Scan barcode
marywatkines's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably one of the best books I’ve read all year. I see so many reviews of people saying it was too graphic and I disagree. I wonder if maybe people are overlooking that this isn’t YA fantasy but adult horror fantasy. I can’t handle Stephen King but this was very palatable. Maybe it’s because I cut my teeth on Neil Gaiman and fairy tales but this is just a beautiful and dark fairy tale.
Marlinchen is traumatized and trauma makes you strange. This was a very good representation of the oddity and ugliness that comes with abuse and trauma. Watching her come to terms with the ugliness of her personality and refusing to give it power but still understanding her evil is a part of her was beautiful. Seriously I adored her with my whole heart. She was very real to me and I think that the lack of escapism in this turns people off. Sometimes people with trauma don’t lead fae rebellions and overthrow corrupt rulers and forgive their sisters. Sometimes they just learn to live.
Marlinchen is traumatized and trauma makes you strange. This was a very good representation of the oddity and ugliness that comes with abuse and trauma. Watching her come to terms with the ugliness of her personality and refusing to give it power but still understanding her evil is a part of her was beautiful. Seriously I adored her with my whole heart. She was very real to me and I think that the lack of escapism in this turns people off. Sometimes people with trauma don’t lead fae rebellions and overthrow corrupt rulers and forgive their sisters. Sometimes they just learn to live.
feriha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
maybepsychic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
grumpykitten16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
abeatriz_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I feel like I read a different version of this book than anyone else. Most of my favourite book reviewers, whom I love and trust, gave this book such high praises, so I can't help but wonder: am I in the alternate universe where this book is… bad?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not bothered by the dark topics, I AM NOT associated with morality patrol thinking the CSA victims think too much about sex, I understand that Marlinchen is a perfect example of an imperfect victim, I get why she's insecure, and timid, and passive.
But why does she have to be so goddamn boring?
Look, praise where praise is due, Ava Reid has a great way with words, her descriptions are excellent. Scrumptious even. I find the worldbuilding very compelling, it's not super detailed, but it definitely feels lived in and believable. The atmosphere is superb. But holy shit, the plot, the characters??
I would be more forgiving if anything Marlinchen did, anything at all, was motivated by something other than the romantic interest, who's the blandest, most generic male character I have ever seen. But no, every decision she males, every action she takes, it’s all about him. And the romance is just... there. They meet once and are instantly in love. The book tries to play with the ol’ “my sharp edges fit in your scars” kind of romance for broken people, but it doesn’t land. I have no idea why I should care about this romance. Sev makes this big point of saying Marlinchen isn't plain and ugly like everyone says she is, but he never says what about her is so beautiful. Her hair, her eyes, her personality? Fuck it, her boobs? I would take anything, anything that made see why did he find this girl special. But there’s nothing.
At some point, Marlinchen’s evilest sister says it’s not fair that the most boring of them gets a "happy ending" and honestly, I'm forced to agree with her.
I know this review is harsh and I don't want to make light of the heavy topics this book deals with. I understand that it shows how a shared traumatic experience won't necessarily bring people together and they might hurt one another out of desperation or go after the weakest one in order to carve some sort of bearable life and I think it's commendable that the book made me think all of that, but I still think it's frustrating that such an interesting scenario is presented to the reader via such a boring, bland character.
If you don’t care about spoilers, I will say that, though I liked who the murderer was,I didn't like how, again, it showed so much lack of conscient action on Marlinchen’s part. Horay, you’re the monster and Sev loves you just like that! Girl, you didn’t even know what the fuck you were doing. The murders are framed in this poetic, creepy way apparently just to throw us off Marlinchen, who’s too passive to ever think something so creative.
And, coming back on the bit about shared trauma, it is disappointing to realise how much of the plot hangs on a complete lack of positive female relationships. Even Marlinchen's mom, who she loved, was mean to her. Her sisters just ignored the bird mother. Marlinchen never forgives the nice sister (who is revealed to not be so nice) despite every harm she caused being because she was also a victim. The mean sister suffers the worst consequences and Marlinchen never cares about her at all. She's gleeful that the news article doesn't mention her! Girl, what the fuck.
Oh, and the last fucking drop. When finally, the moment for Marlinchen to acts arrive, the showdown when she makes a whole point saying how "I'm the one who needs to do this"... she doesn't! She has to be saved by her knight in shining armor. WHAT IS THAT????
What was the point of it all? Why am I reading about her instead of her sisters, why does she have no personality trait beyond being kind and boring, why is everyone telling me this book is so good????
I would be more forgiving if anything Marlinchen did, anything at all, was motivated by something other than the romantic interest, who's the blandest, most generic male character I have ever seen. But no, every decision she males, every action she takes, it’s all about him. And the romance is just... there. They meet once and are instantly in love. The book tries to play with the ol’ “my sharp edges fit in your scars” kind of romance for broken people, but it doesn’t land. I have no idea why I should care about this romance. Sev makes this big point of saying Marlinchen isn't plain and ugly like everyone says she is, but he never says what about her is so beautiful. Her hair, her eyes, her personality? Fuck it, her boobs? I would take anything, anything that made see why did he find this girl special. But there’s nothing.
At some point, Marlinchen’s evilest sister says it’s not fair that the most boring of them gets a "happy ending" and honestly, I'm forced to agree with her.
I know this review is harsh and I don't want to make light of the heavy topics this book deals with. I understand that it shows how a shared traumatic experience won't necessarily bring people together and they might hurt one another out of desperation or go after the weakest one in order to carve some sort of bearable life and I think it's commendable that the book made me think all of that, but I still think it's frustrating that such an interesting scenario is presented to the reader via such a boring, bland character.
