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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I was captivated by the premise of The Marsh King's Daughter - I saw it at a bookstore, read a few pages and put it back on the shelf. The very next day I came back and bought it.
Despite my initial confusion about Helena's seeming lack of empathy towards her mother, it became clear over the course of the book that those were the leftovers of her father's conditioning and brainwashing. I was however a bit disappointed that she didn't feel as much anger towards her father as I did. That would have made the emotional impact deeper for me. (Hence, 4 stars.)
Despite all this, I was fascinated by the atmosphere and that we spent so much time exploring it through the mind of a child. Helena was a very interesting character and I love books that give me knowledge I normally wouldn't seek out. I was the type of kid that spent all her time in the woods, so I could relate to her passion for nature. Overall it was a great read - and a purchase I definitely don't regret.
Despite my initial confusion about Helena's seeming lack of empathy towards her mother, it became clear over the course of the book that those were the leftovers of her father's conditioning and brainwashing. I was however a bit disappointed that she didn't feel as much anger towards her father as I did. That would have made the emotional impact deeper for me. (Hence, 4 stars.)
Despite all this, I was fascinated by the atmosphere and that we spent so much time exploring it through the mind of a child. Helena was a very interesting character and I love books that give me knowledge I normally wouldn't seek out. I was the type of kid that spent all her time in the woods, so I could relate to her passion for nature. Overall it was a great read - and a purchase I definitely don't regret.
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fantastic Story
Suspenseful, detailed and very realistic, this is a terrific book. The protagonist is such an unusual character, flawed to the extent necessary for such a gripping story.
Suspenseful, detailed and very realistic, this is a terrific book. The protagonist is such an unusual character, flawed to the extent necessary for such a gripping story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was a short weird moment of what read as victim blaming. But the books evoked emotion and suspense as a whole. I’d say the last 100 pages are the best part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this mystery/adventure set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The shifting POV between the narrator's present life and her childhood, paired with her childhood perspectives of her father made for an interesting narrative with complex, dynamic characters.
Helena Pelletier grew up far from society, deep in the marsh lands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP.) She had never seen a television nor a telephone, and everything she learned about the outside world came from old National Geographic’s. She has learned how to live off the land from her father whose sociopathic personality teaches her to be just as dismissive of her mother as her father is. She also did not realize that her mother was kidnapped by her father when she was a teenager.
Now her father, who has been in prison for over thirty years, has escaped. Only Helena knows his hunting and tracking skills are legendary.
She knows the authorities will never find him --She knows the only one who can, is her.
With her own family in jeopardy, will Helena find him in time? How does she explain her bazaar past to her husband, and will she ever live a normal life?
The audio version of this novel will have you clinging to every word. It is a suspense filled story that provides an excellent description of what it means to “live off the land.” The author herself did just that, and her experience has managed to transfer beautifully to her writing. – Pam B.
Now her father, who has been in prison for over thirty years, has escaped. Only Helena knows his hunting and tracking skills are legendary.
She knows the authorities will never find him --She knows the only one who can, is her.
With her own family in jeopardy, will Helena find him in time? How does she explain her bazaar past to her husband, and will she ever live a normal life?
The audio version of this novel will have you clinging to every word. It is a suspense filled story that provides an excellent description of what it means to “live off the land.” The author herself did just that, and her experience has managed to transfer beautifully to her writing. – Pam B.
I could not put this thriller down - many aspects made it a fascinating read for me. I loved that it was told from the viewpoint of a daughter born in captivity and was unlike any other character in genres like this. The landscape descriptions were so rich and detailed that I could envision the U.P. despite never being there.