The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland

4.07 AVERAGE

kirstieleigh's review against another edition

3.0
challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
This is a tough book to review. It is so beautifully written and brought me to tears many times - it’s such a powerful story of grief and womanhood. However, the weird romance subplot really threw me for a loop - it honestly felt like the start of a horror story about a woman stealing her dead sister’s identity. Super strange and honestly just should have been excluded. There was also a lot of very strange destructive behavior from the main character that was never really explored or resolved. As much as there are parts of this book I really loved, I don’t think I’ll ever recommend it to anyone else.

sarahbethmass's review against another edition

4.0
This didn't absolutely obliterate me like The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart did, but it was still a beautiful, enchanting story. I loved the blending of First Nations culture and stories with the folklore of Denmark and the Faroe Islands. The connections made through habits and stories tied to coastal land in these three places, while deliberate, seemed uncanny when reading about Esther's journey across the world. The cyclical nature of the novel beginning and ending with an 80s themed party (both in a way in honour of Aura), and the reflection of Esther's family at home in Tasmania, with her newfound family in Torshavn, called back to the statue tied to Aura's seventh skin and wrapped up the story so nicely. As she was above, so she is below.

readingwithcake's review

3.0
I dramatically have this 2 stars when I finished reading it at midnight the other night, but it’s definitely worth more than that given Hollys’ writing is simply beautiful, so it’s 3 stars from me. I will write a full review later.

alcro86's review against another edition

4.25
adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
patriciasantos's profile picture

patriciasantos's review against another edition

3.5
slow-paced

allyballeyboo's review against another edition

4.5
challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

katie_lucht's review against another edition

4.5
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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: Complicated

soraya_b1ue's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
A beautiful journey through grief and the unknown, finding a way back to yourself. 
tammykrebs's profile picture

tammykrebs's review

5.0
challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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
I just really loved this book. I was really drawn into the main character’s story and development. It’s a beautiful story about the complexities of family. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

l_males's review against another edition

5.0
emotional reflective 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
Some books meet you at the perfect time - this writing moved me immensely.