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mishmoshroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Child death, Torture, Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Murder, and Grief
cuprum's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, and Death
concealed_journeys's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
taythegreat's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It was really hard for me to get into. It took me nearly two days to read 68 pages. I think it's a me thing rather than it being a bad book, I just don't think this style of writing is for me. The first third of the book felt a lot like reading Stephen King, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you like the way he writes. I prefer a more flowery/lyrical style of writing whereas his and this book is more to the point.
I liked most of the characters. Marra was aggravating with her constant self hate and kicking herself for being "slow". I would have like to see some character development where she realizes she isn't "slow" she just had a crappy family. Marra was a boss, and I wish she would have realized it by the end of the book. I loved the banter between the Dust-wife and Fenris as well as the bickering between the Dust-wife and Agnes, the Dust-wife was just fun all around. Bonedog, like every dog, absolutely stole my heart, along with the demon chicken.
All in all, I really did love the storyline and was able to finally immerse myself around the point they got to the goblin market. I just don't think this style of writing is for me.
I liked most of the characters. Marra was aggravating with her constant self hate and kicking herself for being "slow". I would have like to see some character development where she realizes she isn't "slow" she just had a crappy family. Marra was a boss, and I wish she would have realized it by the end of the book. I loved the banter between the Dust-wife and Fenris as well as the bickering between the Dust-wife and Agnes, the Dust-wife was just fun all around. Bonedog, like every dog, absolutely stole my heart, along with the demon chicken.
All in all, I really did love the storyline and was able to finally immerse myself around the point they got to the goblin market. I just don't think this style of writing is for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Child death
Minor: Physical abuse and Miscarriage
bethfern04's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Grief, and Pregnancy
slim's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
3/5 for writing, 2.5/5 for story and 2/5 for impact.
Content Warnings
Minor: Dementia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, and Pregnancy
jackal_ope's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this book. More of a twist on a fairy tale than an adventure fantasy, I actually loved how the problems in this novel were mostly solved without direct violence. I aporeciated that the main cast were well into adulthood. The main character's flaws are acknowledged and her actions make sense based on those things. All the characters were charming and by the end I was incredibly invested in their well-being.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Domestic abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse
turrean's review
adventurous
dark
funny
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
5.0
An absolute delight. The author’s wry humor shines through in a fantasy tale about the resilience and unseen valor of women.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Death, Murder, Child death, Miscarriage, and Violence
bremblebee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Physical abuse
aubreymichelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.5
The novel starts with Marra, the main character, wiring dog bones together in order to complete the second task the the dust-wife gave her. Then, for about three chapters, there are splits where it swaps from the past of Marra's sister Damia being wed to Prince Vorling and dying, before her other sister Kania is wed. Eventually, Marra realizes the dark truth and leaves to find the dust-wife.
One thing about this book is that it had parts that went unutilized or parts that felt dry: the blistered land and saints vengeful over broken taboo, the goblin market, the fact that Marra magically made a dog of bones come to life.
The characters felt rather flushed out and Marra slowly learned to find her inner strength and her trust in others. The dust-wife was oddly snarky and often, along with her demon hen, added comedy to the story.Fenris had undying loyalty after Marra saved him from the market. Arles was lovable and the perfect example of someone so good she refused to use her dark magic.
My favorite quote from this book is "I've done many things that were terribly important, lives hanging in the balance and so on and so forth. There is something pleasant about chopping wood. If I miss a stroke, nothing awful happens." I feel like this quote really highlights the stressing standards that some people face, and shows how it is important to sometimes take a step back and relax.
This book had quite a few insightful quotes, but also quite a few funny lines.
The plot was slower than I expected it to bed and there were parts where, as I said earlier, a certain bit could have been utilized.For example, the jar of moonlight which was barely featured in the book despite being the third impossible task. Also, all it did was glow. On the bright side, it showed some of the dust-wife's character.
A list of words I learned from this novel are: Charnel, Dotage, Querulous, Awl, Palanquin, Abacus, Leper, Genuflecting, Aquiline, Lacquer, Banal, and Geas.
Another amazing quote from this book is one that really shows Marra's character growth:"You are not so big. You are only a living king. I saw an old woman defeat a dead one. You can not hurt me any worse than spinning thread of nettle wool, and you cannot confuse me anymore that the palace of dust. Even you cruelty is small compared to the blistered land."
Overall, I would say this is a good book for people who like characters that feel mostly real and a woman slowly discovering her self worth.
4☆: I enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Edit:
My General 4.5 Stars / This book has well-rounded characters that have clear-cut personalities and roles. The worldbuilding was congruent throughout the book. The direction that the plot went and the conclusion was realistic. The book paced well. However, something was missing or did not quite make sense. I loved this book, but it wasn’t quite worth five stars.
One thing about this book is that it had parts that went unutilized or parts that felt dry: the blistered land and saints vengeful over broken taboo, the goblin market, the fact that Marra magically made a dog of bones come to life.
The characters felt rather flushed out and Marra slowly learned to find her inner strength and her trust in others. The dust-wife was oddly snarky and often, along with her demon hen, added comedy to the story.
My favorite quote from this book is "I've done many things that were terribly important, lives hanging in the balance and so on and so forth. There is something pleasant about chopping wood. If I miss a stroke, nothing awful happens." I feel like this quote really highlights the stressing standards that some people face, and shows how it is important to sometimes take a step back and relax.
This book had quite a few insightful quotes, but also quite a few funny lines.
The plot was slower than I expected it to bed and there were parts where, as I said earlier, a certain bit could have been utilized.
A list of words I learned from this novel are: Charnel, Dotage, Querulous, Awl, Palanquin, Abacus, Leper, Genuflecting, Aquiline, Lacquer, Banal, and Geas.
Another amazing quote from this book is one that really shows Marra's character growth:
Overall, I would say this is a good book for people who like characters that feel mostly real and a woman slowly discovering her self worth.
4☆: I enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Edit:
My General 4.5 Stars / This book has well-rounded characters that have clear-cut personalities and roles. The worldbuilding was congruent throughout the book. The direction that the plot went and the conclusion was realistic. The book paced well. However, something was missing or did not quite make sense. I loved this book, but it wasn’t quite worth five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Slavery