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teresareads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Transphobia and Religious bigotry
bookinthebath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Religious bigotry
wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition
This book is its own form of torture. I blame myself for thinking this was going to go any other way than bad - it’s on me really. It’s about 3 celibate Christian monks who go on a mission because this one guy with a Godly complex has decided that they need to get on a boat and go to a random island because of a vision. No plan, arguably contributes no physical effort towards getting there. Other than all the times they have to stop and do some prayer - completely inefficient and there’s no way Christopher Columbus would’ve made it to the Caribbean if they had stopped as many times as they did. Nothing like a little Christian guilt to demand obedience.
At the end of it all, this book is not for me. I was constantly rolling my eyes over Artt’s cult like behavior.
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Toxic friendship
kaitsteak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia and Medical trauma
redwrapped's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Outing, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
In 7th century Ireland, devout priest and scholar, Artt has a dream telling him to leave the sinful world behind. He takes with him tow monks, young Trian and old Cormac. They row down the Sionnan (Shannon) in search of a remote island to found a new monastery; they discover an island that we now know as Skellig Michael.
Growing up in the South-west of Ireland myself, the incredible story of the monks and the harsh life they lived on Skellig Michael was something I grew up learning about, so I was very excited to read this.
If you're going into this book with zero prior knowledge of the history of Skellig Michael, Ireland, its mythology and the life of early Christian monks, know that Donoghue will not hold your hand, and researching along the way, may be beneficial to you.
This book is incredibly well researched (I expected nothing less from Donoghue). I really enjoyed the references to Irish mythology. A slow paced story about 3 monks living in isolation could easily be boring, but with Donoghue's writing I found it very compelling and intriguing.
The ending was incredible.
This is a book that will stick with me.
Graphic: Animal death and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexism and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
alylentz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death