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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read as an audiobook. Slow beginning and hard to get into the story with the excerpts read by different people, I will add I wish Mary’s testimonies were read by the narrator because they were confusing to hear different voices.
The ending was too rushed and out of left field. I wish we had had a more thought out story for the ending, a chapter or two more plus the epilogue.
Do thineself a favor and don’t be afraid to DNF
The ending was too rushed and out of left field. I wish we had had a more thought out story for the ending, a chapter or two more plus the epilogue.
Do thineself a favor and don’t be afraid to DNF
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A little slow in parts but honestly I don't think I would have been able to read it any faster as I had to pace myself with the extreme spousal violence. I have a few Puritan/ Witch/ Massachusetts history books set aside to read this year and this was the first. I cannot imagine a more woven narrative to correlate the abuse within a marriage of this time, when women are property and of the inability to leave a marriage.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For being 400 pages, this was a quick read. The plot does move quickly, a colonial whodunnit, and by “it,” that’s a great question that even the Court of Assistants can’t quite figure out.
The most fascinating parts of this book discuss Puritan culture, and the way that those who still have memories of England see and interact with the New World, and all the evil things within it. A poignant observation toward the end of the book summarizes the constant self-reflection that early English settlers engaged in: how, though the basis of the New World was the freedom to believe that there were the Elect and the Damned, and one could do nothing to change their ordination, that means it must be possible for a “witch” to be among the elect. And that’s a truth no one was willing to acknowledge.
It was a fine book.
The most fascinating parts of this book discuss Puritan culture, and the way that those who still have memories of England see and interact with the New World, and all the evil things within it. A poignant observation toward the end of the book summarizes the constant self-reflection that early English settlers engaged in: how, though the basis of the New World was the freedom to believe that there were the Elect and the Damned, and one could do nothing to change their ordination, that means it must be possible for a “witch” to be among the elect. And that’s a truth no one was willing to acknowledge.
It was a fine book.
I....really rather hated this. It felt long and drawn out and boring. Mary felt one dimensional and the pacing of this novel was so god awful. The quotes at the beginning of the chapters did nothing to serve the narrative other than to drive up expectations that it just didn't deliver. When I got to the end all I could think was....this is it?? And that epilogue! Why? I really felt like this story had potential, witchcraft and domestic abuse and lust....but good God I would rather drive a "devil's tine" into my own hand than pick this up again which is a shame after reading so many other great novels by this author.