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penofpossibilities's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Excrement, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
anarchoduck's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting of the book, the depiction of the tough life and rough weather on Vardø and the women of Vardø seemed like interesting and fun characters to me. The stories of Maren and Ursa are both in their own ways sad and disturbing but also a little hopeful and I really liked that.
However, I think it was a questionable choice to almost completely exclude the perspectives of the Sami and not further inform about their culture and marginalisation. In my opinion, Diina should have been a main character and the story should have been told at least partly from her point of view. The way her character is written does slightly reinforce racist stereotypes because it's shown from Maren's and Ursa's perspectives. This story should be about her.
I didn't particularly love the sapphic relationship aswell. Kerstin and Diina would have been far better love interests. I don't need another white, skinny, assimilated, normatively beautiful sapphic couple. I just don't live for that.And why does Ursa's sexual trauma doesn't play any role in their sexual interaction?! That's just lazy. All in all, I don't detest the novel but I can't pretend like I'm not severely disappointed and it just leaves me feeling nothing.
However, I think it was a questionable choice to almost completely exclude the perspectives of the Sami and not further inform about their culture and marginalisation. In my opinion, Diina should have been a main character and the story should have been told at least partly from her point of view. The way her character is written does slightly reinforce racist stereotypes because it's shown from Maren's and Ursa's perspectives. This story should be about her.
I didn't particularly love the sapphic relationship aswell. Kerstin and Diina would have been far better love interests. I don't need another white, skinny, assimilated, normatively beautiful sapphic couple. I just don't live for that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
hettyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture
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