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laurajeangrace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Violence, War, and Sexism
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
challenging
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
I don’t usually like books that don’t use quotation marks because it confuses me and I end up rereading sentences. The writing and prose was beautiful; I have many passages marked!
It could be a bit slow for my liking and the second half was harder to get through. I liked the references to Melusine, who I’ve heard about prior when reading other books about the war of the roses!
I thought the ending was really well done. Overall an enjoyable read that I devoured in three days despite being slow for my taste! I had read one of Geoff’s works earlier in the year and hated it so I’m happy I gave her a second chance. I’m curious now to see how I like her other works. Highly recommend if you like stories about powerful women challenging that status quo (especially in the world of religion)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Rape, Torture, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, and Animal death
Minor: Violence
roseltov's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Aaaargh, this was a really strange read. I found it hard to finish because I feel like the cadence and pace very much benefits from being read in larger chunks. It’s not a book to read in small pieces, I don’t think. I read the last 100 pages in one sitting and enjoyed it, but I hadn’t super loved the middle section, so that’s potentially why.
It also took a while for me to get used to the writing style. There are no speech marks, which I found quite distracting to being with. There are also a lot of antiquated and religious words used, which made it harder to read to start off with.
Having said that, there was plenty to love. The world was painted richly, perhaps too viscerally at times - it was a little gross in places. But I’ve finished the book with a fully realised image of the world in my mind, and a weird love for the strange band of characters.
This book isn’t easy, but I would recommend it.
It also took a while for me to get used to the writing style. There are no speech marks, which I found quite distracting to being with. There are also a lot of antiquated and religious words used, which made it harder to read to start off with.
Having said that, there was plenty to love. The world was painted richly, perhaps too viscerally at times - it was a little gross in places. But I’ve finished the book with a fully realised image of the world in my mind, and a weird love for the strange band of characters.
This book isn’t easy, but I would recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Medical content
dr_aimz's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical trauma, Violence, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Domestic abuse
savvylit's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
On the surface, a book about a 12th-century abbey may not sound particularly riveting. Yet, in creating this fictional biography of Marie, Groff conjures a very compelling and loveable protagonist. Without spoiling too much, Marie is possibly the most powerful female heroine in English literature. Her wit and her dedication to her sisters is both unmatched and admirable.
It is hard to put into words why Matrix was such a joy to read. This book contains so much and does it all so well. Gorgeous prose, religious fervor, heartbreak, revenge, lesbian sex, labyrinths, boundless female power, divine visions, sisterly solidarity, and passionate love.
If you like historical fiction or strong female heroines (or both!), I implore you to read Matrix.
It is hard to put into words why Matrix was such a joy to read. This book contains so much and does it all so well. Gorgeous prose, religious fervor, heartbreak, revenge, lesbian sex, labyrinths, boundless female power, divine visions, sisterly solidarity, and passionate love.
If you like historical fiction or strong female heroines (or both!), I implore you to read Matrix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, Grief, and War
Moderate: Rape
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know what it is about books that don't use quotation marks to indicate speech but I'm such a slut for them. Anyways, I loved this book.
The way Groff effortlessly explores the mystical, sacred lives of characters bound to their faith while simultaneously getting into the mud and shit and darkness and weirdness of being a human body on this earth is really provoking. There are so many beautiful quiet moments of contemplation and description in this book about a woman who knows she is destined for greatness and therefore makes greatness happen, against all odds and all opponents. I also liked how Groff played with the prophetess element of the book by giving Marie holy yet heretical visions of the future, the future in which we now live, and imbued a sense of foreboding in the descriptions of the impact of the nuns' ambitions on their natural world. This book is rich in symbolism that isn't allowed to linger in the subtext - both Groff and Marie have to pick it up and turn it about in their hands, so by the end of the book the consequences are very clear.
I will echo what some other reviews have said, which is basically that there isn't much believable external conflict for Marie to face so the book can feel a bit repetitive. But overall, this book blazes with holy and profane love, and its gay as hell.
The way Groff effortlessly explores the mystical, sacred lives of characters bound to their faith while simultaneously getting into the mud and shit and darkness and weirdness of being a human body on this earth is really provoking. There are so many beautiful quiet moments of contemplation and description in this book about a woman who knows she is destined for greatness and therefore makes greatness happen, against all odds and all opponents. I also liked how Groff played with the prophetess element of the book by giving Marie holy yet heretical visions of the future, the future in which we now live, and imbued a sense of foreboding in the descriptions of the impact of the nuns' ambitions on their natural world. This book is rich in symbolism that isn't allowed to linger in the subtext - both Groff and Marie have to pick it up and turn it about in their hands, so by the end of the book the consequences are very clear.
I will echo what some other reviews have said, which is basically that there isn't much believable external conflict for Marie to face so the book can feel a bit repetitive. But overall, this book blazes with holy and profane love, and its gay as hell.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence
cinnaminskies's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Death, and Torture
Minor: Rape
erinmjustice's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
sshabein's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
Now this is some ART.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Death
Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual violence
spacewhombus's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
Hmm okay so I did really love this! I have never felt such a strong desire to drop everything and move to a convent with my girlies and my sisters and just spend my life loving them all and doing meaningful work for our community!!!
If you liked The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, then you would like this-and vice versa!!! They both have the medieval setting with a community of women trying to survive on their own while helping and loving each other.
And if you are a fan of stories that span a character's whole life, you will probably like this too (along the lines of The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, or A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende). The cast of women includes so many characters, each unique and with their own special skills. There was also a lovely variety of relationships among the women, from sister, rival, sexual, mother, teacher, etc.
The main story follows the rise of Marie from an unwilling nun into head abbess with a lasting legacy in the abbey itself but also in the land and community surrounding it. I lovedddd reading the small details of life in the 1100s-1200s, especially regarding how they built certain things!
The only reason I won't give five stars is just because it wasn't toooo enthralling by the end, because Marie ascended to somewhat of a saint status and I lost any personal connection with her, and her abbey grew in size so much and over such large jumps in time that I also started to lose touch with the other characters.
Overall a refreshing read, and a unique story that I have never encountered before. So go read this and then go daydream about living on a farm with women forever!
If you liked The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, then you would like this-and vice versa!!! They both have the medieval setting with a community of women trying to survive on their own while helping and loving each other.
And if you are a fan of stories that span a character's whole life, you will probably like this too (along the lines of The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, or A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende). The cast of women includes so many characters, each unique and with their own special skills. There was also a lovely variety of relationships among the women, from sister, rival, sexual, mother, teacher, etc.
The main story follows the rise of Marie from an unwilling nun into head abbess with a lasting legacy in the abbey itself but also in the land and community surrounding it. I lovedddd reading the small details of life in the 1100s-1200s, especially regarding how they built certain things!
The only reason I won't give five stars is just because it wasn't toooo enthralling by the end, because Marie ascended to somewhat of a saint status and I lost any personal connection with her, and her abbey grew in size so much and over such large jumps in time that I also started to lose touch with the other characters.
Overall a refreshing read, and a unique story that I have never encountered before. So go read this and then go daydream about living on a farm with women forever!
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Rape