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shoohoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I also wanted to note that this is NOT a romance book. The sapphic aspect is interspersed and is not the main focus of the book. Just be aware of that in case you are recommended this book as a sapphic read!
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Blood, Animal death, Torture, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Grief, Death, and Cursing
nicnevin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
That tasteless joke aside, its a beautiful piece showing how minor quibbles can lead to such devestating consequences.
The relationships and social connections throughout are stitched together with a raw, real intensity. Its beautiful.
A warning though, it can be intense so just a heads up!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Torture
mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I literally had to put the book down a few times because I couldn't handle it any longer. Nevertheless I quite enjoyed it, if you can call it that. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. I was instantly transported into the rough and bleak landscape of Northern Norway. The characters are all well-written. This is especially true for the two main characters Ursa and Maren, but also for the kirke women in Vardø. I wanted to jump into the book and strangle all of them. An author has to be very good in their craft for me to actually want to do that. Loved the LGBTQIA+ aspect of the story. I also found the ending quite fitting for such a bleak book. A happy ending wouldn't have made sense and I appreciate the author for choosing the most realistic outcome.
I can highly recommend the audiobook, which is read by Jessie Buckley. The way she pronounced all the Norwegian names and words really drew me into the story.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Colonisation, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infertility, and Infidelity
waterbridge147's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Torture
g_monaghan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book had me on edge the whole time, I knew where the story was going but I didn't realise I would still be so enraged by the events that unfolded. The accusations of witchcraft and the treatment of those accused was harrowing, the brief freedom the women of Vardø experienced when they were forced to fend for themselves in a challenging landscape was eclipsed by the misogynistic and spiteful actions of the governor.
Perhaps most poignant and heart-wretching is the fact that
whilst this is a work of fiction the story would be true of the lives of many women or those seen as outcasts that do not fit in or were restricted by the social mores of the time.
This book also contains commentary on ethnicity, class, sexuality and gender expression. Be warned this book is full of saphic pining.
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Torture and Domestic abuse
Minor: Gaslighting and Alcohol
breadwitchery'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Murder, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Grief, and Animal death
Moderate: Racism, Torture, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Blood, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Infidelity, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
efischer's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse
alonlyfangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Genocide
zinfandel's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
The SA scenes in this book are quite graphic and may be triggering to some readers. I found said scenes very hard to read. They do not come from no where and are definitely skippable if that is an option for you.lkbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Body shaming