Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Reading how these women were treated is so sad. These types of books are important to read. I do know it’s fiction but these places existed and people need educated around them.
The author educates and marries it with another controversial topic of witch craft, which is not two I would put together. The bonds the girls created and where they found advocacy was great to read about. I couldn’t put it down the last half of the book. I wanted to know how it ended! I appreciated his acknowledgment at the end as it was nice to know the background of how the book came to. I’ve read 3 of his books and this one is my favorite.
The author educates and marries it with another controversial topic of witch craft, which is not two I would put together. The bonds the girls created and where they found advocacy was great to read about. I couldn’t put it down the last half of the book. I wanted to know how it ended! I appreciated his acknowledgment at the end as it was nice to know the background of how the book came to. I’ve read 3 of his books and this one is my favorite.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
There was something about how backstabbing and hateful to each other that EVERY SINGLE female character in this book had that I just couldn't stand it anymore. There was also just something icky about the way these VERY pregnant teenagers's bodies were described so regularly. And the weird religious undertones of "women deserve pain as part of Eve's Curse" that makes this book seem like one that wants to be precieved as feminist but is just thinly veiled misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-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:
No
I liked the way that the author mixed fantasy horror (witches) with real horror (maternity homes in the 70s) but the pacing and story felt uneven. I couldn't keep track of what the main character's motivations were, and what I was supposed to be focused on as a reader. The writing felt solid, descriptions vivid and strong dialogue but I think just the plot never gained steam the way it usually does over the course of a story. I've read a few of this author's books and he usually goes quite far with body horror, but in this case he leaned a lot on childbirth without too many extra magical / horror elements (with a few exceptions) which was an interesting choice.