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jenna36's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book was very enjoyable! It was much more quiet and family-oriented than I expected it to be, but that also made it kind of beautiful. I probably would have rated it at least 4 stars if not for a noticeable slow spot in the middle. There was also a character who we did not really get to know who came in at the end; I would have liked to have a little more development from him, but I think that is coming in the next book. Overall, I loved the atmosphere of familial love and ancient tradition that the author created. I am excited to read the next book, as I have a feeling it will be more exciting. I want even more quality sibling content!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Sexual harassment, and Violence
galactic_gigi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I picked this book up not knowing what I was getting into. And I couldn’t stop. I was glad that I had nothing else to do today, because I kept reading until I finished the book. The new year is just hours away and the cold air outside set the mood perfectly.
Normally I don‘t really read slow-paced books, but this one is special. It‘s like being transported into a cold winter night to the hearth of a home and listening to nearly forgotten tales.
I don‘t know how to describe this feeling but it was whimsical and nostalgic all the while keeping me entranced to this glorious piece of storytelling. I‘m completely speechless. I wasn’t expecting much and now I‘m left overwhelmed with the urgent need to get my hands on the next book.
It’s nearly 3 a.m. and I should probably go to sleep but I can still see the snow falling silently in a long winter’s night. Have you ever watched Narnia as a kid? I’m inbetween the trees and the coats and haven’t yet fully recovered my sense of reality.
So in case you are like me and can’t wait to be transported into a different universe, you should definitely go and read this book!
(While I‘m going to sleep)
Normally I don‘t really read slow-paced books, but this one is special. It‘s like being transported into a cold winter night to the hearth of a home and listening to nearly forgotten tales.
I don‘t know how to describe this feeling but it was whimsical and nostalgic all the while keeping me entranced to this glorious piece of storytelling. I‘m completely speechless. I wasn’t expecting much and now I‘m left overwhelmed with the urgent need to get my hands on the next book.
It’s nearly 3 a.m. and I should probably go to sleep but I can still see the snow falling silently in a long winter’s night. Have you ever watched Narnia as a kid? I’m inbetween the trees and the coats and haven’t yet fully recovered my sense of reality.
So in case you are like me and can’t wait to be transported into a different universe, you should definitely go and read this book!
(While I‘m going to sleep)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Rape, Body shaming, and Child death
beccam22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the best winter read.
The family is so full of love and a great story for younger girls finding their place in life. It is a story most of us know, either Greek names or European names, Russian or Spanish, there is a version of it in most languages. But the writing is so beautiful and if its not winter where you are you will feel the cold while reading it.
Below my original review:
It took me two tries to get into this book, yes it is a slow start but I would have been more willing to push through the first time if I knew it was so similar to Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. Any fans of her writing and that story will LOVE this one.
The family is so full of love and a great story for younger girls finding their place in life. It is a story most of us know, either Greek names or European names, Russian or Spanish, there is a version of it in most languages. But the writing is so beautiful and if its not winter where you are you will feel the cold while reading it.
Below my original review:
It took me two tries to get into this book, yes it is a slow start but I would have been more willing to push through the first time if I knew it was so similar to Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. Any fans of her writing and that story will LOVE this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Pregnancy, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Blood
soaphest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing, brilliant & gorgeous. Just everything about this book is perfect, from the gorgeous cover art to the incredibly immersive storytelling. I’ve never been happier to learn that this is the first part of a trilogy so that I still have two more books to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Gore, Grief, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
The misogyny, rape and adult/minor relationship cw warnings are very period-typical as it (sadly) was the norm for that time. It’s the whole *hand wavy gesture* women being treated as objects with little to no agency over their lives and futures & teens being arranged to marry men twice their age thing. Also I wasn’t sure whether to tag for psychosis as Anna wasn’t really delusional, but her attacks were pretty intense (as were how she was treated by those around her) so that’s why I still chose to.sfoerster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
The book combines a variety of Russian myths, legends, and fairy tales together to make them exist in one world and time.
Female lead
Magic in real world
Complicated family dynamics
Mildly challenges religious views
Female lead
Magic in real world
Complicated family dynamics
Mildly challenges religious views
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
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