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happyknitter2020's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read as part of the Women's Prize Longlist 2024.
A fictional perspective of true historical event of a woman being killed for murdering her Uncle. The author gently placed the tracing paper of today's understanding of intra familial abuse & a coersive controlling & abuse male to the experience from over 340 years ago in 1679.
Wouldn't have picked this up due to the cover design, but glad the longlist brouht this to my attention, as helped me to reflect on previous generations of womens experiences.
A fictional perspective of true historical event of a woman being killed for murdering her Uncle. The author gently placed the tracing paper of today's understanding of intra familial abuse & a coersive controlling & abuse male to the experience from over 340 years ago in 1679.
Wouldn't have picked this up due to the cover design, but glad the longlist brouht this to my attention, as helped me to reflect on previous generations of womens experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Grief, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Inspired by a real life case, the Maiden is the story of Lady Christian Nimmo accused of the murder of her uncle and lover, Lord James Forrester. Told from a dual narrative of Christian and Violet, the prostitute Forrester kept as a mistress, this story is a page turner that keeps you guessing till the very end. Based in the 17th Century, and with well written characters, the supporting women from different walks of life and the men that surround them, you realise just how dependent the former group was on the latter. Women are either made to impress and become wives to respectable men or when they "fall" from grace, they're again at the mercy of men in confinement, be it prison surrounded by the gatekeepers of justice, or subjected to their seedy gaze, in the brothels. I was angry and yet fascinated to read on; a story that gives women a voice, gives the power of their thoughts a voice, of what happens when the same women take back some of that control in a world created by men, for men. The Maiden will create movement this year, and Kate Foster is an author to look out for. Thank you @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Abortion, and Child death
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