It's incredible to see the change in Amity, as she learns more, as she witnesses things she never would have expected, and reacts to them in ways she never would have expected. She starts to question everything. She starts to consider what is truly important to her, what truly needs protecting. It's like a spark that falls on a trail of oil, the flame that follows its path, inching its way closer to the source, until it finally reaches the source, and explodes into a devastating inferno. That's what it's like watching Amity learn, and question, and finally has her eyes opened. Her rage is all-consuming, and it's beautiful. Hell hath no fury like a woman who is awakened to the truth. Her rage matched my own, and I reveled in it. There is a very sweet, very quiet sapphic romance in Extasia, and becomes one of very few lights in Amity's life, something that balances out the anger, and reminds her of her softness when her razor sharp edges.
I was very much reminded of the last few episodes of season four of The Handmaid's Tale, of June's anger, of her talking in the group of women who had escaped Gilead, and asking why they had to move beyond anger. A friend told me that the final episode, the way the season ended, had made June less sympathetic to him, whereas I felt completely the opposite. I was right there with June, internally screaming, "YES!" as that episode came to a close, relishing in the justice she enacted. That righteous anger is what Amity feels, and what guides her. Extasia is fiction, but it reflects aspects of the real world, of the misogyny and violence that women experience everyday, and Amity's anger is brightly burning, and universal.
The story took a turn I wasn't at all expecting, and it knocked me for six. Such a twist, and so much more anger and distgust! It's the final straw for Amity, and she knows what needs to be done, and she takes no prisoners. But, considering how the story ended, I might personally be a little more like Mercy than Amity, but the ending was brilliant. Had I been Amity, I think it might have taken me a little longer to get to where Amity ends up. But I also feel like there couldn't have been a better ending. And I completely adored the epilogue, and how there's a possibility of a sequel or companion novel.
As a woman living in this world, who has experienced as well as heard the violence we are subjected to, Extasia is a story that is very close to my heart. It's powerful, and important, and necessary. And it also made me feel incredibly seen, that the anger I feel is valid and an understandable reaction to everything. It's something I take a huge amount of comfort in. Though, as Legrand reminds me through Amity, it's what we do with that anger that counts.
The story took a turn I wasn't at all expecting, and it knocked me for six. Such a twist, and so much more anger and distgust! It's the final straw for Amity, and she knows what needs to be done, and she takes no prisoners. But, considering how the story ended, I might personally be a little more like Mercy than Amity, but the ending was brilliant. Had I been Amity, I think it might have taken me a little longer to get to where Amity ends up. But I also feel like there couldn't have been a better ending. And I completely adored the epilogue, and how there's a possibility of a sequel or companion novel.
As a woman living in this world, who has experienced as well as heard the violence we are subjected to, Extasia is a story that is very close to my heart. It's powerful, and important, and necessary. And it also made me feel incredibly seen, that the anger I feel is valid and an understandable reaction to everything. It's something I take a huge amount of comfort in. Though, as Legrand reminds me through Amity, it's what we do with that anger that counts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Torture
dernhelms_bag's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
GUTTING-I can't wait for the finished version but loved the ARC! Zero regrets about placing a pre order every time Legrand announces a new book coming out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cannibalism, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Racism
RELIGIOUS TRAUMAleahjanespeare's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.75
Saint Amity has been taught little about the war that destroyed the world but spared her small village of Haven. Good thing the witches arrive to dissolve her of those illusions and join her in a quest to appeal to the Devil. As the story closely examines indoctrination, belief-systems, and violence, there will be no settling answers within these pages, only a genre-defying dish of Palahniuk-esque disturbing content with a side of chilled blood. Mind. Blown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism and Infidelity
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