Reviews

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

n_mutanu16's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

harrisonarachel's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this book!

When I first started reading I was a bit confused as to where this was going, but the more I read the more immersed into the world I was.

Beautifully written, twists and turns that I was not expecting. Amazing insight into the different worlds before my time. Really really enjoyed this book.

Really wanting to read more by this author.

mgromko's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious 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

3.0

The book had two story lines; I kept expecting that they would mix or inform one another, but they did not. On the one hand there is the family and its many interactions, including and featuring Johannes' sexual orientation and the various 'complications' of that. On the other, there is the miniaturist, a mysterious character who sometimes appears as supernatural or clairvoyant and at other times simply a snoop; these two versions of the miniaturist are never resolved. The relationship between the two stories is distant at best and ill-defined and clumsy at worst.

tressymfeathers's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

eli_cart's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

amblygon_writes's review against another edition

4.0

This book is by no means perfect, and I found it very difficult to start. However, it develops into a pleasant read with some unexpected (and some expected) twists. I can't comment on the historical accuracy, but there were enough details for me to find the world believable. I particularly enjoyed how the layers of some of the characters were very carefully peeled away to reveal a person I didn't quite expect.

jenniebridges's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition

3.0

I felt like this book started off really well and then eventually just kept going and going and going. Towards the end of the book I kept flipping pages to see how many were left.

kyra_c_c's review against another edition

2.0

I don't get the hype for this book at all. It is poorly written, with characters speaking into the void instead of having real, meaningful conversations. I cared about none of them and the central "mystery" of the book comes to nothing.

gamecocksara's review against another edition

2.0

I found this one hard to get into... and then once I did, things got pretty interesting & I enjoyed the story, but I found the ending somewhat lacking. Just... meh.