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pepperpentangle's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
craftysilicate's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
lezreadalot's review
4.0
“Necessity,” he said at length, “will drive a man to learn any manner of things. Necessity, and love.”
3.5 stars. A really unique, melancholy little tale of historical fantasy. Loxley travels back to his childhood town in a bid to rid himself of a strange curse that he doesn't comprehend and has only just realised the existence of. He's aided by a windswept stranger he meets on the moors: Thorncress, who knows more than Loxley about Faerie phenomena, and devotes himself to helping Loxley. It's a fairly short novel, and while it does have plot and structure, something about it just felt very... conceptual, the whole time? Not that that's a flaw. I do love when a book runs almost purely on vibes, and this was that. Lots of descriptions of the bleak landscape, the lonely moor, and punishing weather. The setting felt like a character in and of itself, and I love that. I liked the folklore/fae aspect, and the author's take on popular myths. There's a lovely little romance at the centre of this; one that I wish had more set-up and build-up, but a lovely one nonetheless. The book went places that I really did not see coming, and I don't know if I loved it. But I definitely respected it, and my heart felt so full at the end.
Parts of it made me think of this Hozier song, and if I'm making Hozier comparisons, then you know I had a good time. Kudos.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
self harm, suicide ideation, blood, injury, death“If the devil wants us, he must fight Faerie for the privilege.”
thelonelycastle's review against another edition
Truly, I was just bored. While the story is kind of interesting I just didn't care that much. Also it's sooooooo unbelievably insta-lovey that I had to stop because it was making me cringe.
rocks_and_bones's review
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
louloureadsbooks's review
4.0
I held off reading this for ages. No clue why. Glad I got round to it.
I really enjoyed it. The ending shocked the shit out of me and also sort of haunted me, I think because I'd not actually expected it.
I really enjoyed it. The ending shocked the shit out of me and also sort of haunted me, I think because I'd not actually expected it.
readingbymollie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0