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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this book up purely bcs of the cover and bcs it is a sapphic relationship. Let me tell you i am very glad i did. The story was really good. The way the Le Château Enchaté was described as a brilliant safe place but soon revealed to be the opposite. I like how they revealed it and how the kings true intentions were shown. The ending was brilliant as well
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A cute read with an interesting mythos, although I wish more had been explained about the religion.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
‼️ reader beware: this review will contain spoilers ‼️
this review will be split into two parts: the aspects i thought were well done and the aspects i felt missed the mark.
🌼 well done 🌼:
• the prose: there’s something very understated about bakewell’s prose. despite the fact she isn’t overly flowery with her wording, her descriptions paint a vivid picture. i could envision everything bakewell described, from the characters themselves to the sprawling gardens and grounds of le château. there’s an under appreciated beauty in the simplicity of this author’s words. they’re easy to follow while still being evocative.
• the mystery: the mystery of king léo and the origin of the shadows made this book a page-turner, and i enjoyed the direction bakewell went with it. having king léo not be as benevolent as he seemed was a good choice that was perhaps a little obvious in hindsight but still thoroughly enjoyable.
• the yearning: i went into this book expecting sapphic yearning, and that is exactly what i got. the constant pining for both characters for each other was delicious and something that made this book worth the read.
🪞 missed the mark🪞:
• the pacing: i think a part of what kept this book from being a 5 star read for me was the pacing. both in terms of story structure as well as in terms of character progression. ofelia learns of lope’s love for her early into the story, and instantly loves her too. i would have liked to see more debating on ofelia’s side, maybe a “will they/won’t they”. that and the epilogue in particular stood out to me as a bit rushed.
this book was a pretty good read, and definitely a nice one to do for lesbian awareness week. i do think some of the complaints that this isn’t a true orpheus and eurydice retelling have some merit. if you go into this book expecting an exact replica of the orpheus/eurydice myth, you may be disappointed. but if you go into reading it expecting a story inspired by that myth, instead of a carbon copy, i think you’ll be more satisfied.
this review will be split into two parts: the aspects i thought were well done and the aspects i felt missed the mark.
🌼 well done 🌼:
• the prose: there’s something very understated about bakewell’s prose. despite the fact she isn’t overly flowery with her wording, her descriptions paint a vivid picture. i could envision everything bakewell described, from the characters themselves to the sprawling gardens and grounds of le château. there’s an under appreciated beauty in the simplicity of this author’s words. they’re easy to follow while still being evocative.
• the mystery: the mystery of king léo and the origin of the shadows made this book a page-turner, and i enjoyed the direction bakewell went with it. having king léo not be as benevolent as he seemed was a good choice that was perhaps a little obvious in hindsight but still thoroughly enjoyable.
• the yearning: i went into this book expecting sapphic yearning, and that is exactly what i got. the constant pining for both characters for each other was delicious and something that made this book worth the read.
🪞 missed the mark🪞:
• the pacing: i think a part of what kept this book from being a 5 star read for me was the pacing. both in terms of story structure as well as in terms of character progression. ofelia learns of lope’s love for her early into the story, and instantly loves her too. i would have liked to see more debating on ofelia’s side, maybe a “will they/won’t they”. that and the epilogue in particular stood out to me as a bit rushed.
this book was a pretty good read, and definitely a nice one to do for lesbian awareness week. i do think some of the complaints that this isn’t a true orpheus and eurydice retelling have some merit. if you go into this book expecting an exact replica of the orpheus/eurydice myth, you may be disappointed. but if you go into reading it expecting a story inspired by that myth, instead of a carbon copy, i think you’ll be more satisfied.