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casspro's review against another edition
4.0
One of the better magical realism novels I've read it quite some time. Setiawan weaves a tale of domestic drama, pitting mother against daughter, husband against wife, and friends against friends. The world he creates personifies and makes emotions real, from a mother's depression morphing into a thick mist surrounding the household, to a woman's bitter words transforming into angry bees. The female characters are strong, resilient people especially in the darkest of times. It took me a while to finish the novel, but I'm glad I was able to spend the holidays churning through this. It's well worth it.
francescacoll's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly don't know how to review this book... It kept me wanting to read and find out what happens next. It gave me someone to root for and someone to hate. It had magic and horror sprinkled throughout. BUT IT WAS SO WEIRD! I don't think this one is for everyone. I'm left with lots of questions...
noella_t's review against another edition
3.0
I almost quit reading this after a couple of chapters, read a few reviews, decided to give it another chance and was glad I did. However, by the time I finished the book, I almost wished I hadn't. This book reminded me so much of Vinegar Hill, by A. Manette Ansay.
Meridia at age 16 has grown up lonely, ignored by both her parents. She meets and falls in love with Daniel and when he asks her to marry him, she thinks she has found a way out of her parents house. She eventually figures out her new mother-in-law is way worse than her parents ever were.
In this book filled with mystical realism, navigating the bees and the mists, it's a wonder that anyone could survive the situation in which these characters find themselves.
Meridia at age 16 has grown up lonely, ignored by both her parents. She meets and falls in love with Daniel and when he asks her to marry him, she thinks she has found a way out of her parents house. She eventually figures out her new mother-in-law is way worse than her parents ever were.
In this book filled with mystical realism, navigating the bees and the mists, it's a wonder that anyone could survive the situation in which these characters find themselves.
ahinks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
deeerj's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Rich, visual, moving. Realistic fantasy if that makes any sense. I was so engrossed in the story I could barely put it down, and now that it is over, I almost don't want to start a new book because it will undoubtedly disappoint in comparison. I hope to see more from this author very soon.
duckduckmia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
To be rated/reviewed after this month's book club meeting
This was probably closer to a 3.5-star rating, but I rounded up to 4 stars since this was a debut novel and I found an online interview with the author that enhanced my reading experience. This fairy tale/fable is set in a nameless place at a nameless time, centering around two families that are united in marriage and plagued by dark secrets. While the story chronicles the lives of three generations of women, it primarily revolves around the relationships among Meridia, her mother Ravenna, and her mother-in-law Eva, and the mysteries behind the magic that guides their lives. Meridia is determined to overcome the haunting magic created by those she loves and the oppressive secrets behind their broken lives. She embarks upon a tumultuous journey of hope and heartbreak as she attempts to keep her new and old families together, ultimately uncovering truths about her own past and shocking revelations about her husband's family.
This is a deeply atmospheric novel that challenges the reader's imagination with story elements that are, at times, unsettling. I would have liked a bit more explanation about the magic, but found that the interview I read afterwards filled in some gaps and helped me draw my own conclusions. While reading, I was reminded of the works of [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] and the magical realism of [a:Gabriel García Márquez|13450|Gabriel García Márquez|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1476349500p2/13450.jpg]. I found the story inventive and engaging overall, and would seek out this author again.
In addition to being a book club read, I used this for the "read a fantasy novel" category in the 2017 BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.
This was probably closer to a 3.5-star rating, but I rounded up to 4 stars since this was a debut novel and I found an online interview with the author that enhanced my reading experience. This fairy tale/fable is set in a nameless place at a nameless time, centering around two families that are united in marriage and plagued by dark secrets. While the story chronicles the lives of three generations of women, it primarily revolves around the relationships among Meridia, her mother Ravenna, and her mother-in-law Eva, and the mysteries behind the magic that guides their lives. Meridia is determined to overcome the haunting magic created by those she loves and the oppressive secrets behind their broken lives. She embarks upon a tumultuous journey of hope and heartbreak as she attempts to keep her new and old families together, ultimately uncovering truths about her own past and shocking revelations about her husband's family.
This is a deeply atmospheric novel that challenges the reader's imagination with story elements that are, at times, unsettling. I would have liked a bit more explanation about the magic, but found that the interview I read afterwards filled in some gaps and helped me draw my own conclusions. While reading, I was reminded of the works of [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] and the magical realism of [a:Gabriel García Márquez|13450|Gabriel García Márquez|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1476349500p2/13450.jpg]. I found the story inventive and engaging overall, and would seek out this author again.
In addition to being a book club read, I used this for the "read a fantasy novel" category in the 2017 BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.
vbright's review against another edition
5.0
When I started reading this book I didn’t think I was going to finish. After a few chapters I began to understand that the magic had double meanings ( I know I was a little slow on picking that up..). Once I realized that I could not get enough of it. I stayed up late to read and woke up early just to start reading it again. It’s a beautiful and torturous story.
themrsmcfarland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0