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astraia_sun's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a difficult one to rate. The author has massive talent. I felt like I was in Iceland in the 10th century, and I learned a lot about the way of life and hierarchy of people in that place. It was a wonderful book to read during some intense travel (from Wellington New Zealand to Hawaii and then back home to St. Louis. It was a long trek!). However, my ebook had many errors, more than just a couple. While that's not necessarily the author's fault, it was distracting enough to lose a star.
Furthermore, I didn't really like the future segments (especially the one near the end which felt rushed and really off-the-wall). I didn't get a flavor for Ginn's personality or what the future was like except that people were obsessed with the past. I also seemed to have missed a section, as some of the conversation seemed to relate to events that I hadn't actually read about. HOWEVER I will say that my kindle was being kinda buggy, so it's entirely possible I missed a chapter due to that and not the copy, so that's not a critique, just an observation.
As for the romance, I really enjoyed it. I like romances that move slowly, and I also like that the side characters were given good personalities, back stories, and motivations. It almost felt like the story could have been well told even without the time travel element, though there were certain aspects of Gin's motivations that wouldn't have made sense otherwise. I think I personally might have liked it more if Gin had traveled from a contemporary setting instead of a twenty-second century. I don't really think it would have taken anything away from the story, and the future settings were so vague that it didn't really matter.
Regardless, I really enjoyed the story in spite of the problems, and I look forward to reading more by Larissa Brown. She is an expert at pulling you into a setting and using words to make it feel like you're really there. Also, the knitting pattern at the end is a nice touch. I can't wait to pull out my needles and yarn.
Furthermore, I didn't really like the future segments (especially the one near the end which felt rushed and really off-the-wall). I didn't get a flavor for Ginn's personality or what the future was like except that people were obsessed with the past. I also seemed to have missed a section, as some of the conversation seemed to relate to events that I hadn't actually read about. HOWEVER I will say that my kindle was being kinda buggy, so it's entirely possible I missed a chapter due to that and not the copy, so that's not a critique, just an observation.
As for the romance, I really enjoyed it. I like romances that move slowly, and I also like that the side characters were given good personalities, back stories, and motivations. It almost felt like the story could have been well told even without the time travel element, though there were certain aspects of Gin's motivations that wouldn't have made sense otherwise. I think I personally might have liked it more if Gin had traveled from a contemporary setting instead of a twenty-second century. I don't really think it would have taken anything away from the story, and the future settings were so vague that it didn't really matter.
Regardless, I really enjoyed the story in spite of the problems, and I look forward to reading more by Larissa Brown. She is an expert at pulling you into a setting and using words to make it feel like you're really there. Also, the knitting pattern at the end is a nice touch. I can't wait to pull out my needles and yarn.
books_ergo_sum's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Here’s my nomination for best microtrope of all time:
✨ time travel, where the heroine has a specific bit of historical knowledge (in this case, she reconstructed 10th century Norse languages) that lets her go to the past—without the author having to sacrifice on the richness of the setting.
Our heroine (who was actually from the future) time travelled back to a 10th century Icelandic Viking village. Where she fell in love—not just with a virgin Viking guy—with a Viking guy who Had. Never. Been. Touched.
Ohhh baby. I was living. It was super slow burn. And it was fairly fade to black. BUT IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL oh my gawd
This book did so many things right but the biggest one was the way it didn’t shy away from unsettling me with this culture clash. The worldbuilding was top-tier. The culture, the religion, the longhouse setting—I was happy for our heroine. But I was also so scared for our heroine.
It also did this thing, that’s kind of hard to explain… but the book kept making me reflect on scenes. Like, the meaning of scenes wasn’t static. Because as the heroine learned the double meaning of words or the cultural symbolism of gestures (or even flowers), scenes took on whole different meanings. It was really cool.
Also that ending was epic (there’s an HEA, no worries!)
✨ time travel, where the heroine has a specific bit of historical knowledge (in this case, she reconstructed 10th century Norse languages) that lets her go to the past—without the author having to sacrifice on the richness of the setting.
