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meleenam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fv_angela's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2022/06/angelas-minis-juniper-thorn-by-ava-reid-and-a-mirror-mended-by-alix-e-harrow.html
I discovered this author when I read her The Wolf and the Woodsman last year. Her sophomore release, Juniper & Thorn is a retelling of one of Grimm’s darker fairytales, The Juniper Tree.
Readers meet Marlinchen, the youngest daughter of the last great wizard Zmiy Vashchenko. Tucked into their home, while the city of Oblya grows and changes around them, the three Vashchenko witches take on clients according to their gifts, while their father oversees their work and rules with an iron hand, all while being under a terrible curse. They aren’t allowed outside the walls of their home to mingle or sully themselves with outsiders.
But sneak out they do and that is when Marlinchen meets the talented Sevastyan Rezkin, principal dancer of the Oblya Ballet.
I won’t delve too deeply into the plot specifics, but I will say that this is a book full of dark themes and grim content. I would classify this as a true fantasy horror. Yet the author grabbed me from the first word, and I couldn’t tear myself away despite the foreboding feeling that it would get a lot worse before there was a smidgen of light. Marlinchen is an engaging narrator, at times I wasn’t sure how reliable she actually was, but I did enjoy watching this tale unfold through her eyes.
This is an author to watch in the fantasy genre and I look forward to her next release.
Content warnings- mentions of sexual abuse, death of a parent, physical abuse, murder, descriptions of an eating disorder
Grade- B
I discovered this author when I read her The Wolf and the Woodsman last year. Her sophomore release, Juniper & Thorn is a retelling of one of Grimm’s darker fairytales, The Juniper Tree.
Readers meet Marlinchen, the youngest daughter of the last great wizard Zmiy Vashchenko. Tucked into their home, while the city of Oblya grows and changes around them, the three Vashchenko witches take on clients according to their gifts, while their father oversees their work and rules with an iron hand, all while being under a terrible curse. They aren’t allowed outside the walls of their home to mingle or sully themselves with outsiders.
But sneak out they do and that is when Marlinchen meets the talented Sevastyan Rezkin, principal dancer of the Oblya Ballet.
I won’t delve too deeply into the plot specifics, but I will say that this is a book full of dark themes and grim content. I would classify this as a true fantasy horror. Yet the author grabbed me from the first word, and I couldn’t tear myself away despite the foreboding feeling that it would get a lot worse before there was a smidgen of light. Marlinchen is an engaging narrator, at times I wasn’t sure how reliable she actually was, but I did enjoy watching this tale unfold through her eyes.
This is an author to watch in the fantasy genre and I look forward to her next release.
Content warnings- mentions of sexual abuse, death of a parent, physical abuse, murder, descriptions of an eating disorder
Grade- B
mg_midd93's review against another edition
3.0
It was constantly a wtf moment after a wtf moment. At times it was exhausting but I really wanted to like it. I'd like to think I'll try another one of the author's books.
megsssss_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jules_grable's review against another edition
4.0
**3.5 stars for me**
This book had me researching a fairy tale that I hadn't been aware of before, which is always fun. Though this retelling drifted pretty far from the source material. This retelling ended up pretty far from the source material, becoming more of a mash up with Sweeney Todd. There were many intense themes (childhood sexual violence, physical and psychological abuse, eating disorders, murder, blood, and horror) that elevated the book from a gothic horror novel to something more nuanced.
The themes of overcoming abuse and oppression by discovering personal power played out beautifully. Marlinchen was a flawed main character who had a great deal to overcome and found strength to do so through her trauma-bond with a ballet dance who broke all the rules she'd been told existed. She learned that she mattered, and it was beautiful.
The theme of sexual awakening, however, was clunky, awkward, and forced. The first time it was addressed felt like it came out of nowhere and didn't fit. It became more ingrained later, but still felt strange within the context of the larger story.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed Marlinchen as a narrator and appreciated the journey of growth she went on. The twist at the end was expected and the foreshadowing obvious, but that didn't deter me from enjoying the story as a whole. It's definitely one that is not a one-time read but one that should be studied to truly appreciate the layers of applicability and reality that are present.
This book had me researching a fairy tale that I hadn't been aware of before, which is always fun. Though this retelling drifted pretty far from the source material. This retelling ended up pretty far from the source material, becoming more of a mash up with Sweeney Todd. There were many intense themes (childhood sexual violence, physical and psychological abuse, eating disorders, murder, blood, and horror) that elevated the book from a gothic horror novel to something more nuanced.
