Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Devotion by Hannah Kent

11 reviews

arwen_at_the_library's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautiful prose, bittersweet story. Nearly dropped my rating in the middle because of an unexpected change of direction in the plot but eventually came to understand and enjoy what the author was doing. Would have also enjoyed it purely as a historical novel without the magical realism also but it was so fantastic it's staying a 5 star read. One of those one that makes you think 'i wish I could write like this'. 
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liv_eleanor's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was such a beautifully written book, and an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking storyline. I was breathlessly hooked the entire time I was reading it. The main plot twist was unexpected and interesting and avoided the book being just another historical fiction. Absolutely loved it overall.
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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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Had a hard time getting into it/staying focused on audiobook. Long chapters made it hard to pick up.

Interesting, unique story about a community of Prussian Lutherans escaping to Southern Australia to practice their faith.

Sadly not for me, it’s very slow and boring with the story just kinda dragging. After  160 pages I still don’t feel that interested or compelled to pick it up. And I also could not tell you much of what’s happened so far 🫣 It’s not interesting enough for me to keep reading especially with how long it feels like I’ve been reading it already 😅

This is the second book I’ve tried reading from Kent so she’s just not an author for me it seems-but I have no doubt others will enjoy this character driven, historical, queer love story 


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emmagreenwood's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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elysh_kaye's review against another edition

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emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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katewhite77's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is fantastically beautiful.

I don't know where to start with this it's so good and has so many layers. At it's core it's a queer love story set in 19th century Prushia and Australia. 

The novel tells the story of a voyage made by an ultra Conservative religious sect from Prushia to the new colony of Australia escaping religious persecution. 

It's about the perils of blind faith death, grief and love. 

The writing is exquisite and it has a fabulous twist I did not see coming. I found it heavy going at first but I stuck with it and it paid me back in spades.
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jesselopod's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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malinhalia's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.75

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beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 Historical fiction with a truly epic sapphic love story that spans this world, and the next. Tender, sensuous and evocative. Religious freedom is a prominent plot point so there is an interesting juxtaposition between religious freedom and individual freedom. Hannah Kent really knows how to write. 
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