Our heroine (who was actually from the future) time travelled back to a 10th century Icelandic Viking village. Where she fell in love—not just with a virgin Viking guy—with a Viking guy who Had. Never. Been. Touched.
Ohhh baby. I was living. It was super slow burn. And it was fairly fade to black. BUT IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL oh my gawd
This book did so many things right but the biggest one was the way it didn’t shy away from unsettling me with this culture clash. The worldbuilding was top-tier. The culture, the religion, the longhouse setting—I was happy for our heroine. But I was also so scared for our heroine.
It also did this thing, that’s kind of hard to explain… but the book kept making me reflect on scenes. Like, the meaning of scenes wasn’t static. Because as the heroine learned the double meaning of words or the cultural symbolism of gestures (or even flowers), scenes took on whole different meanings. It was really cool.
Also that ending was epic (there’s an HEA, no worries!)
bethsponz's review
4.0
This was an interesting book. Much more historical romance than I had thought, but still was a page turner for me. A girl from a future world is sucked back into 10th century Viking Iceland. There were parts where it was a bit too much of their sexual attraction and tension, but I still couldn’t wait to see how the story would unfold. I would for sure recommend for Outlander fans as it has the same timeslip romance and all.
laksita's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don’t know how I feel about this book.
On the one hand, on a technical level the author did a great job. Rich world-building, nice prose, solid plot.
But on the other hand… it may have been a tad longer than it should have been. I understand that part of what made the ridiculous length was to immerse ourselves in Ginn’s shoes as she tried to navigate her way in 10th century Iceland, but I just felt like it still would have been a good storytelling if 30% of this book had been hacked off. Thirty percent of a bunch of flowery paragraphs just describing the setting. Added nothing to the story whatsoever.
Also I was so deeply unsatisfied by the ending. Slow-ass burn romance and it just didn’t pay off!!!
On the one hand, on a technical level the author did a great job. Rich world-building, nice prose, solid plot.
But on the other hand… it may have been a tad longer than it should have been. I understand that part of what made the ridiculous length was to immerse ourselves in Ginn’s shoes as she tried to navigate her way in 10th century Iceland, but I just felt like it still would have been a good storytelling if 30% of this book had been hacked off. Thirty percent of a bunch of flowery paragraphs just describing the setting. Added nothing to the story whatsoever.
Also I was so deeply unsatisfied by the ending. Slow-ass burn romance and it just didn’t pay off!!!
hrtlss_grl's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was very heavy on the prose. For swaths of the book, it felt like nothing was happening because it was all flowery words. That being said, the main character is a linguist, so it did make sense. This is one of the slowest of slow burns I have ever read, and I mean that with all my heart. Having met fairly early in the story, they don't even brush hands until around 100 pages in. It takes them even longer to kiss. He is technically untouchable, so that has a ton to do with it, but it also informs the whole story and a strong amount of the plot. I will say it takes the main character far to long to figure out the major twist. I saw that coming from a mile away, and so did my beastie Betta. I will say there is some mild sort of grooming going on with Betta, but it actually seems to work for the book. I also feel like grooming is sort of the wrong word, but I haven't got a better one. In the end, it is a lot of buildup for a quick wrapup. I wished we had gotten more of an ending. There is however a book 2, though I believe it is about a different main character and I will have to consider it, since I didn't care to much for her in this one. (I wasn't supposed to, but oh well.) I did love how women were always the center and focus of this book. We rarely saw the men, and truly only through the women's eyes. Would definitely recommend for viking romance fans, time travel romance fans, historical fantasy epics fans, or anyone who just loves a beautifully written love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Bullying, Animal death, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Animal death, and Death of parent