The themes of overcoming abuse and oppression by discovering personal power played out beautifully. Marlinchen was a flawed main character who had a great deal to overcome and found strength to do so through her trauma-bond with a ballet dance who broke all the rules she'd been told existed. She learned that she mattered, and it was beautiful.
The theme of sexual awakening, however, was clunky, awkward, and forced. The first time it was addressed felt like it came out of nowhere and didn't fit. It became more ingrained later, but still felt strange within the context of the larger story.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed Marlinchen as a narrator and appreciated the journey of growth she went on. The twist at the end was expected and the foreshadowing obvious, but that didn't deter me from enjoying the story as a whole. It's definitely one that is not a one-time read but one that should be studied to truly appreciate the layers of applicability and reality that are present.
paris_ae's review against another edition
2.0
Ehhh…I really wanted to like this, but it was a lot. I don’t think I have ever read the words: nipple, maidenhood, and seed so often.
Wishing it wasn’t so long, as I think the story would have been compelling if it wasn’t so sexualized and detailed towards the beginning.
Wishing it wasn’t so long, as I think the story would have been compelling if it wasn’t so sexualized and detailed towards the beginning.
joseybg's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, upgraded to four.
This book was effed up, man. Like… it was just a lot. And yet I really loved the way it was written. Very disturbing and unsettling. Trigger warning for torture, rape, sexual assault, and p*dophilia, cannibalism, eating disorder, as well as graphic sexual content for anyone who wants to read this. Sometimes it got very hard to read. however, the authors writing style is so fluid, and also beautiful in so many other scenes. I was stunned. Her metaphor and imagery play was so so so good. I thought that the way that she portrayed the sometimes real and sometimes perceived helplessness of a victim was spot on, as well as the hypersexualization that can sometimes come after an assault. The relationship between sevas and marlinchin was a little bit too smooth for me. Two people so traumatized would not have such an easy relationship. I feel like she was trying to mirror classic fairy tale romance tropes bc this a retelling, but im not sure it was a choice that worked for me. While the horror aspect of it sometimes makes it hard and the relationship plot point being not my favorite bring it to a 3, the authors writing style and portrayal of other things is soooo good it kicks it up back up to a four. A little give and take with my rating of this one.
Also, I know a lot of people are mad about how graphic it is, but it’s a retelling if the juniper tree. That is one of the Grimm brothers most graphic fairy tales. It is NOT a walk in the park. The retelling is true to its roots in that way. The author didn’t try to trick anybody, you just aren’t familiar with the original tale. Which is fine. But that’s not the authors fault. If it’s too much, please just stop reading. No need to force yourself through a triggering book, bc this book is a lot.
This book was effed up, man. Like… it was just a lot. And yet I really loved the way it was written. Very disturbing and unsettling. Trigger warning for torture, rape, sexual assault, and p*dophilia, cannibalism, eating disorder, as well as graphic sexual content for anyone who wants to read this. Sometimes it got very hard to read. however, the authors writing style is so fluid, and also beautiful in so many other scenes. I was stunned. Her metaphor and imagery play was so so so good. I thought that the way that she portrayed the sometimes real and sometimes perceived helplessness of a victim was spot on, as well as the hypersexualization that can sometimes come after an assault. The relationship between sevas and marlinchin was a little bit too smooth for me. Two people so traumatized would not have such an easy relationship. I feel like she was trying to mirror classic fairy tale romance tropes bc this a retelling, but im not sure it was a choice that worked for me. While the horror aspect of it sometimes makes it hard and the relationship plot point being not my favorite bring it to a 3, the authors writing style and portrayal of other things is soooo good it kicks it up back up to a four. A little give and take with my rating of this one.
Also, I know a lot of people are mad about how graphic it is, but it’s a retelling if the juniper tree. That is one of the Grimm brothers most graphic fairy tales. It is NOT a walk in the park. The retelling is true to its roots in that way. The author didn’t try to trick anybody, you just aren’t familiar with the original tale. Which is fine. But that’s not the authors fault. If it’s too much, please just stop reading. No need to force yourself through a triggering book, bc this book is a lot.
spirited_basil_plant's review against another edition
1.0
I can't believe I'm saying this but, this is one of my favorite books. Not in a I love the story way but in a I love this is a way of "It's so bad, it's good"??? if that makes any sense, I'm going to read her other books because I can't tell how I feel about this anymore. It's somehow a one star and 5 star all at the same time??? I know this is a serious story but I can't take "He spilled in me" seriously ever. Also Marchilen is still spineless <3.
