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someenchantederin's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
*arc review*
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the audiobook of The Gifts in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really strange, but interesting book. I could almost believe it was written in the time period because the feminist resistance is subversive and subtle enough that it rings true to the time.
I’m sure there are allegories within that I’m missing, but the overall message about religious zeal and doing evil things in the name of God are well portrayed. That said I think on numerous occasions in this I said out loud, WTF just happened? Edward was bananas and I hope Annie’s post book life is a better one.
Other reviewers have mentioned the frequent POV changes bothered them, but I was able to follow along easily after I remembered who was who. I often prefer short chapters because it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing more! Overall I liked the book… could have survived without the dog murder.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the audiobook of The Gifts in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really strange, but interesting book. I could almost believe it was written in the time period because the feminist resistance is subversive and subtle enough that it rings true to the time.
I’m sure there are allegories within that I’m missing, but the overall message about religious zeal and doing evil things in the name of God are well portrayed. That said I think on numerous occasions in this I said out loud, WTF just happened? Edward was bananas and I hope Annie’s post book life is a better one.
Other reviewers have mentioned the frequent POV changes bothered them, but I was able to follow along easily after I remembered who was who. I often prefer short chapters because it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing more! Overall I liked the book… could have survived without the dog murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Suicide and Murder
ashleighmo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
I think this story went on a bit too long, it dragged in the middle. The saving grace was the flipping between different points of view, this helped to sustain my interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Suicide
swalk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Set in the Victorian era - 1840, when women were second class citizens and poverty levels were high, this tale follows the frustrating lives of four women after a winged woman is dragged from the Thames. A wonderfully dark historical fiction, with a sprinkling of magical realism, the slowly interlinking tales really bind this narrative together. (I have given a brief outline of each woman below, as it was a little hard to remember each at first).
Natalia - Scottish traveller and gifted storyteller who journeys by ship to London after being disowned by her family.
Etta - A talented and entirely unappreciated botanist, who lives with her cruel half brother after her fathers demise.
Mary - An excellent writer, who lives with her uncle Joss, a grieving drunk, but a successful journalist whom she often covers for when he is in a drunken stupor.
Annie - Skilled artist and lonely wife of Edward - an ambitious surgeon who is desperate for prowess and status as he overlooks his wife’s sadness as they struggle with infertility.
This really is a brilliant and beautiful book, it took me about 25% to get into it properly, but thoroughly worth it as I couldn’t stop listening after that.
CW - Dissection, vivisection, amputation, graphic, infertility
Natalia - Scottish traveller and gifted storyteller who journeys by ship to London after being disowned by her family.
Etta - A talented and entirely unappreciated botanist, who lives with her cruel half brother after her fathers demise.
Mary - An excellent writer, who lives with her uncle Joss, a grieving drunk, but a successful journalist whom she often covers for when he is in a drunken stupor.
Annie - Skilled artist and lonely wife of Edward - an ambitious surgeon who is desperate for prowess and status as he overlooks his wife’s sadness as they struggle with infertility.
This really is a brilliant and beautiful book, it took me about 25% to get into it properly, but thoroughly worth it as I couldn’t stop listening after that.
CW - Dissection, vivisection, amputation, graphic, infertility
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Sexism
Minor: Classism, Alcoholism, and Fire/Fire injury
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