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melluzyne's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Child death, Death, and Racism
breyaannelle's review against another edition
5.0
Adored this book, the actress who narrated the audiobook was 1000/10, amazing job
rachelannfrench92's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-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
3.5
geenahnola's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
projectemm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
henri1's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
2.5
feddes's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
cl1cm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was so strange and gave me very mixed feelings.
The inappropriate language was not to my taste in historical fiction novels. I cannot imagine that a respectable woman living in Oxfordshire in 1535 would think that her mother could "fuck herself" or use the c-word. At the beginning of the book there were a number of instances that I can only describe as distasteful.For example, on Maud's wedding night, when her groom's friends were banging on the door and yelling, "Come on, Edward, stick it in her," while he asked her to moan loudly for their amusement. Or when they all entered the room in the middle of them having sex. Obviously the author needed something bad to happen to our MC for the story to make sense, but this just felt badly written and inappropriate for the historical setting.
That being said, I'm really glad I didn't DNF the book right away, because I ended up really liking it after the first few shitty chapters, especially the middle part in the apothecary.
I think if the author had used more appropriate language or at least had chosen to set the story in a fantasy world without butchering a known historical period and historical figures, it would have been a 5 star read for me.
The book needs quite a few content warnings though.
Edit: I gave this book a higher rating despite everything I disliked because I kept on thinking about it
The inappropriate language was not to my taste in historical fiction novels. I cannot imagine that a respectable woman living in Oxfordshire in 1535 would think that her mother could "fuck herself" or use the c-word. At the beginning of the book there were a number of instances that I can only describe as distasteful.
That being said, I'm really glad I didn't DNF the book right away, because I ended up really liking it after the first few shitty chapters, especially the middle part in the apothecary.
I think if the author had used more appropriate language or at least had chosen to set the story in a fantasy world without butchering a known historical period and historical figures, it would have been a 5 star read for me.
The book needs quite a few content warnings though.
Edit: I gave this book a higher rating despite everything I disliked because I kept on thinking about it
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Slavery, and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia and Abandonment