Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne

13 reviews

dragonwriter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring slow-paced

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

5.0

Presented as a found medieval German text, The Book of Gothel gives the life of the witch who kidnapped Rapunzel and locked her in the tower. Her name was Haelewise. Throughout her life, Haelewise struggles with fainting spells that makes her father and priests believe she’s possessed by a demon, and they try all sorts of holy remedies to cure her and cast the demon out. Her mother, however, has a different solution in mind. Sacrificing her own life for Haelewise’s happiness, her mother’s death sets Haelewise on a path to find the Circle, a group of women who worship the Mother, as well as embroils her in political machinations and assassinations. Fighting to preserve herself and her love, Haelewise follows the path her mother sets before her, searching for a family who will finally love her as she is. 

 

This story hints at several other fairy tales, such as snow white, yet holds to a fantastical historical nature. It’s quite the clever play between fantasy and history, and I couldn’t help but picture Haelewise’s dress as the same featured in Disney’s Tangled. I thought that was quite the clever nod to the familiar tale. While I wouldn’t call this a ‘cozy’ story, the stakes follow the fates of several women in Haelewise’s life, as she fights to protect those from the cruelty of men. The men in power are frequently as cruel, or uncaring of woman’s plight (the King, Haelewise’s father, Ulrich), while the men who are lower ranked in the political structure are more sympathetic (Daniel and Matthaus). I do like how Mattaus is able to contribute to the ending, how he’s sent away with the baby while Haelewise confronts the wolf, and I really like how sweet he is and how he fights for her, despite her reputation. Their friends-to-lovers dynamic really has you rooting for them throughout the whole book, and while I hate Kunegunde for what she did, I’m glad they got something of a happy ending. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Religious bigotry

Minor: Miscarriage and Rape

amalyndb's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny

Minor: Abortion, Torture, and Miscarriage

prairieraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Abortion, Cursing, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Rape, Classism, Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Infertility, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

thirza's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Murder and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

emmarie's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Grief, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, Abortion, and Infertility

This book had such a potential to be great. The concept is amazing, but was not executed in the best way. The plot is SLOW. The royal family dynamics are so confusing it’s nearly impossible to know who is related to who and how. I wish more of the journalist’s perspective was in there. I gave it 3 stars because the last 25% of the book was quite good and the concept was brilliant. It started moving fast then. The first 75% droned on to the point I would accidentally skip lines and have to force myself to reread.

qrschulte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

What a fantastic retelling. Takes the well-known story and turns it on its head, shattering expectations. I love a book with a good framing narrative, and this was no exception. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Classism, Chronic illness, Death, Body horror, Abandonment, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement and Sexual assault

Minor: Antisemitism, Suicide, Torture, Miscarriage, and Animal death

flyintothestorm's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

This was just beautiful. I loved both the story and the way it is told. I don't really think it needed to support itself in the Rapunzel tale, but it works and the mentions to other fairy tales work too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Blood, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

katiefronk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Murder and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content

apolloann's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Infidelity, and Alcoholism

rookdigoo's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Sexism, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry