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vonni's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you're like me and enjoy a pastoral, alpine, mystery book with luscious descriptions and haunting tones, this book is a must read. It's a bit slow to start, but the intrigue of the setting kept me engaged and I am so thankful that I stuck around for the whole novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Infertility, Animal death, Bullying, and Pregnancy
vigil's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
tarocannotread's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Honestly, I have no idea what to think about this book. I think it's well crafted for the sort of story and ideas that the author wanted to tell, but there were some hiccups that have left in me something to be desired. The peril of it is that I can't really put my finger on it. I understand what the author wanted to do, what she wanted to say, what he wanted the reader to think about. I enjoyed the circular structure of the story, how it all seemed to start again.
However, I wish that the story had ended with Vera dying in the Graubach, just as her mother had, because i think this would have driven home the point even more. It would have added a sense of tragedy to the story that I think was missing, that leads the ending and by extension the story as a whole, to fall quite flat. I also wish that the author had driven home the contrast between Vera's hometown and Elsewhere more. Had described the differences between them more when Vera left the town and experienced Elsewhere, so that Vera seeing her hometown, which was once so beautiful to her, as a place falling apart at the seams, had been driven home more. It would have emphasised how Vera saw her town as beautiful only because of her lack of experience.
Another thing i noticed was that the author would sometimes be carried away in her prose and perhaps unintentionally reveal certain things that should have been left out, for the reader to think about themselves. It robbed some of the mystery to me, and came off as try-hard or too eager. There were also instances of lines that did not make sense to the story, but were rather just implemented, because they sound "quotable". That is not to say that the prose is amateurish, far from it. I realized that the author ha put a lot of thought and care into weaving this story to a specificity, which I greatly appreciate, for example the choice of names: "Vera" meaning "truth" and Ruth being just one letter from that word. "Iris" meaning "rainbow" which pierces the clouds and the sky to bring messages to the gods. it is very clever and I appreciated it.
Alas, I suppose I enjoyed the story, but I also feel quite underwhelmed. I appreciate the author's cleverness and purpose with this story, so it still has some merit to me. 3,5 out of 5 stars.
However, I wish
Another thing i noticed was that the author would sometimes be carried away in her prose and perhaps unintentionally reveal certain things that should have been left out, for the reader to think about themselves. It robbed some of the mystery to me, and came off as try-hard or too eager. There were also instances of lines that did not make sense to the story, but were rather just implemented, because they sound "quotable". That is not to say that the prose is amateurish, far from it. I realized that the author ha put a lot of thought and care into weaving this story to a specificity, which I greatly appreciate, for example the choice of names:
Alas, I suppose I enjoyed the story, but I also feel quite underwhelmed. I appreciate the author's cleverness and purpose with this story, so it still has some merit to me. 3,5 out of 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Rape
mondovertigo's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Rape
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
deezy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
mellamaron's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It’s hard not to review this book without spoilers but I will try. We have a tale here that defies logic, a bit of a magical presence which to be fair could not exist at all. This book is fascinating in the way it is told. I liked the beginning and the middle but I was not as fond of the last 1/3.
Overall, I think this book might be a metaphor for post-partum depression. The mothers who disappear don’t have anything in common and the people left behind always try to see “where did their life go wrong” but really there in lies the issue. It’s not a thing you can pinpoint - it’s not something that happens because of something else. PPD is a sickness and it does not discriminate; it can happen to anyone.
I felt such heartache throughout this book. It really hurt to read it sometimes and I think in this case, that is okay. Despite me giving this book 3.5 stars, I would recommend it to others. I think it deserves to be read. I just can’t give it more than that myself due to my experiences.
Also, yes, I 100% see the similarities between Elsewhere and The Lottery. That short story was one of my favorites in school.
Overall, I think this book might be a metaphor for post-partum depression. The mothers who disappear don’t have anything in common and the people left behind always try to see “where did their life go wrong” but really there in lies the issue. It’s not a thing you can pinpoint - it’s not something that happens because of something else. PPD is a sickness and it does not discriminate; it can happen to anyone.
I felt such heartache throughout this book. It really hurt to read it sometimes and I think in this case, that is okay. Despite me giving this book 3.5 stars, I would recommend it to others. I think it deserves to be read. I just can’t give it more than that myself due to my experiences.
Also, yes, I 100% see the similarities between Elsewhere and The Lottery. That short story was one of my favorites in school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, and Death
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