hukkelberg's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The last .25 is gifted due to my thorough enjoyment of the book. It's quite a nice novel! I was a bit astonished at the fact it was the author's debut, but after ruminating on it a bit, I could go back and tell. Let me get the scant few things I disliked out of the way before the shower praise: it is very slow. I think I took ages to get through the first 300 pages, and though the last 200 were easier, it's always a gamble to do that. It took me a while to read precisely because there was a lull in the middle where I got tired and if I didn't like it so much, I might've never picked it up again. The plot doesn't lend itself to a faster pace, however, and I enjoy abstractly the way time slows down in tandem with the natural rhythm of historical time. That is pure sentimentality on my part, though. The other aspect I thought could've been worked on was the low impact of some events. I think that was a pacing issue, however, since the first half handled them very well but the second one had a few chapters when so much happened but it didn't quite stick and I know it's narration, but it would've helped if she felt it more acutely given her outcome at the end. If maybe they were a little more spaced out? Dunno. The last thing I'm iffy about is the ending, but in a "well, okay, girl, as you say" kind of way. Just the littlest bit miffed. My gripes come from the return chapter and then her death dress thing, and Hildur's resolution. I think it could've packed a much bigger punch, been written out with a lot more dramatism. I think that would've worked in its favour, because it lacks weight so it makes the tattoo and the kick flip and the dress seem silly. I believe Heirik's in prowess and fearsomeness, but Ginn at the end doesnt quite match it without those scene weighing heavier(though i never thought they HAD to match up in fearsomeness-I quite liked her as she was)
Other than that, it was a spectacular book. Very solidly researched and world built. It took its time with the things that were meant to be slow, and it did a great job of building up its immersion. I think it handled the time travel very well, and I loved the unexplained mechanics of the tank. I also think it did well with that one trope (you'll know the one, time travel books are rife with it). The closeness built throughout the entire book made it believable, so that it did not have to prove a connection between Ginn and the stream pf tims, but between Ginn, herself, her future and past, and me, the reader. In a way it was quite intimate.
My most favourite thing was the writing. I don't know what struck me as special from this, because I rarely pay attention to prose, but I think Brown is amazing a picking words. Such strong choices, such evocative language, but not overwrought. She convinced me this was a world worth preferring. The steady stream of it, its constance was quite enveloping and at times raw. Ginn's voice, though subtle, was captivating. I think it did very well by its characters, too, with the one exception of the end which was not so much voice but pacing. The supporting cast were all great and believably human, in the sense that even though the narrator was self-absorbed, you could still believe the world went on without her, that everyone had its own little universe. I also loved many of Ginn's emotional responses—so funny! Charming girl.
Other than that, it was a spectacular book. Very solidly researched and world built. It took its time with the things that were meant to be slow, and it did a great job of building up its immersion. I think it handled the time travel very well, and I loved the unexplained mechanics of the tank. I also think it did well with that one trope (you'll know the one, time travel books are rife with it). The closeness built throughout the entire book made it believable, so that it did not have to prove a connection between Ginn and the stream pf tims, but between Ginn, herself, her future and past, and me, the reader. In a way it was quite intimate.
My most favourite thing was the writing. I don't know what struck me as special from this, because I rarely pay attention to prose, but I think Brown is amazing a picking words. Such strong choices, such evocative language, but not overwrought. She convinced me this was a world worth preferring. The steady stream of it, its constance was quite enveloping and at times raw. Ginn's voice, though subtle, was captivating. I think it did very well by its characters, too, with the one exception of the end which was not so much voice but pacing. The supporting cast were all great and believably human, in the sense that even though the narrator was self-absorbed, you could still believe the world went on without her, that everyone had its own little universe. I also loved many of Ginn's emotional responses—so funny! Charming girl.
mbergo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
radishcake's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful wreck indeed!
The language in this book was haunting. I actually dreamed of Iceland while was reading it. So very lovely. Great mix of sci-fi, mystery, history, and romance. Just a very good book!
The language in this book was haunting. I actually dreamed of Iceland while was reading it. So very lovely. Great mix of sci-fi, mystery, history, and romance. Just a very good book!
jen286's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful Wreck was an alright story, though I almost did not make it through the first chapter. It was my one book club pick for this month and the only reason I did get past the first chapter is the ladies in book club said it got better. Thankfully it did.
