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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Slavery, Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely loved this book! It is a story celebrating women’s amazing power and what happens when they embrace it - with all the difficulties and trials and tribulations that come with that. While it’s set in Henry Tudor’s time, the issues Maud, Zita and Hildy face from men is something women today can strongly relate to, sadly. The writing was impeccable and had me laughing out loud often. I loved Maud’s journey of discovery and the celebration of her gifts of sensitivity and perception. Certain parts of the story were challenging (TW: sexual assault and miscarriage). But this is up there with my all time favourite books I’ve read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood
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
On her wedding night, Maude's new husband accuses her of being a witch due to her large birthmark (which he decides is a witch's mark). Abandoned by her aristocratic family, Maude must find a way to live; and, meeting a pair of witches and their fairy friend, will have her eyes opened to a new way of life she never imagined before. And eventually, she and her new friends will become critical to historical events at the court of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn...
I came across this book by chance. It is quite readable and I definitely got sucked in. There are three distinct parts: Maude and her marriage situation, Maude developing relationships with her new friends, and the adventures at Court. The middle section may drag a bit for some, and the Court section (which introduces a bunch of historical people and makes Maude crucial to historical events) may leave a sour taste in many people's mouths. Also, if you are a historical-fiction purist, this is definitely historical fiction told with modern vocabulary, grammar, etc. -- it is not going to sound sixteenth-century.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is a different sort of story about this era, and written well. I appreciate seeing a new historical fiction angle. If you like witchy vibes, found families, historical-fiction lesbians, and OC's meeting historical figures and influencing historical events, then this might be one for you.
I came across this book by chance. It is quite readable and I definitely got sucked in. There are three distinct parts: Maude and her marriage situation, Maude developing relationships with her new friends, and the adventures at Court. The middle section may drag a bit for some, and the Court section (which introduces a bunch of historical people and makes Maude crucial to historical events) may leave a sour taste in many people's mouths. Also, if you are a historical-fiction purist, this is definitely historical fiction told with modern vocabulary, grammar, etc. -- it is not going to sound sixteenth-century.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is a different sort of story about this era, and written well. I appreciate seeing a new historical fiction angle. If you like witchy vibes, found families, historical-fiction lesbians, and OC's meeting historical figures and influencing historical events, then this might be one for you.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
dark
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual harassment
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated