Reviews

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland

they_planet's review

4.0

It was so so so good and so so important to me, apart from when she got with her dead sisters ex-fiancé, despite spending most of the book expressing she was walking her sisters life, but three steps behind. I think finding a connection with the family, and finding a place she felt like she belonged, despite it being through her sisters quest, was so nice and important, but I don’t think it needed to bridge the gap into romance.

Only other (minor) complaint was having quite a few triggering scenes in it, and not really having any indication they were coming until suddenly you were reading it.

whoevenisbethan's review

slow-paced

3.0

mooskimoo's review

challenging inspiring mysterious sad slow-paced

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

5.0

A true masterpiece. The Seven Skins of Esther Wildling takes you on an emotional journey in search of closure during a period of grief and loss. While mourning her sister Aura, Esther searches for answers surrounding her disappearance and death. Through this, Esther experiences personal growth and maturity, felt deeply by the reader.

narnwhalreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

sarah_ardin99's review

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

4.0

jenna_beyer's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.75

charli39's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

serenityofbooks's review

5.0

Wow! Holly Ringland has blown me away again with a completely unique story that has made me look at the world and our place within it a little differently after reading. I’ll be thinking about Esther Wilding for a long time to come just like I have continued to think of Alice Hart.

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding is a profoundly beautiful and moving novel about grief, joy and transformation. Esther and Aura Wilding are sisters who share a deep bond but when Aura goes missing by the sea, there are so many unanswered questions for her family left behind as they struggle with grief in their own ways. When Aura’s journal is found, Esther takes off on a life changing journey to the other side of the world to walk in the steps of her older sister trying to uncover the truth that led to her disappearance.

There are so many amazing moving parts in this book that I’m overwhelmed as to where to start! The scenery is breathtakingly vivid as we travel with Esther from Lutruwita, Tasmania to Denmark and Faroe Islands. As someone who has always been interested in travelling to this part of the world, the atmospheric descriptions have really given me itchy feet!

I adored how storytelling is weaved throughout creating a magical element; the Nordic fairytales Aura adored and the stories and ancient cultural practices of the Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people. And on a more individual level, the way tattoos are a way of understanding and sharing your own story.

I’ve probably gushed enough but I highly recommend this stunning, thought-provoking book to all the women in my life and will take a part of Esther with me in my own life.

jmn11's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This has now become one of my top 3 books, and Holly Ringland has shot up in favourite authors as well. Her writing focuses on themes of womanhood, strong female characters and relationships in a way that is real, relatable and inspiring. 

trickyn's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Beautifully written. Enjoyed it very much. Loved the descriptions of Denmark and the Faroe islands.