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perifaerie's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
2.0
jecinwv's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! That's all I can say. No spoilers here. This book was beautifully written and engaging. Like most mystery stories it winds a story. The scenery and details of this gothic Vermont farm town are well drawn out like a portrait. This tale of women, history, and family abuse is deep and aged. There is something familiar and rough in the story. Something that chilled my bones. This is a suspense. I will say that the part that kept this an okay book vs an amazing book for me was the interwoven family history. Chapters are dedicated to the ancestors and they aren't interconnected or transitioned well. It's so much info and early on deters the reader from the main plot. I often felt confused during the first half of this book.
divinesprout's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
overcastreading's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like this book is sorely underrated. I loved the writing and I love the rich history of the matriarchal family. If Wallace ever released a book with the Lovegood family history, I’d read it in a heartbeat.
booksfemme's review against another edition
3.0
This was an enjoyable read. Mostly because I love stories centred around family and set in beautiful landscapes. However, the magical realism of the story didn't always hit the mark for me. There's extensive, detailed descriptions of the weather and the landscape which could get a bit repetitive and boring after a while. Do note that I'm not particularly fond of very descriptive writing - I enjoy some more plot-driven action. Even though the writing was not my cup of tea, I do admit it was beautiful and had me (mostly) fully emerged in the story.
Besides that, I often got confused when there was talk about the Lovegood family's ancestors. I don't know why, but I couldn't keep any of them apart for some reason.
Besides that, I often got confused when there was talk about the Lovegood family's ancestors. I don't know why, but I couldn't keep any of them apart for some reason.
naimar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Even though I first read this in middle school, it still holds up. In particular, the depiction of Verity’s depression and the effect it had on her daughter struck home. This is an atmospheric book that doesn’t always try to explain itself, and I really enjoyed that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny
lisamparkin's review against another edition
DNF at 35% - I wanted to sink into the mystery but the pacing was verrrry slow with not a lot to grab onto in the mean time.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It’s well written and intriguing. The pacing feels a bit slow in places but I really like how that means we get bits and pieces of the history throughout the story. And the ending is a gorgeous way of summing it up.
My only real quibbles were not getting enough information - how is the orchard lined to their family? I definitely also need more on why the family history is so strained between them and the Abrams - I know you get bits but the level of anger over boundary lines and several people getting shot seems a bit more than what is laid out. And why did their family evolve how it did? I always like when I am left wanting so much more information but here were bits I wished were included to improve the story. However, a really interesting read!
My only real quibbles were not getting enough information - how is the orchard lined to their family? I definitely also need more on why the family history is so strained between them and the Abrams - I know you get bits but the level of anger over boundary lines and several people getting shot seems a bit more than what is laid out. And why did their family evolve how it did? I always like when I am left wanting so much more information but here were bits I wished were included to improve the story. However, a really interesting read!
tikiscream666's review against another edition
4.0
Kali Wallace is definitely a force to be reckoned with. She had me hooked with her writing style in her debt novel Shallow Graves and now I'm going to be keeping my eyes peeled for her work.
The Memory Trees is a story about family, memories (obviously), and more importantly healing. It hit a lot of emotional feels that were very close to home with my own past. It lays out familial relationships in a rare way that I feel most teens can relate to in some way. The story tackles mental illness head on in a way that I've been waiting for a YA author to do.
The tale follows Sorrow as she searches for an answer to the void in her memory. You see, her sister died mysteriously in fire, and she can't seem to remember the time following. She's just left with the hole that is her sister Patience. Did I mention she was born and raised on the family orchard? It's an orchard that's been in her family for 12 generations, and none of the matriarchs have let her forget it. But does the land bound to Sorrow by the blood and sweat and tears of her ancestors have more than meets eye? Find out in the memory trees.
The Memory Trees is a story about family, memories (obviously), and more importantly healing. It hit a lot of emotional feels that were very close to home with my own past. It lays out familial relationships in a rare way that I feel most teens can relate to in some way. The story tackles mental illness head on in a way that I've been waiting for a YA author to do.
The tale follows Sorrow as she searches for an answer to the void in her memory. You see, her sister died mysteriously in fire, and she can't seem to remember the time following. She's just left with the hole that is her sister Patience. Did I mention she was born and raised on the family orchard? It's an orchard that's been in her family for 12 generations, and none of the matriarchs have let her forget it. But does the land bound to Sorrow by the blood and sweat and tears of her ancestors have more than meets eye? Find out in the memory trees.
katie_jane2021's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0