Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Path of Thorns by A.G. Slatter

2 reviews

silver_violet's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Animal death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Blood, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Abortion

Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Confinement

imaginaryalchemist's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I absolutely loved AG Slatter's previous novel, All the Murmuring Bones, so I was excited to read this one! I didn't enjoy as much, but I did still like it.

The story follows Asher Todd, who has just become a governess at the Morwood Estate. It's clear from the start she has many secrets, as does the entire Morwood family. Slowly, all of the mysteries begin to unravel.

I liked Asher as a character. She is very cunning and resourceful. Leonora was wonderfully diabolical and a compelling character.

I also loved that there was casual LGBTQ rep - one female character is openly married to another woman and it's treated as perfectly normal in that world.

I do wish the wolves had gotten more attention, they were a very interesting part of the world but didn't seem to have much relevance to the overall plot.

One nitpick I had with the ending:

It felt a bit too similar to the end of All the Murmuring Bones, with several family members being suddenly killed. I felt bad for Jessamine, knowing she come home to find her husband and mother-in-law slain. 

I also felt the bit with Luned's abortion was unnecessary.

The themes here are similar to All the Murmuring Bones, with plenty of family secrets, drama, and magic. There also a couple nods to it, with the O'Malleys and a few locations being mentioned. Both stories are self-contained, however, so you can read one without having read the other. I enjoy the world that Slatter has crafted, and hope to see more of it in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Abortion

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Grief

There are mentions of animal death and sacrifice.

In one scene, Asher kills a fox to perform a ritual. It describes how she kills him. There is another scene where she reanimates a dead wolf pup.

Murder is a major theme in this story, as is attempted murder.

In one scene, Asher confronts her father who then attempts to strangle her. He is then murdered by Eli Burgh. Several Morwoods meet a gruesome end as well.

Asher's mother is described as being rather abusive towards her. There are mentions of Luther being abusive to his wife and children.
Abortion, pregnancy, and infidelity are mentioned.

Towards the end of the book, it's revealed that Luned is pregnant with Luther's baby. They had been having an affair, and Luned begged Asher to help her. Asher then helps Luned abort the baby.