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kalypsowolf's review
dark
sad
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I just didn't get the point of this one which was unfortunate cause I did highlight and tab quite a few moments of really enjoyable writing (the reason for a 1.5 and not a flat 1). I just think the overall vibe of the book is quite dull. There's nothing really to pull you along and entice you to read more of the story.
The chapters where you follow Clara after the events of the main story didn't really add anything, and, other than maybe the first one to just set up foreshadowing, could have been done with completely while still providing the same impact (and a shorter page count). And maybe the last one, because there was something important to Clara's development as a character in the ending chapter
Even in the main story Clara really feels like she's being pulled along. She has functionally no agency during the entire book, and when she finally does seek to make her own agency, it's pulled out from under her, thus entirely undermining any character development she had in the first place. The men around her are assholes and I mean, at least they made me feel something I guess, but I don't think the main takeaway of this book was supposed to be 'men bad'. One of them, surely, but not the main one. Also as the book goes on they became cartoonishly evil, which took away from the more low-key sinister sort of vibe the beginning had with Henry's letter and behavior.
You do really feel bad for Clara. Shes stuck in this shitty situation right after getting out of another shitty situation that was a result of a mental break caused by - you guessed it - ANOTHER shitty situation. Girl can't catch a break. It's infuriating and depressing. Which I'm all for in a book, but there's gotta be something compelling to go along with it and there just wasn't here for me.
The authors note in the back mentions this idea that Mary Ann Cotton - a very real convicted murderer who was thought to maybe be a serial killer - might not have been found guilty if brought to trial today. Honestly if that was the point of the book, it really didn't do a good job of being convincing at all. So while yes, she may have been found innocent if tried today, reasonable doubt is attempted in the book but not done very effectively. At least in my opinion.
All of the concepts touched upon here could have made for a genuinely amazing book, but almost every aspect of it fell flat for me and I am really sad about that cause I wanted to love it so badly. I just think it spent so much time trying to be ambiguous when it really needed to either commit to the likely innocent angle or the passing on murderous tendencies angle and it could've been significantly better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Child death
johnlock's review
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
I really enjoyed this! It was really good, up until the end, which felt simultaneously rushed and like it could have been condensed. It wasn’t enough to put me off the book entirely, but it did sour my enjoyment slightly. Still, it is very enjoyable, and if it sounds like something you would enjoy I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Infertility, Grief, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Murder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Colonisation
It’s about a woman who is forcibly assigned to an asylum by her manipulative husband after a graphic stillbirth, and is traumatized as a result. There’s also a semi-graphic rape scene about midway through.bookedbymadeline's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for the eARC of The Savage Instinct by Marjorie DeLuca!
“This case was notable for the media attention it received, and that inspired me to create a story, not necessarily about Mary Ann Cotton’s crimes, but about the impact her arrest and trial had on Victorian society at the time, as well as what it revealed about that society’s attitudes towards women who strayed from their natural “God-given” roles.”
The writing was a little bumpy in the beginning but it smoothed itself out by the second half. The last couple chapters were intense with plot twists and that ending blew my mind! The book is fast paced and I loved the characters. Clara has some good developments over the course of her story. I especially loved seeing Mary Ann Cotton become unreliable as we see her through Clara’s eyes and never know what to believe.
Overall an enjoyable read and if you like Victorian era books, true crime based fiction, The Familiars by Stacey Hall, or books about women going against society’s expectations, you may enjoy this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Infertility, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Miscarriage, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
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