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faefolkreads's review against another edition
4.0
Sixteen year old Sorrow Lovegood returns to her family Orchard in Vermont after eight years away. Can she piece together her missing memories from her hazy childhood and remember the events that led up to and surrounding her sisters death?
This was a beautifully imaginative and hauntingly melancholy read, with a lot of loss and (aptly enough) sorrow. There were twists and turns throughout Sorrow's story, tying together past and present and delving through old family feuds and history.
The ending was bittersweet and I still feel like there is so much yet to explore with the matriarchal line of the Lovegood family- why did Rejoice Lovegood settle in Vermont, alone? Where did she come from? Why the emotive female names? Is the orchard actually magic? I feel like there was still a lot left unearthed, despite Sorrows story reaching it's conclusion.
This was a beautifully imaginative and hauntingly melancholy read, with a lot of loss and (aptly enough) sorrow. There were twists and turns throughout Sorrow's story, tying together past and present and delving through old family feuds and history.
The ending was bittersweet and I still feel like there is so much yet to explore with the matriarchal line of the Lovegood family- why did Rejoice Lovegood settle in Vermont, alone? Where did she come from? Why the emotive female names? Is the orchard actually magic? I feel like there was still a lot left unearthed, despite Sorrows story reaching it's conclusion.
themoonkestrel's review against another edition
3.0
This is a hard book to review. Mostly because it feels very ethereal, almost as if it isn't there. It gives a huge The Disappearances feel but you can't compare stories as they are not the same.
I was glad to have read it but it wasn't my style of book and the ending left me wondering so many things I wasn't so pleased with it. I somehow expected a little more from the ending, as the story kept developing well near the end.
I was glad to have read it but it wasn't my style of book and the ending left me wondering so many things I wasn't so pleased with it. I somehow expected a little more from the ending, as the story kept developing well near the end.
shoelessgirl's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This was a beautifully written book, which I never quite fully engaged with. Which is a shame, as I adored Wallace's previous book. I have no complaints about 'not much happening', like I see in other reviews - I enjoyed that, actually, and I liked that a whole lot of things were left unexplained, but I think I needed a little more resolution.
blackberrydreams's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting book with a really interesting premise. The description hooked me, and I truly thought I was going to love it so, so much. Unfortunately, a few things just didn’t work for me.
One big one was the ending. This is mostly just personal, but I really couldn’t get behind the message the book was trying to end on. It just went against who I am and what I believe in.
Secondly, the pacing was incredibly odd. We’d get fast-paced progression with Sorrow’s story in the present, end a chapter on a cliffhanger, and then have to read through a chapter or two set in the past — oftentimes with no action or revelation — before getting back to the present. I don’t read books mainly for plot, but this felt like it was set out to ruin the pacing in a bizarre, unnecessary way.
And lastly, I just really wish the magical realism had been developed more. Though hints at it were present throughout, it read like pure realism imbued with child’s imagination until the last few chapters. I just wanted true magical realism, and this didn’t feel like it.
Beyond that, I did enjoy the writing, and most of the story, the emotions, and the relationships between the characters. I just wish I loved it all more.
One big one was the ending. This is mostly just personal, but I really couldn’t get behind the message the book was trying to end on. It just went against who I am and what I believe in.
Secondly, the pacing was incredibly odd. We’d get fast-paced progression with Sorrow’s story in the present, end a chapter on a cliffhanger, and then have to read through a chapter or two set in the past — oftentimes with no action or revelation — before getting back to the present. I don’t read books mainly for plot, but this felt like it was set out to ruin the pacing in a bizarre, unnecessary way.
And lastly, I just really wish the magical realism had been developed more. Though hints at it were present throughout, it read like pure realism imbued with child’s imagination until the last few chapters. I just wanted true magical realism, and this didn’t feel like it.
Beyond that, I did enjoy the writing, and most of the story, the emotions, and the relationships between the characters. I just wish I loved it all more.
helinae's review against another edition
5.0
The story reads like a film - You are given a window to a very private life through storytelling that makes the words come vividly alive.
I was lucky enough to have an ARC of this story (thanks to my buddy Xan) and it's been one of those books that just mesmerise you from the get-go. You feel like you're at the orchard, watching the story unfold, breathing in the centuries of history.
It's not a story that jumps into action, so you need to be patient. Every piece has it's place. I'm really looking forward to reading other works from Kali now, because I'm a fan!
I was lucky enough to have an ARC of this story (thanks to my buddy Xan) and it's been one of those books that just mesmerise you from the get-go. You feel like you're at the orchard, watching the story unfold, breathing in the centuries of history.
It's not a story that jumps into action, so you need to be patient. Every piece has it's place. I'm really looking forward to reading other works from Kali now, because I'm a fan!
wquindley's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. i loved the mystery and the stories of family histories in this book. kali wallace’s writing and the imagery she included on every page of this book was beautiful.
jhamdolukyab's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book. I loved it so much. There were a lot twists and turns in this book. I never really excepted Julie’s sister was the killer. Yeah I hated her but I didn’t expect it to be her. I thought it was Julie but you know “unpredictable “. I liked the concept and sorrow was a likable character. I think the family was really complicated but it was supposed to be that way. The family tree for both family’s were confusing
serynanicole's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
2.0
xan_van_rooyen's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this!!
This is an intense, exquisite magical realism novel about women, young and old across centuries. The language is beautiful and the characters deftly crafted. If you're looking for a book that has lots of action or romance, look elsewhere. This is a book about a girl trying to figure out who she is and where she comes from through the chaos of teenage emotion and the mist of childhood memory.
I strongly recommend this book for fans of Anna-Marie McLemore and Maggie Stiefvater.
*I received an ARC from the author but I absolutely would've bought and adored this book anyway
This is an intense, exquisite magical realism novel about women, young and old across centuries. The language is beautiful and the characters deftly crafted. If you're looking for a book that has lots of action or romance, look elsewhere. This is a book about a girl trying to figure out who she is and where she comes from through the chaos of teenage emotion and the mist of childhood memory.
I strongly recommend this book for fans of Anna-Marie McLemore and Maggie Stiefvater.
*I received an ARC from the author but I absolutely would've bought and adored this book anyway