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jessica_readsalot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
leahreadsstuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Juliet Marillier is one of my favorite writers. She has a skill for tackling dark content in an approachable and real way. She deals with intense subjects, like sexual assault and murder. But because it’s written with a deft and gentle hand it never feels like too much or that she is using those subjects for shock value.
This series in particular is a long time favorite for me. The characters are fascinating, and set in a creative and compelling fantasy world. The aftermath of trauma is real, and it affects each of the characters in unique and honest ways. Blackthorn is as prickly as her name, and her defensiveness and pigheadedness are played exactly right. Her partnership with Grim is interesting and slow building. Grim himself is just wonderful. He’s my favorite, by far.
Marillier avoids the common pitfalls of fantasy: she doesn’t over write, she doesn’t over explain, and she doesn’t waste time on the descriptive. She allows the story and her characters to do the work for her, and it makes for engaging reading. She uses point of view changes but in a limited way, and the chapters are long enough to keep you invested. The story subverts expected tropes, and takes risks in how events play out.
I teared up during the last chapter and finished the book with a smile on my face.
adenayi's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
chanelchapters's review against another edition
DNF
Did not like anything about this tbh.
Especially the way she spoke to her prison mate Grimm.
Did not like anything about this tbh.
Especially the way she spoke to her prison mate Grimm.
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Marillier is a good storyteller, but I'm not so sure about the story.
Blackthorn & Grim are interesting enough to build a series on, and in a first book we have to allow the author to set up their back stories. Future books can just proceed, and that will be good.
As with many fairy tales, many of the other characters are pretty much stock, and don't develop through the story. Since we more or less expect that, it's OK. B & G are angry, really angry, red-rage angry, but Marillier has shown us why so I guess it works. It will be interesting to see how (or whether) they develop as they learn to manage their rage.
There are two very bad Bad Guys, almost Disney bad. There's one Good Guy whose motives are never explained, and the author owes us one big time in the next book.
The usual "it's so unFAIR!" drives the plot, but interesting and mostly-logical things happen to keep us interested.
I'm OK with a prince who is oh so princely, expecially when he is unsure of himself in a quite believable way. And the perfect princess's appearance immediately signals, "well, THIS isn't going to work out as planned, is it?" - just as it should. You know, like the wedding just before the slighted fairy godmother appears.
I agree with others who didn't like the idea that a woman who initiates or enjoys sex is a slut, and deserves whatever happens to her.
I suspect we need to apply a bit of "never mind the story, it's just a vehicle for the characters," as in the TV show "Castle" and probably many others. In the next book, we'll see if I'm right.
Worth reading, anyway. Will B&G move on to a different setting? Any guesses how many volumes we'll have to read before the Big Showdown with the Baddest Bad Guy? Hint: "Castle,", mentioned above, is in, what, its seventh season and it's no closer to the Bad Guy, probably because they can't figure out what to do with him.
Blackthorn & Grim are interesting enough to build a series on, and in a first book we have to allow the author to set up their back stories. Future books can just proceed, and that will be good.
As with many fairy tales, many of the other characters are pretty much stock, and don't develop through the story. Since we more or less expect that, it's OK. B & G are angry, really angry, red-rage angry, but Marillier has shown us why so I guess it works. It will be interesting to see how (or whether) they develop as they learn to manage their rage.
There are two very bad Bad Guys, almost Disney bad. There's one Good Guy whose motives are never explained, and the author owes us one big time in the next book.
The usual "it's so unFAIR!" drives the plot, but interesting and mostly-logical things happen to keep us interested.
I'm OK with a prince who is oh so princely, expecially when he is unsure of himself in a quite believable way. And the perfect princess's appearance immediately signals, "well, THIS isn't going to work out as planned, is it?" - just as it should. You know, like the wedding just before the slighted fairy godmother appears.
I agree with others who didn't like the idea that a woman who initiates or enjoys sex is a slut, and deserves whatever happens to her.
I suspect we need to apply a bit of "never mind the story, it's just a vehicle for the characters," as in the TV show "Castle" and probably many others. In the next book, we'll see if I'm right.
Worth reading, anyway. Will B&G move on to a different setting? Any guesses how many volumes we'll have to read before the Big Showdown with the Baddest Bad Guy? Hint: "Castle,", mentioned above, is in, what, its seventh season and it's no closer to the Bad Guy, probably because they can't figure out what to do with him.
lady_smith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
slawler's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the mythology and the subtle magic. I was pleased to finally read a book about healing from trauma and giving voice to victims.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I loved most everything about this book, but I wanted to throttle Blackthorn near the end, even though I could see why she acted the way she did. The best thing about this book, in my opinion, is Grim, who tugged at all my heartstrings.
I also want to note that I think this book's cover, while pretty, is deceptive. This isn't a princess-y romance tale, it's a fascinating and richly developed look at how trauma has affected Grim and Blackthorn. It's also an interesting story about power and how those who possess it choose to use it.
Also, Blackthorn is great. She is a strong character without diving headfirst into Strong Female Character tropes, and I loved her for it. She's also one of the most feminist characters I've read in a fantasy novel, but not in a way that seems incongruous with the setting.
The book's feminist themes about how some men deprive women of their power and agency is well-done and nuanced, and using Prince Oran as a lens for how a narrow view of masculinity also adversely affects men was an excellent literary device.
One last comment: I think other reviewers' critiques about the way female sexuality is treated in this book are fair. I'm not giving the book a pass per se, but I think the book's overall message on the subject are mixed. There are clear and emphatic messages about consent, but I found the messages about sexuality much more muddied.
I also want to note that I think this book's cover, while pretty, is deceptive. This isn't a princess-y romance tale, it's a fascinating and richly developed look at how trauma has affected Grim and Blackthorn. It's also an interesting story about power and how those who possess it choose to use it.
Also, Blackthorn is great. She is a strong character without diving headfirst into Strong Female Character tropes, and I loved her for it. She's also one of the most feminist characters I've read in a fantasy novel, but not in a way that seems incongruous with the setting.
The book's feminist themes about how some men deprive women of their power and agency is well-done and nuanced, and using Prince Oran as a lens for how a narrow view of masculinity also adversely affects men was an excellent literary device.
One last comment: I think other reviewers' critiques about the way female sexuality is treated in this book are fair. I'm not giving the book a pass per se, but I think the book's overall message on the subject are mixed. There are clear and emphatic messages about consent, but I found the messages about sexuality much more muddied.
chantellereads's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0