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va1kyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
3.5
merlin_reads's review against another edition
dark
3.75
So this book threw me for a loop. I honestly went into not really knowing what to expect. I feel like this book wasn't promoted as well as her other books. I found it by accident in the bookstore one day. But I am glad I did.
Imagine living in a patriarchal village where four girls get chosen as saints by "God". They remain saints until the have their first bleed (aka period) because then they are tainted and can no longer be pure, so they are replaced with the next girl who's name is whispered to the elders. The girls are chosen to hear the confessions of the townspeople - however the confessions aren't what you think confessions are. Here, the townspeople are free to do what they want to the saints as this apparently brings them closer to Gods love. When Amity is chosen as a Saint, she thinks it's everything she's ever wanted and a way to help the town move past the sins of her mother. But along the way, her eyes are opened to the darkness surrounding their village and the lies that were told to keep them in line.
This book was violent. Legrand holds nothing back when she describes the abuse these girls go through or the murders that happen. It honestly felt gratuitous at times but yet it added to the dark tones of this book and really helped sink you into this world.
I would like to say that I was blown away by the twist at the end but alas, I don't know if it's because I've seen so many horror stories, but I had guessed the big reveal from the first chapter. But while i knew where it was heading, I was extremely sucked in to see how it would be revealed. I wanted the history of how this village came to be.
This book shows the darkness in people and what they choose to do with it. It also shows the strength that one can hold inside of them while being constantly beaten down. The ending was very open ended, but also hinted that there could be more to tell in this world. I haven't seen any hints of a sequel but I do hope Legrand expands on this world because so much was revealed that I want to know more about.
Imagine living in a patriarchal village where four girls get chosen as saints by "God". They remain saints until the have their first bleed (aka period) because then they are tainted and can no longer be pure, so they are replaced with the next girl who's name is whispered to the elders. The girls are chosen to hear the confessions of the townspeople - however the confessions aren't what you think confessions are. Here, the townspeople are free to do what they want to the saints as this apparently brings them closer to Gods love. When Amity is chosen as a Saint, she thinks it's everything she's ever wanted and a way to help the town move past the sins of her mother. But along the way, her eyes are opened to the darkness surrounding their village and the lies that were told to keep them in line.
This book was violent. Legrand holds nothing back when she describes the abuse these girls go through or the murders that happen. It honestly felt gratuitous at times but yet it added to the dark tones of this book and really helped sink you into this world.
I would like to say that I was blown away by the twist at the end but alas, I don't know if it's because I've seen so many horror stories, but I had guessed the big reveal from the first chapter. But while i knew where it was heading, I was extremely sucked in to see how it would be revealed. I wanted the history of how this village came to be.
This book shows the darkness in people and what they choose to do with it. It also shows the strength that one can hold inside of them while being constantly beaten down. The ending was very open ended, but also hinted that there could be more to tell in this world. I haven't seen any hints of a sequel but I do hope Legrand expands on this world because so much was revealed that I want to know more about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, and Animal death
brookem03's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kdramalover_1994's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
0.5
peachyyyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
such a good read. i enjoyed the dystopian feel of the book and fantasy aspects of their world. but the connections it makes to reality is written very well.
i enjoyed the feminist themes and religious trauma that drives the characters to become strong women. it’s such a good book for ya audiences who want a feminist read.
the queer mc was amazing. i loved how she discovered herself in this book.
i thought it was written really well and i loved the more sophisticated/outdated feel the mc has. and towards the end when the pov shifts, you can really tell it isn’t rage speaking. so i loved that the author has created characters with such specific and realistic thought patterns.
would probably read again. really enjoyed the middle of the book
i enjoyed the feminist themes and religious trauma that drives the characters to become strong women. it’s such a good book for ya audiences who want a feminist read.
the queer mc was amazing. i loved how she discovered herself in this book.
i thought it was written really well and i loved the more sophisticated/outdated feel the mc has. and towards the end when the pov shifts, you can really tell it isn’t rage speaking. so i loved that the author has created characters with such specific and realistic thought patterns.
would probably read again. really enjoyed the middle of the book
geliopoulos's review against another edition
1.0
unfathomable that the same person who wrote sawkill girls wrote this
aziraphileandcrowley'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? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jenn_the_unicorn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
2.25
optimisticbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐
I really love horror/spooky stories and I did read Sawkill Girls and I just felt average about it and this one I feel very similar sadly.
I love witches and all things spooky for sure but this one I felt could've been at least 200 pages less than it was and would've possibly had a better rating (from me, at least.)
I really love horror/spooky stories and I did read Sawkill Girls and I just felt average about it and this one I feel very similar sadly.
I love witches and all things spooky for sure but this one I felt could've been at least 200 pages less than it was and would've possibly had a better rating (from me, at least.)