If you don’t care about spoilers, I will say that, though I liked who the murderer was,
And, coming back on the bit about shared trauma, it is disappointing to realise how much of the plot hangs on a complete lack of positive female relationships. Even Marlinchen's mom, who she loved, was mean to her. Her sisters just ignored the bird mother. Marlinchen never forgives the nice sister (who is revealed to not be so nice) despite every harm she caused being because she was also a victim. The mean sister suffers the worst consequences and Marlinchen never cares about her at all. She's gleeful that the news article doesn't mention her! Girl, what the fuck.
Oh, and the last fucking drop. When finally, the moment for Marlinchen to acts arrive, the showdown when she makes a whole point saying how "I'm the one who needs to do this"... she doesn't! She has to be saved by her knight in shining armor. WHAT IS THAT????
What was the point of it all? Why am I reading about her instead of her sisters, why does she have no personality trait beyond being kind and boring, why is everyone telling me this book is so good????
futurememory's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Yet another book completed, yet another that I’m really struggling to rate.
To start out with the best parts of Juniper and Thorn - the writing here, on a line by line level, is exquisite. Ava Reid certainly knows how to write a gorgeous, meaty sentence. And the overall extremely dark fairytale vibe matches that. Marlichen is a pretty interesting narrator, and the world that Reid has created is intriguing.
But I often felt like the novel didn’t really hang together properly. The plotting was fairly loose, and a bit all over the pace. The pacing ebbs and flows, and none of the twists are particularly the best. But the big thing was that I just couldn’t get in with the romance here. It was so much Instalove. I have zero idea why these two characters want to be with each other besides the lust that they have, that is as unstoppable and unquenchable as a teen’s.
This could have easily been a 4 or 5 star, with just a bit more experience on Reid’s part.
To start out with the best parts of Juniper and Thorn - the writing here, on a line by line level, is exquisite. Ava Reid certainly knows how to write a gorgeous, meaty sentence. And the overall extremely dark fairytale vibe matches that. Marlichen is a pretty interesting narrator, and the world that Reid has created is intriguing.
But I often felt like the novel didn’t really hang together properly. The plotting was fairly loose, and a bit all over the pace. The pacing ebbs and flows, and none of the twists are particularly the best. But the big thing was that I just couldn’t get in with the romance here. It was so much Instalove. I have zero idea why these two characters want to be with each other besides the lust that they have, that is as unstoppable and unquenchable as a teen’s.
This could have easily been a 4 or 5 star, with just a bit more experience on Reid’s part.
joysanwhoa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kabrahams's review against another edition
5.0
Sept 2024
This is such an incredible book and the only reason it doesn't rank higher in my favorites is because ASID exists. I love how brutal and true its depiction of parental abuse is, how it sours Marlinchen's relationship with her sisters and colors her thoughts. I'm glad that things are hopeful in the end and was surprised at what I'd remembered and forgotten since my initial read. Will definitely return again some day!
July 2022
Started this last night and the only reason I didn't stay up all night to finish was because I had plans the next morning. And I did stay up till two because I was so engrossed! Perfect book to read late at night with rain pouring outside.
The vibes of this are immaculate, precisely what you want for a gothic horror fairytale retelling. Also, not a romance but there is a strong romance subplot that even gets a bit spicy! And it is sooo sooo beautifully written without being overwritten. I'd read it all over again just for the language.
Now to the story itself. Marlinchen is the youngest of three witches born to a tyrannical wizard and a now-dead mother. They live in a decaying house with an assortment of endearing and revolting monsters. The wizard has been cursed to never feel full and it is Marlinchen's job to cook for him and to see to the male clients that come to her for her magic of flesh divination. When her sisters invite her to sneak out and visit the ballet with them, Marlinchen discovers a whole new world and falls in love with the principal dancer.
Is this story often dark and disgusting? Yes, but also captivating and uniquely beautiful. I think as someone with a somewhat sheltered childhood and as a youngest daughter, I related to Marlinchen a lot. I also loved that Sevas is far from the overly masculine stereotype that is so often depicted in books and it is his vulnerability that makes him in part so lovable to Marlinchen and to the reader. The goblin also has a very special place in my heart.
This is such an incredible book and the only reason it doesn't rank higher in my favorites is because ASID exists. I love how brutal and true its depiction of parental abuse is, how it sours Marlinchen's relationship with her sisters and colors her thoughts. I'm glad that things are hopeful in the end and was surprised at what I'd remembered and forgotten since my initial read. Will definitely return again some day!
July 2022
Started this last night and the only reason I didn't stay up all night to finish was because I had plans the next morning. And I did stay up till two because I was so engrossed! Perfect book to read late at night with rain pouring outside.
The vibes of this are immaculate, precisely what you want for a gothic horror fairytale retelling. Also, not a romance but there is a strong romance subplot that even gets a bit spicy! And it is sooo sooo beautifully written without being overwritten. I'd read it all over again just for the language.
Now to the story itself. Marlinchen is the youngest of three witches born to a tyrannical wizard and a now-dead mother. They live in a decaying house with an assortment of endearing and revolting monsters. The wizard has been cursed to never feel full and it is Marlinchen's job to cook for him and to see to the male clients that come to her for her magic of flesh divination. When her sisters invite her to sneak out and visit the ballet with them, Marlinchen discovers a whole new world and falls in love with the principal dancer.
Is this story often dark and disgusting? Yes, but also captivating and uniquely beautiful. I think as someone with a somewhat sheltered childhood and as a youngest daughter, I related to Marlinchen a lot. I also loved that Sevas is far from the overly masculine stereotype that is so often depicted in books and it is his vulnerability that makes him in part so lovable to Marlinchen and to the reader. The goblin also has a very special place in my heart.