Scan barcode
steph01924's review
3.0
This was a nice story; I didn't totally connect to it, most likely due to the way it was written, but I appreciate what the author was going for. It had a wonderfully timeless, fantasy feel. The writing wasn't bad, but somehow the narrative just made it hard to connect with the characters. You always felt a bit omniscient and outside-looking-in. That made the romance with Lord Death a little stilted, for me. I know I was told Keturah had always loved Death, but I didn't really feel it.
I think for some this will be a really great book, so try it out!
I think for some this will be a really great book, so try it out!
mo_elcius's review
4.0
Acceptance and Denial. Love and Loss. Life and Death.
Keturah Reeves has to navigate all of the above, and more, while spinning tales of her own for Lord Death and for the people of Tide-by-Rood.
I enjoyed this read and think it would be a good read for a young-adult, 16 or older. Below are my thoughts.
*Keturah seemed to be really self-aware, conscious and thoughtful of those around her. Her level of maturity helped her deal with the loss of those around her, thinking through her decisions, and bargaining with Lord Death.
* There was a bit of comedic relief via the townspeople. There were a lot of names and townspeople to learn about and their various lives, personalities and their living situations. It was bit overwhelming at times, but I don't think it took away from the story. It allowed for us to get to know the the people and how important they were to Keturah.
* John Temland was such a great character. In another timeline I could definitely see him with Keturah. He was like the knight in shining armor. To me, he represented life and what Keturah wanted for her life.
* The Pies. There were some combinations that I hadn't even heard of. I can tell you, I probably wouldn't try most of them, but the lemon pie sounded really good.
* Lord Death...stoic, cold, untouchable, tall, dark, severe and devastatingly handsome. Keturah took note of Lord Death, the being that had been around her whole life, and now had come for hers.
Their story built up over time, the stories Keturah wove together for him, over the bargains, and of course over life and death.
Keturah and Lord Death, and the townspeople of Tide-by-Rood, show us how much there is to appreciate and love about the little things, about the ordinary, about the possibilities for our lives. Also, the importance of our decisions during the time that we have. As morbid as it sounds, there should be respect given for the cycle of life and the ending of it too. Keturah began to recognize that Lord Death wasn't the bad guy, that he wasn't around out of malice or ill intent. She was able to see past what his role was and love him. I think the ending was quick after she accepted her fate, but the ending was sweet and mournful. The CODA was appreciated. I'm glad to have read of how Keturah was still around watching their stories play out.
Keturah Reeves has to navigate all of the above, and more, while spinning tales of her own for Lord Death and for the people of Tide-by-Rood.
I enjoyed this read and think it would be a good read for a young-adult, 16 or older. Below are my thoughts.
*Keturah seemed to be really self-aware, conscious and thoughtful of those around her. Her level of maturity helped her deal with the loss of those around her, thinking through her decisions, and bargaining with Lord Death.
* There was a bit of comedic relief via the townspeople. There were a lot of names and townspeople to learn about and their various lives, personalities and their living situations. It was bit overwhelming at times, but I don't think it took away from the story. It allowed for us to get to know the the people and how important they were to Keturah.
* John Temland was such a great character. In another timeline I could definitely see him with Keturah. He was like the knight in shining armor. To me, he represented life and what Keturah wanted for her life.
* The Pies. There were some combinations that I hadn't even heard of. I can tell you, I probably wouldn't try most of them, but the lemon pie sounded really good.
* Lord Death...stoic, cold, untouchable, tall, dark, severe and devastatingly handsome. Keturah took note of Lord Death, the being that had been around her whole life, and now had come for hers.
Their story built up over time, the stories Keturah wove together for him, over the bargains, and of course over life and death.
Keturah and Lord Death, and the townspeople of Tide-by-Rood, show us how much there is to appreciate and love about the little things, about the ordinary, about the possibilities for our lives. Also, the importance of our decisions during the time that we have. As morbid as it sounds, there should be respect given for the cycle of life and the ending of it too. Keturah began to recognize that Lord Death wasn't the bad guy, that he wasn't around out of malice or ill intent. She was able to see past what his role was and love him. I think the ending was quick after she accepted her fate, but the ending was sweet and mournful. The CODA was appreciated. I'm glad to have read of how Keturah was still around watching their stories play out.
halcyone's review
3.0
Originally posted at The Cozy Armchair.
