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e11en's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
amy_park's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
I enjoyed the multuple narratives but I felt it would have been better if it was split up in the past and present storyline instead, Agnes recounting her life leading to the murders was good but for me I would have preferred thr structural split.
I don't think I will remember much detail as I read more books and the connection was lacking hence the lower rating.
Although this is bad to say I did feel this book had similar vibes to "The Mercies", which may have made me compare it a little, but this book wasn't as good in my opinion.
Moderate: Child death
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Misogyny
lauraportalupi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
madamelacy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As well as being very invested in Agnes’s story, I enjoyed learning about how people lived in 19th Century Iceland. The descriptions of their homesteads and culture were fascinating.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Miscarriage
janetsuzanne's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child death, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment and Rape
friends2lovers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"We'll remember you, Agnes." She presses my fingers more tightly, until I almost cry out from the pain, and then I am crying. I don't want to be remembered, I want to be here!
This is a very slow, melancholy read with a bleak setting and a tragic ending. I thought the historical details were interesting, but I never became very invested in the story. While it's not a long book, it took me a long time to read because other books I was reading were far more engaging and less somber. I've owned a paperback copy of this for years, but will probably put it in a box to donate or sell as I don't see myself ever rereading it.
In the author's note at the end, Kent says some other books written about the Illugastaðir murders "hold a common view of Agnes as 'an inhumane witch stirring up murder'. This novel has been written to supply a more ambiguous portrayal of this woman." Unfortunately, I think by making Agnes an ambiguous and mysterious character, Kent inadvertently made her a bit flat and uninteresting.
The multiple points-of-view and tense in the first chapter made for a rough start to the novel. Agnes' perspective is in 1st person, present tense. Tóti's perspective is in 3rd person limited, past-tense. And the Jónsdóttir family is introduced in what I think is supposed to be 3rd person omniscient, but came across more like 3rd person limited with head-hopping between each member of the family. Luckily, after the first chapter, Kent mostly sticks to the perspective of one family member, Margrét, in 3rd person limited, past tense, like Tóti.
Other than those POV issues, the writing was decent, so I might try another of Kent's books in the future. Especially considering that Burial Rites was Kent's debut novel, so presumably her writing will have improved with later books.
If you're looking for another literary novel about a woman murderess in the 19th century I recommend Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, which I remember liking a lot more than this.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual content
dreamerfreak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
sarah_speaks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy and Chronic illness
laurenmvmills's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Child death