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bloodmaarked's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Infertility, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Blood, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Car accident, Child death, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, Sexual content, and Grief
for the car accident warning: obviously, there were no cars in 1840s Britain! but there was an accident with a horse and carriage which was quite shocking. also for the death of parent warning: there are several, but they all happen off-page. for drug abuse: several people are drugged multiple times against their will. for rape: a woman is "medically" examined internally while unconscious (and unconsenting). it isn't sexual but she is essentially raped.morebooks_morebutter's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
eabh's review
I was intrigued by the premise of this story. A feminisnist mythological fiction novel? Sounds cool! Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like this book delivered. At first, this book was hard to get into. The prose was beautiful, and also clunky in execution. I just… didn’t enjoy how this book is written with the POV changing so quickly, short chapters, and a lack of discernment between the various voices of the book. However, it was the detailed account of animal abuse and torture that made me DNF the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Miscarriage and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Torture
ninjamuse's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Racism, Confinement, Medical content, and Animal death
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
gimmebacon's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I’m not exactly sure how I feel about this book quite yet. The plot and writing are fine, but for some reason I wasn’t pulled into the story. The chapters are short and there are at least 5 different points of view. Sometimes you’ll have a chapter from a random minor character’s POV so there was a lot of “head hopping.” We never find out WHY these women grow wings and perhaps that was the point? Edward’s point of view kind of overpowered the others. For me, this book was less about strong women in Victorian London and more about the dangers of confusing greed and ambition with “god’s will.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
chrissymccue's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you @bookmarked and @netgalley for the chance to read this lovely book before it publishes in the US next week.
Set in mid 19th century England, an ambitious surgeon is desperate for fame and fortune. A divine corpse is pulled from the river. At the same time rumors of a fallen angel swirl around London. Impossibly, a young woman in the countryside erupts glorious wings from her shoulders. The surgeon is obsessed with these women who are sprouting wings and determined in leveraging them as medical discoveries to secure his place in the London scientific society.
The writing is poetic and cinematic. The reader feels immersed in the Victorian setting. From the slums of London to the rolling countryside to the dank basement science labs. The book is dark and gritty without being depressing.
Told through alternating POVs, four women weave together a story of their constrained lives and how they take back their own power. The feminism shines through but doesn't feel out of place with the times.
The chapters were short and propelled the story along quickly without feeling rushed. Overall, this is a wonderful book for readers who enjoyed Ten Thousand Doors of January or even The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
Set in mid 19th century England, an ambitious surgeon is desperate for fame and fortune. A divine corpse is pulled from the river. At the same time rumors of a fallen angel swirl around London. Impossibly, a young woman in the countryside erupts glorious wings from her shoulders. The surgeon is obsessed with these women who are sprouting wings and determined in leveraging them as medical discoveries to secure his place in the London scientific society.
The writing is poetic and cinematic. The reader feels immersed in the Victorian setting. From the slums of London to the rolling countryside to the dank basement science labs. The book is dark and gritty without being depressing.
Told through alternating POVs, four women weave together a story of their constrained lives and how they take back their own power. The feminism shines through but doesn't feel out of place with the times.
The chapters were short and propelled the story along quickly without feeling rushed. Overall, this is a wonderful book for readers who enjoyed Ten Thousand Doors of January or even The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
sb27's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Easy to read with lots of short chapters. Informative about women's position in the 1840s. Interesting subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
emily_bg's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A compelling novel, it is a blend of historical and fantasy.
The novel follows the stories of four women Etta, Natalya, Annie, and Mary. Four very different women all brought together.
I absolutely loved this novel
The novel follows the stories of four women Etta, Natalya, Annie, and Mary. Four very different women all brought together.
I absolutely loved this novel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Animal cruelty, and Infertility
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Miscarriage
There are some graphic descriptions that some people might find upsetting