This book was mentioned in a discussion on tumblr and, intrigued by the title, I looked it up on Goodreads. I really liked the concept, so I went ahead and requested it from my local library.
It’s an easy, short read, clocking in at just over 200 pages. The opener sets it up so that the reader is aware that Keturah is telling a story, which is an interesting detail to keep in mind throughout the novel itself. The overall tone is very fairytale-ish and simple in the same way that those kinds of stories are. The idea at its core is very reminiscent of Scheherazade and her own efforts to prevent her captor from killing her.
There’s a lot of charm in the small town medieval setting, in the way the people don’t trust anything different and yet live with it everyday, how Keturah manages to stir up and unite everyone under the common cause of improving their village. A lot of mini-dramas play out over a few days. Because of how short the book is, all of these events feel rather rushed. I feel like it be so much better if it was longer, but then that might ruin the fairytale tone and atmosphere.
As a result, the characters were also lacking in much development, especially Lord Death, who we only ever see when he is looming over Keturah and she is spinning her story to gain another day. I wish the romance could have been more developed so that it could have elicited some emotions from me rather than the ‘oh, okay, so that’s where this is going’ reaction. I do like the way the story unfolds and the choices that Keturah makes. Keturah herself is an admirable character. Fearless but respectful, strong and caring, she is the driving force that causes so much positive change in the tiny town of Tide-by-Rood.
The final words of the story are haunting, in a way, not satisfying at all because I wanted to know more about Keturah and Lord Death and what the future would hold. There are several aspects of the book that are especially noteworthy, such as the discussions of death and the role it plays in everyone’s lives, so this book may even merit a re-read because in retrospect, there’s a lot more to ponder than what I caught on this first read through.
This book was mentioned in a discussion on tumblr and, intrigued by the title, I looked it up on Goodreads. I really liked the concept, so I went ahead and requested it from my local library.
It’s an easy, short read, clocking in at just over 200 pages. The opener sets it up so that the reader is aware that Keturah is telling a story, which is an interesting detail to keep in mind throughout the novel itself. The overall tone is very fairytale-ish and simple in the same way that those kinds of stories are. The idea at its core is very reminiscent of Scheherazade and her own efforts to prevent her captor from killing her.
There’s a lot of charm in the small town medieval setting, in the way the people don’t trust anything different and yet live with it everyday, how Keturah manages to stir up and unite everyone under the common cause of improving their village. A lot of mini-dramas play out over a few days. Because of how short the book is, all of these events feel rather rushed. I feel like it be so much better if it was longer, but then that might ruin the fairytale tone and atmosphere.
As a result, the characters were also lacking in much development, especially Lord Death, who we only ever see when he is looming over Keturah and she is spinning her story to gain another day. I wish the romance could have been more developed so that it could have elicited some emotions from me rather than the ‘oh, okay, so that’s where this is going’ reaction. I do like the way the story unfolds and the choices that Keturah makes. Keturah herself is an admirable character. Fearless but respectful, strong and caring, she is the driving force that causes so much positive change in the tiny town of Tide-by-Rood.
The final words of the story are haunting, in a way, not satisfying at all because I wanted to know more about Keturah and Lord Death and what the future would hold. There are several aspects of the book that are especially noteworthy, such as the discussions of death and the role it plays in everyone’s lives, so this book may even merit a re-read because in retrospect, there’s a lot more to ponder than what I caught on this first read through.
rosebrown's review
Too fairtale- ish to my liking. Feels like written for littlest girls
alanaleigh's review
4.0
My stumbled-upon recommendation of Keturah and Lord Death is a prime example of why I appreciate online sites like Goodreads and LibraryThing. Without the suggestion that somehow worked its way into my line of sight, I might never have heard of this gem... and given its title, I certainly wouldn't have picked it up. The first thing you need to do is get over the title, which is dreadful, but once you get to the story itself, you'll be enchanted. Keturah and Lord Death is, essentially, a fairy tale. Written by Martine Leavitt, it opens with a narrator being begged to tell a fireside story that meets all manner of requirements... and so she tells them this, the truest story she's ever told.
