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mgromero's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One of the recommended books at my library and wow, so glad I picked this up. Thin but packed full of nuance and emotions. I will definitely be purchasing and rereading this book. Half a star off only because at times it was almost too much “show, don’t tell” which made it difficult to stay in the story at times. Really hope Zin Rocklyn has given interviews on this book because I am fascinated to hear more about her mind behind the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Sexual content, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Child death, and Pregnancy
vanesst's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Unremarkable save for the ending and a few other bits throughout that were intriguing. Maybe this story would've benefitted from being a 350 page novel bc it would've answered some questions and made you (or ok, me) care more about Iraxi or the other characters or the story itself that worse than not caring about, I found super silly at points. Though the point was to be lyrical and mysterious and blah blah and it didn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
spoiledlilkitten's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
ericarobyn's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn is a unique story of love, fire, and anger. Prepare yourselves for this tale before diving in; embers of anger will ignite in you and build to a roaring fire of rage.
Content Warnings: Fire/Fire Injury, Pregnancy, & Suicidal Thoughts.
There is a beautiful note at the start of this book that readers should review –
“For my readers, Flowers for the Sea contains depictions of infant harm and death, the realities of birth, and generational trauma.“
There is a beautiful note at the start of this book that readers should review –
“For my readers, Flowers for the Sea contains depictions of infant harm and death, the realities of birth, and generational trauma.“
Set on an ark after their kingdom was flooded, this group of people are doing their best to survive. Tension is thick between some of the survivors, food is limited, and their medical support is lacking. There are also rules about going onto the top deck, especially at nighttime, as there are creatures that live above and below that can attack at any moment.
Iraxi is one individual on the ship. She is heavily pregnant and covered in scarring from burns. Very early on, readers will see that she has suffered immensely already, and the pregnancy certainly isn’t helping. As the story goes on, we learn more about her past and what churns the rage inside of her.
But will she protect that fire, stoking it only when needed, or will the flames finally rage and burn themselves out to allow her to be released?
My heart broke for Iraxi on so many occasions throughout the duration of this story! The author did such an incredible job making readers feel the same emotions that Iraxi was feeling. Sure, this was seen in the rage and pain. But just one small example of this was in the yearning for being in the sunlight. I found myself so invested in the mindset as the character, my skin was prickling with anticipation of being in the sun as well.
This definitely isn’t an easy book to read. If the content warning above has you nervous, I would recommend holding off on this one for a bit until you feel more comfortable. I personally have never gone through childbirth, but the description here made me nauseous just thinking about the process, let alone seeing what this character dealt with. Phew! Of course, this is just another testament to how powerful this author’s writing is!
My Favorite Passages from Flowers for the Sea
I am insistence personified and the spite I draw is my sustenance, a weak sustenance sufficient in quieting my growing desire to perish.
Far-sea fishermen had warned us with fanciful tales of night beasts who took to the sky, blotting out the stars, muting both moons and all their brightness and all in order to hunt. They did not rest once the sun was eaten by the horizon. The night was theirs and everything that dared to cut through the ocean’s surface.
My Final Thoughts on Flowers for the Sea
A must-read. This one made me quite uncomfortable, but my goodness, does that discomfort have an incredible build up to that final scene.
I had the chance to meet the author at Merrimack Valley Book Fest, and they were wonderful! I’m so honored to have a signed copy of this one for my shelves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
bluebrooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
female rage, beautiful beautiful beautiful writing.... we love to see it. i will be thinking about this for a while and will probably return to write an actual review but for now i'm just gonna drop the 5 stars this little book deserves.
(if u like this u will probably also enjoy here, the world entire !!)
(if u like this u will probably also enjoy here, the world entire !!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Body horror, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, Child death, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Miscarriage, and Abortion
This story largely revolves around a pregnancy and traumatic birth. The main character is a member of a persecuted racial and religious minority, who faces bigotry throughout.shannananahey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility
rorikae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
'Flowers for the Sea' by Zin E. Rocklyn is an interesting horror novella that I wished had taken more time to explore its themes and characters.
On a boat far from her home, Iraxi is pregnant with a child that she thinks may be less human than one would hope. Still dealing with the trauma of losing her family and her home, Iraxi is coming to terms with her situation and what her child may be.
Rocklyn creates an intriguing scenario and interesting characters but I don't think enough time was given to each to fully tell the story that is promised. Iraxi is dealing with severe depression after the loss of her family and home and this causes her to weave in and out of the past and the present. This sets up some of her backstory but I found that we weren't given quite enough time in either her memories or the present to fully cement the story and allow for character growth.
Rocklyn does a great job of writing body horror as Iraxi questions her pregnancy and the child that she is going to give birth to. The prose is lyrical and evocative, which I really enjoyed.
At 112 pages, this is a short novella and it feels like it could have used expansion. I was left at the end confused over what was going on and why. Despite this, I would read more of Rocklyn's books in the future as I really enjoyed their writing and the premise is intriguing.
On a boat far from her home, Iraxi is pregnant with a child that she thinks may be less human than one would hope. Still dealing with the trauma of losing her family and her home, Iraxi is coming to terms with her situation and what her child may be.
Rocklyn creates an intriguing scenario and interesting characters but I don't think enough time was given to each to fully tell the story that is promised. Iraxi is dealing with severe depression after the loss of her family and home and this causes her to weave in and out of the past and the present. This sets up some of her backstory but I found that we weren't given quite enough time in either her memories or the present to fully cement the story and allow for character growth.
Rocklyn does a great job of writing body horror as Iraxi questions her pregnancy and the child that she is going to give birth to. The prose is lyrical and evocative, which I really enjoyed.
At 112 pages, this is a short novella and it feels like it could have used expansion. I was left at the end confused over what was going on and why. Despite this, I would read more of Rocklyn's books in the future as I really enjoyed their writing and the premise is intriguing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
liteartha's review
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Pregnancy
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Death of parent