Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Geisterwand

oh my god??? 5 stars✨

this is a harrowing novella. it follows Silvie, a teen girl who’s taking part in an Iron Age reenactment experience on the Northumberland moors with her mum and dad, an archeology professor, and his students.

this story is an absolute masterclass in building tension, as ancient history settles over the camp like a fog and the fate of Silvie and the ancient bog people her father is obsessed with draw closer together.

the lines between reality and reenactment begin to blur, as well as the lines between the past and the present.

there are so many themes covered in such a short space, from nationalism to class to gendered violence. this is a really thoughtful book, not a single word out of place - i already know i’m going to be thinking about it for days!

Content Warnings

elsakern's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

Wildly perfect for me. The book I've always wanted to read, but have only just found.

Content Warnings

esme_may's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

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maryclaire92's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Both quick and quiet. I found myself dreading what happens next while also being unable to put the book down. Moss’s prose is gripping as she leads us through protagonist Sylvie’s life and innermost thoughts. This is the most “finished” unfinished ending I have read, and I predict that Sylvie’s journey will stay with me for awhile; I hope she is happier now.

Content Warnings

breauseph's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

clareehebert's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Content Warnings

thura's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

3.5

Violence lurks in every phrase of this story, from distilled fear to the main character making hersef smaller and smaller to a scene of full on physical abuse. A harrowing and difficult read for me, triggering past experiences of abuse. I couldn’t stop reading it, but I’m so glas I’m done with it. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have read it.

Very interesting - and confronting - to read other reviews praising this book as a somewhat positive read about nature and coming-of-age. I have a feeling such visceral, conflicting responses were in the author’s intention though, so I do praise her writing. Perhaps these reflect that the story is not as far fetched as I would like to believe.

Content Warnings

audreyxine's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This book was so weird. I loved it. It won't be for everyone, but it was for me. The writing style was confusing and the ending was anitclimactic, but those seem so intentional I can't give this book less than 5 stars.

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