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caseythereader's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Cursing, Animal death, Blood, Death, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Lesbophobia
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
alreads13's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this queer folktale retelling! The story follows Jean, the town midwife, after a strange encounter with a pregnant woman in the night. She is drawn to this mysterious woman, Muirin, especially after seeing how she shrinks from her new husband, Tobias. Sensing something is wrong, she stops at nothing to help Muirin, and discovers something otherworldly in the process.
The word that comes to mind when I think of this book is “quaint”, in the best way possible. We follow Jean during her day to day life, tending to her patients, working on her farm and walking around her bucolic town. The setting really comes alive in this story and it’s a beautiful world to spend time in.
While the pace of this book is slow to medium, the tense action scenes were really gripping and I couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until certain parts were over and I couldn’t put it down until I knew what happened.
Also queer representation! Some passages were brimming with queer joy and queer people just living their lives. Thankful for it in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Stalking, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent
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