The book opens with Jen/Ginn in the future world. The first chapter was horrible. I honestly did not think I would make it through to the second chapter. It was so confusing I had no idea what was going on. I kept re-reading parts trying to figure out what was happening. Really if not for book club I would have just put it aside and never picked it up again. One of the very few books that I wouldn't have finished after starting it. I finally just skimmed the first chapter since it was taking me forever to get through. Then chapter two she goes back in time and from there it gets much better. I liked the back in time parts, I did not like the future parts. They were just not good.
Once Ginn goes back in time she almost instantly is drawn to Heirik. I really liked Heirik. I loved how he was described like a raven and such. He was a great character. Ginn though I never really felt like I knew. I knew she was in love with Heirik, but I don't really know why. I just never really felt like I knew her and she told instead of showed a lot. Heirik though, even though the story is told from Ginn's POV, I felt like I knew him. He really made the book for me.
I did enjoy the setting also. I enjoyed Ginn learning new things and seeing the day to day life on the farm. I did enjoy the romance between Ginn and Heirik even if I did not understand Ginn all the time.
The biggest issue with this book though? The placement of breaks. There were breaks when there shouldn't have been, in the middle of scenes, but no breaks when there should have been so it just went from one scene to the next. It was confusing, especially at first. Ginn would be in the house talking to the ladies, then the next sentence she is riding a horse without a break. I was just like wait a minute, she was in the house just now right? Things like that really disrupted the flow of the story. It took me a minute each time to figure out what was going on and get back into the story. The breaks in the middle of scenes weren't as bad. It just made me pause and think why are they here?
So the story, after the first chapter, was pretty good. Interesting and a good read. I the end was a little...not as good as I had hoped. I hoped to see more of them being together, making their life together. It was just a bit disappointing. Not necessarily bad, I just wanted more. Overall a good read, and with the editing changes it would be a better read.
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
The book opens with Jen/Ginn in the future world. The first chapter was horrible. I honestly did not think I would make it through to the second chapter. It was so confusing I had no idea what was going on. I kept re-reading parts trying to figure out what was happening. Really if not for book club I would have just put it aside and never picked it up again. One of the very few books that I wouldn't have finished after starting it. I finally just skimmed the first chapter since it was taking me forever to get through. Then chapter two she goes back in time and from there it gets much better. I liked the back in time parts, I did not like the future parts. They were just not good.
Once Ginn goes back in time she almost instantly is drawn to Heirik. I really liked Heirik. I loved how he was described like a raven and such. He was a great character. Ginn though I never really felt like I knew. I knew she was in love with Heirik, but I don't really know why. I just never really felt like I knew her and she told instead of showed a lot. Heirik though, even though the story is told from Ginn's POV, I felt like I knew him. He really made the book for me.
I did enjoy the setting also. I enjoyed Ginn learning new things and seeing the day to day life on the farm. I did enjoy the romance between Ginn and Heirik even if I did not understand Ginn all the time.
The biggest issue with this book though? The placement of breaks. There were breaks when there shouldn't have been, in the middle of scenes, but no breaks when there should have been so it just went from one scene to the next. It was confusing, especially at first. Ginn would be in the house talking to the ladies, then the next sentence she is riding a horse without a break. I was just like wait a minute, she was in the house just now right? Things like that really disrupted the flow of the story. It took me a minute each time to figure out what was going on and get back into the story. The breaks in the middle of scenes weren't as bad. It just made me pause and think why are they here?
So the story, after the first chapter, was pretty good. Interesting and a good read. I the end was a little...not as good as I had hoped. I hoped to see more of them being together, making their life together. It was just a bit disappointing. Not necessarily bad, I just wanted more. Overall a good read, and with the editing changes it would be a better read.
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
hchwaz's review against another edition
5.0
It has been a long, long time since a book has so completely sucked me out of my life and placed me in the middle of the story. This book had my full attention from the first paragraph all the way to the last. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I'm finished and I'm still wondering what the characters are doing and thinking.
The descriptions were lush; the language was powerful. I just couldn't get enough of the story line or the characters. I'm only sad it was the author's first book because that means I can't run out and buy more books by her.
Bravo!!
The descriptions were lush; the language was powerful. I just couldn't get enough of the story line or the characters. I'm only sad it was the author's first book because that means I can't run out and buy more books by her.
Bravo!!