Reviews

The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste

spookymom1989's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

invicticide's review

dark sad slow-paced

2.5

badseedgirl's review

4.0

This book touched a place in my soul. I also grew up in a Rust belt town and watched our major industry close. I remember the low voices my parents spoke in when they were talking about what they were going to do when my Dad's plant closed. I think that is why this book touched me in such a personal way.

The storyline itself was an odd tale, that wiggled around on the page refusing to be pinned and pigeon-holed into any one genre.

libraryofalibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

goblinhearted's review

I absolutely loved the concept and the setting. I really, really wanted to like this. The main character's internal dialogue / personification just felt so... rough? Edgy? Immature? It felt too much like the audience of the book was younger kids.

queenrat's review

emotional

3.5

kayzie7's review

5.0

That was an amazing book! I expected it to be good but I didn't expect to be blown away! It's well written and the characters are well developed. It discusses so many issues to do with familial and societal expectations and capitalism. I honestly can't wait to read everything else Gwendolyn Kiste has written!

theduchess93's review

5.0

WOW. This book was just absolutely incredible. The prose was beautiful and somehow nostalgic, the characters were devastatingly complex, and it was the perfect length to tell the story fully without over-telling. I'm buying every book by this author.

rndialetheist's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Seemingly bleak and tragic, but with a deeply moving glimmer of hope.

agmaynard's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 Steel-town destruction seeps into the young women, leading to their transformation, and a horror atmosphere in a run-down town.  Picked for reading challenge.