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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
slow-paced
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The Curse of the Flores Women by Angélica Lopes is a dual timeline mixed POV historical about a family of lacemakers. In 1918, Inês’ good friend, Eugênia, is set to marry a wealthy widower in their town of Bom Retiro but is completely uninterested in the match. In 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Alice, a descendant of the Flores women, is visited by a distant aunt who passes on a lace veil that has been in the family for generations.
What I liked was how Eugênia and Alice both express their dissatisfaction in life in their own ways. Eugênia uses her skill as a lacemaker to create a code for Inês to read, declaring for anyone who can see that her wedding day is also her funeral as she. Alice openly critiques her mother, sometimes in a way that feels a bit mean-spirited, but is largely rooted in how her mother puts her down and will even ignore Alice at times.
The layered and complex relationships between women, such as Inês and her younger sister who she cares for but also took all their father's attention, is really allowed to shine as both timelines are explored. While Alice initially has no interest in the veil, when she learns there's a code, she makes contact with her aunt to learn more about her family history.
Another major theme is how some men view their significant others as property, with Eugênia’s husband feeling entitled to her body and Alice mentioning a young woman in the news who was murdered in a pretty horrific way after leaving her boyfriend. While I wouldn't say these details are gratuitous or even take up a lot of page time, the thematic elements are constantly woven through, so readers who are triggered by such content should be aware.
Content warning for anti-Romani depictions, use of the ‘G’ slur, brief depictions of sexual assault, depictions of emotional abuse, and the mentioning of a woman being burned alive.
I would recommend this to readers looking for Brazilian literature, fans of dual timeline novels exploring social issues, and those looking for a book exploring the creation of a secret code
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
challenging
tense
medium-paced