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sophs_mood_reading's review
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
1679, Edinburgh Scotland, a Laird is murdered and his mistress the Lady Christian has been sentenced to death as a result, but will she escape, be pardoned or suffer the blade of The Maiden.
We have here a fictional reimagining of a true crime, where the voices of the novel are that of women and not the men who wrote the history books.
This novel had so much potential, duel view points of two women at the centre of the crime, 17th century Edinburgh in all its filth and poverty, class system opposition. However with all this opportunity the book just fell short.
I found it difficult to really connect with our two female main characters, finding them both irritating and well bad story tellers. This is a novel surrounding extramarital affairs (closed door) but it was bland and not exciting.
The last couple of chapters finally give us the “what happened” (well this authors decision) but there was no real suspense or emotion, it was all a bit beige.
Look I have to be fair it was great to see a retelling of a historical crime in the female POV but it just didn’t get over the line for me.
We have here a fictional reimagining of a true crime, where the voices of the novel are that of women and not the men who wrote the history books.
This novel had so much potential, duel view points of two women at the centre of the crime, 17th century Edinburgh in all its filth and poverty, class system opposition. However with all this opportunity the book just fell short.
I found it difficult to really connect with our two female main characters, finding them both irritating and well bad story tellers. This is a novel surrounding extramarital affairs (closed door) but it was bland and not exciting.
The last couple of chapters finally give us the “what happened” (well this authors decision) but there was no real suspense or emotion, it was all a bit beige.
Look I have to be fair it was great to see a retelling of a historical crime in the female POV but it just didn’t get over the line for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
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