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melwright's review against another edition
4.0
This book really grew on me as it went on and I did really enjoy it in the end. If I’m being honest, my main gripe is that the parts for the book are all very long meaning it was hard to set time to just sit and read it because I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to stop mid chapter. I think if it was separated into smaller chapters I would’ve raced through this book.
The feelings and characters are complicated and intertwined, the village feeling is developed carefully and the way the community pulls on each other is very well done. It’s also very witty at times and Moira Jean’s character is stubborn but endearing.
The feelings and characters are complicated and intertwined, the village feeling is developed carefully and the way the community pulls on each other is very well done. It’s also very witty at times and Moira Jean’s character is stubborn but endearing.
laurenrebeccao's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
ktread07's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC. Mild spoilers ahead.
Dark fairy tales where the heroine has to see through the splendor and magic in order to save the day? Sign me up!
This was my first JJA Harwood book and I am a big fan. The pacing was a little slow at first, but once I got about a third of the way in, I was hooked.
After the Dreamer was introduced, I was afraid that there was going to be more romance involved based on the description of the book. While the Dreamer does try to change for Moira Jean, they are still a problematic character and I would be uncomfortable reading a romantic "happy ending". I enjoyed how the story played out and how it was resolved.
There were a few things I felt were a miss for this book. The lack of chapters was hard; instead the book was split into 5 sections.
I felt the pacing at the beginning was so slow that it caused some more interesting parts to be glazed over at the end. What exactly was the Tithe? Why did Moira Jean not seem to care about what happened to everyone at the end when she was trying desperately to win her friends back throughout the story?
The biggest thing that bothered me, especially during the first third of the book, was that Moira Jean lives in a remote part of the Scottish highlands in the early 1900s...and she doesn't know ANY fairy lore? I would expect her village to be at least moderately well versed in the fair folk and at least somewhat superstitious. But no, only one old woman in the entire village knew what was happening and had to teach Moira Jean how to make deals with the fae.
Overall, it was extremely enjoyable. I give it a solid 3.75 stars. An entire star removed because the lack of chapters or more frequent, well defined sections really made me struggle.
Dark fairy tales where the heroine has to see through the splendor and magic in order to save the day? Sign me up!
This was my first JJA Harwood book and I am a big fan. The pacing was a little slow at first, but once I got about a third of the way in, I was hooked.
After the Dreamer was introduced, I was afraid that there was going to be more romance involved based on the description of the book. While the Dreamer does try to change for Moira Jean, they are still a problematic character and I would be uncomfortable reading a romantic "happy ending". I enjoyed how the story played out and how it was resolved.
There were a few things I felt were a miss for this book. The lack of chapters was hard; instead the book was split into 5 sections.
I felt the pacing at the beginning was so slow that it caused some more interesting parts to be glazed over at the end. What exactly was the Tithe? Why did Moira Jean not seem to care about what happened to everyone at the end when she was trying desperately to win her friends back throughout the story?
The biggest thing that bothered me, especially during the first third of the book, was that Moira Jean lives in a remote part of the Scottish highlands in the early 1900s...and she doesn't know ANY fairy lore? I would expect her village to be at least moderately well versed in the fair folk and at least somewhat superstitious. But no, only one old woman in the entire village knew what was happening and had to teach Moira Jean how to make deals with the fae.
Overall, it was extremely enjoyable. I give it a solid 3.75 stars. An entire star removed because the lack of chapters or more frequent, well defined sections really made me struggle.
emilyjeanne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rabbitboot's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A lukewarm repetitive adventure. Honestly I would have probably liked it more, had I not been hoping for a romance.
whiningmoon's review against another edition
4.0
The themes really resonated with me, probably because they’re pretty prevalent in my life at the time of reading. The eerie and unsettling vibes were great! Also loved the lore. It’s a 3,5/3,75 for me, but maybe if I’d ready it in a different time I’d probably rate this book differently (don’t know if it’d be higher or lower though). Would recommend to anyone who’s interested in the themes, and who are okay with the slower pace, which for me worked in this case.
Also as Ronja (an other review here) already mentioned, with which I wholeheartedly agree: it could’ve been gayer.
And I kind of wished it was.
Also as Ronja (an other review here) already mentioned, with which I wholeheartedly agree: it could’ve been gayer.
And I kind of wished it was.
addielum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
josiepickering's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
wynterayn's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
hannahbrown589's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
This book was a delightful surprise! Dark, emotional, and full of fae tricks. The main character and the villagers were all well developed and seemed like real people instead of troupes. I adored the inclusion of several types of fae from Irish mythology that I had never heard of before. Be warned, if you’re looking for sexy fae romance à la Sarah J. Maas, this might not be the book for you. This story is much more about the personal development of the characters than it is about romance. I would go as far as to say it is a coming of age story that has romantic bits in it, but not a true romance if that’s what you want.