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jasperdotpdf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
3.75
Did I have a single ounce of an idea what was going on? No.
Did I still enjoy reading this? Absolutely.
Was the writing beautiful? 100%.
Did I still enjoy reading this? Absolutely.
Was the writing beautiful? 100%.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Antisemitism, Self harm, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
zghutcheson01's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book had a problem with not explaining some details and I would’ve liked some more time with the Yuhuli but overall a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Genocide, Gore, Racism, and Violence
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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: Gore, Violence, Racism, and Religious bigotry
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Antisemitism, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death
jadecolored's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: War
Minor: Sexual content
beomundi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A very well thought out and crafted story based on Eastern European folklore, history, and political struggles. (a very good and well-expected thing considering the author's background knees deep in the research of this very thing) It is a book entirely focused on examining all the threads that make up identity all through the lens of a girl repeatedly having her beliefs, stereotypes, and views stabbed through and questioned. While trying to figure out exactly where she fits in it all when she feels like she fits nowhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: War and Death of parent
onthesamepage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the kind of fantasy that I truly love, but I understand why it won't appeal to everyone. If you enjoyed Uprooted by Naomi Novik, I would recommend giving this a try as well, because the tone and the pacing of both books felt very similar to me. The stories are completely different, though.
The most important thing to know is that this book is slow paced. And I don't mean that it dragged, just that we can spend many chapters following our characters as they travel through a forest and are confronted with obstacles on their journey. If that's not the kind of story you enjoy reading, then this book is probably not for you.
The world is based on Hungarian and Jewish history/myths, and a lot of the plot is about toxic nationalism. Gáspár, the titular woodsman and actually the prince, has a younger brother who is convinced that anyone who is "other" needs to be killed for their country to flourish. This includes the tribes who live in the forest and follow a pagan religion, but also the Yehuli, who are confined to a specific part of the city, and frequently persecuted. I don't know enough about Hungarian history to draw any kind of parallels, but I do find this exploration to be fascinating because of the parallels with Palestine and Israel, even though the roles are reversed in that case. I also really appreciated Évike's personal journey to figure out who she is and who she belongs to. As someone who is biracial, it's something I've always struggled with, because I don't quite fit within either culture. Évike's eagerness to learn more about her Yehuli heritage really endeared her to me.
I enjoyed the romance between Évike and Gáspár, but I wouldn't consider them a new favourite couple. The development from enemies to reluctant allies and then to lovers felt natural and unforced, and all of it done without the romance becoming the main focus of the story.
The writing is beautiful. It's descriptive without ever becoming purple, and I found great enjoyment in sinking into the words. I also especially loved the stories Évike tells Gáspár; the dynamic between them during those sections was fantastic to see, but I also just loved the fairytales themselves, which never ended quite the way you'd expect.
All in all a masterful book.
The most important thing to know is that this book is slow paced. And I don't mean that it dragged, just that we can spend many chapters following our characters as they travel through a forest and are confronted with obstacles on their journey. If that's not the kind of story you enjoy reading, then this book is probably not for you.
The world is based on Hungarian and Jewish history/myths, and a lot of the plot is about toxic nationalism. Gáspár, the titular woodsman and actually the prince, has a younger brother who is convinced that anyone who is "other" needs to be killed for their country to flourish. This includes the tribes who live in the forest and follow a pagan religion, but also the Yehuli, who are confined to a specific part of the city, and frequently persecuted. I don't know enough about Hungarian history to draw any kind of parallels, but I do find this exploration to be fascinating because of the parallels with Palestine and Israel, even though the roles are reversed in that case. I also really appreciated Évike's personal journey to figure out who she is and who she belongs to. As someone who is biracial, it's something I've always struggled with, because I don't quite fit within either culture. Évike's eagerness to learn more about her Yehuli heritage really endeared her to me.
I enjoyed the romance between Évike and Gáspár, but I wouldn't consider them a new favourite couple. The development from enemies to reluctant allies and then to lovers felt natural and unforced, and all of it done without the romance becoming the main focus of the story.
The writing is beautiful. It's descriptive without ever becoming purple, and I found great enjoyment in sinking into the words. I also especially loved the stories Évike tells Gáspár; the dynamic between them during those sections was fantastic to see, but I also just loved the fairytales themselves, which never ended quite the way you'd expect.
All in all a masterful book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Torture, Physical abuse, and Bullying
frankieclc's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Religious bigotry, Violence, Torture, and Self harm
natlren'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? It's complicated
5.0
Ava Reid is definitely one of my all-time favorite authors. This book was an absolute masterpiece and one that I can't stop recommending whenever someone I know needs something lush and immersive and just beautifully written.
Be sure to check all content warning before picking this novel up.
Be sure to check all content warning before picking this novel up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Antisemitism
gemma_clare's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The pacing in this drove me mad and made me really struggle to finish it, which is sad because it had so much potential. I enjoyed the characters and would have enjoyed the plot if it was more consistent, but it felt like it was jumping all over the place and like the end goal of the book changed 5-6 times. I liked the conflict between religions and comparisons to real history, but found some of the lore either confusing, or boring and shallow. The writing style was nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Grief, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Classism, and Emotional abuse