Original Review
(There was so much wrong with this book. here are the standouts:
Spoiler warning for 3, 5, 11, and 12. Also, ignore my poor spelling and grammar, Grammarly stopped working halfway through the review.
1. The main plot of the book, felt like a subplot until the last 50 pages
2. Almost zero build-up to the "Twist"
3. Why did he moan when she kissed his knee????
4. Why did she mention cutting off nips with gardening shears??? Why did she do it twice????
5. I haven't seen this in a review but why was Undine going at it with a centaur, if it wasn't so close to the end of the book (Page 237), I would have DNFed it right then and there
6. The FMC was constantly talking about how plain and ugly she is, like, we get it, you think you're ugly, we don't need an update on it every page
7. I could not describe the MMC in three words because he was so flat. I got two things about him, he's hot and he's in love with the FMC.
8. Also the FMC was so forgettable I don't remember her name (The same goes for the MMC).
9. This book is not horror, it is a romance with an abusive dad subplot.
10. I kept seeing this book on LGBTQ book lists, did I miss it? the main romance is straight.
11. Why was the whole plot with the doctor there??? I don't think it added much.
12. Lastly, the FMC and the MMC need to get their priorities straight, you don't have time to go at it right now, people are about to die!
I don't care how many people say that because I like The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, I'll like A Drowning Study. I refuse to touch another Ava Reid book after this mess.)
Original Review
(There was so much wrong with this book. here are the standouts:
Spoiler warning for 3, 5, 11, and 12. Also, ignore my poor spelling and grammar, Grammarly stopped working halfway through the review.
1. The main plot of the book, felt like a subplot until the last 50 pages
2. Almost zero build-up to the "Twist"
3. Why did he moan when she kissed his knee????
4. Why did she mention cutting off nips with gardening shears??? Why did she do it twice????
5. I haven't seen this in a review but why was Undine going at it with a centaur, if it wasn't so close to the end of the book (Page 237), I would have DNFed it right then and there
6. The FMC was constantly talking about how plain and ugly she is, like, we get it, you think you're ugly, we don't need an update on it every page
7. I could not describe the MMC in three words because he was so flat. I got two things about him, he's hot and he's in love with the FMC.
8. Also the FMC was so forgettable I don't remember her name (The same goes for the MMC).
9. This book is not horror, it is a romance with an abusive dad subplot.
10. I kept seeing this book on LGBTQ book lists, did I miss it? the main romance is straight.
11. Why was the whole plot with the doctor there??? I don't think it added much.
12. Lastly, the FMC and the MMC need to get their priorities straight, you don't have time to go at it right now, people are about to die!
I don't care how many people say that because I like The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, I'll like A Drowning Study. I refuse to touch another Ava Reid book after this mess.)
dweber77's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fantastic read. Ava Reid’s first book was fantastic but lacked something for me. This one kept me reading and page turning. I couldn’t put it down during the last 4 chapters. Such great characters and plot twists.
ariadnesthread's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book reads like a dark fairytale that you peel back, like an onion, layer by moldy layer. It’s a nightmare that disorients and unsettles you, and you hold on dearly to the moments in which you find equilibrium.
I loved this grotesque tale starring a witch-girl who is “damaged” and afraid and not bent on revenge. She is the backbone of this story, she and her memories and romance and hideously broken family.
The exploration into trauma through both a real-world and fairytale lens is done in an empathetic and healing way. For me it worked, I was moved deeply. I would say though, that it could definitely be quite triggering for some readers.
I really appreciated how this book ends, and that is ultimately why I will keep coming back for more of Reid’s works. She writes gorgeously, but also with care for both her characters and readers. She is an author who has something to say, and says it with purpose. And so, so exquisitely. I truly recommend this book (please do check the trigger warnings first though!) and I can’t wait to read it whatever Reid puts out next!
This book reads like a dark fairytale that you peel back, like an onion, layer by moldy layer. It’s a nightmare that disorients and unsettles you, and you hold on dearly to the moments in which you find equilibrium.
I loved this grotesque tale starring a witch-girl who is “damaged” and afraid and not bent on revenge. She is the backbone of this story, she and her memories and romance and hideously broken family.
The exploration into trauma through both a real-world and fairytale lens is done in an empathetic and healing way. For me it worked, I was moved deeply. I would say though, that it could definitely be quite triggering for some readers.
I really appreciated how this book ends, and that is ultimately why I will keep coming back for more of Reid’s works. She writes gorgeously, but also with care for both her characters and readers. She is an author who has something to say, and says it with purpose. And so, so exquisitely. I truly recommend this book (please do check the trigger warnings first though!) and I can’t wait to read it whatever Reid puts out next!