Keturah is sixteen years old when she wanders into the woods near her town, following the white hart that the lord of the manor has hunted for many years. It was only curiosity the drove her on, until she realized she was hopelessly lost. After three days without food, water, or sleep, Keturah waits for Lord Death to come to her. He offers her the chance to trade another's life for her own, but she refuses, even when he insists it will hardly matter, as plague will soon decimate her town. Knowing she must somehow save her people, Keturah tells Lord Death a story... a story of a love so pure that it conquers even death. She refuses to tell him the ending unless he lets her live for another day. He agrees and goes one step further -- if during the course of the following day she can discover her true love, a love like that in the story, then he will not claim her life.
The story feels as though it was conjured directly from Grimm's Fairy Tales, where everything has a slightly spooky and yet fascinating air. The added romance element tugs at your heart-strings, yet Leavitt still manages to make this a story about true love where there is still an element of choice. There's also the acknowledgment that one person's happy ending might leave some very broken hearts in its wake. Keturah is a strong heroine, struggling to learn her own desires and help decipher the wishes of those around her while she still has time to help them with their own futures and dreams. Her focus might be on saving the town from the potential plague, but she occasionally trips up in her desire to save herself... terribly human qualities that show she is not some infallible creature, but only one who means well and perhaps has a greater perception of what it means to have life.
The thing that keeps me from giving this book five stars is the fact that I wish Keturah had been able to do a little more on her own when it came to dealing with Lord Death, whether that was manifested in wit beyond her one trick of delaying a story's end, or determining a way to trick Death out of giving up one more thing through a bet or chance. Keturah relied heavily on asking Death for things to add in to their bargains and it would have been nice for there to be a bit more agency on her behalf. She managed to speak up and revitalize the town, but in the end, everything had to bow to Death. The story was suffused with a light eerie quality (so those who dislike spooky stories need not fear this one) and I appreciated the ending, which doesn't tie things with a neat ribbon and yet still leaves one quite satisfied. Keturah and Lord Death is an incredibly fast read, and yet I am immensely grateful that this lovely tale crossed my path.
Keturah is sixteen years old when she wanders into the woods near her town, following the white hart that the lord of the manor has hunted for many years. It was only curiosity the drove her on, until she realized she was hopelessly lost. After three days without food, water, or sleep, Keturah waits for Lord Death to come to her. He offers her the chance to trade another's life for her own, but she refuses, even when he insists it will hardly matter, as plague will soon decimate her town. Knowing she must somehow save her people, Keturah tells Lord Death a story... a story of a love so pure that it conquers even death. She refuses to tell him the ending unless he lets her live for another day. He agrees and goes one step further -- if during the course of the following day she can discover her true love, a love like that in the story, then he will not claim her life.
The story feels as though it was conjured directly from Grimm's Fairy Tales, where everything has a slightly spooky and yet fascinating air. The added romance element tugs at your heart-strings, yet Leavitt still manages to make this a story about true love where there is still an element of choice. There's also the acknowledgment that one person's happy ending might leave some very broken hearts in its wake. Keturah is a strong heroine, struggling to learn her own desires and help decipher the wishes of those around her while she still has time to help them with their own futures and dreams. Her focus might be on saving the town from the potential plague, but she occasionally trips up in her desire to save herself... terribly human qualities that show she is not some infallible creature, but only one who means well and perhaps has a greater perception of what it means to have life.
The thing that keeps me from giving this book five stars is the fact that I wish Keturah had been able to do a little more on her own when it came to dealing with Lord Death, whether that was manifested in wit beyond her one trick of delaying a story's end, or determining a way to trick Death out of giving up one more thing through a bet or chance. Keturah relied heavily on asking Death for things to add in to their bargains and it would have been nice for there to be a bit more agency on her behalf. She managed to speak up and revitalize the town, but in the end, everything had to bow to Death. The story was suffused with a light eerie quality (so those who dislike spooky stories need not fear this one) and I appreciated the ending, which doesn't tie things with a neat ribbon and yet still leaves one quite satisfied. Keturah and Lord Death is an incredibly fast read, and yet I am immensely grateful that this lovely tale crossed my path.
sunsess's review
3.0
Great concept, but very little depth. I appreciate the sentiment the author was going for at the end but it felt forced. I would have loved to see it acknowledged more throughout the story.
I must say the prose was really good, though. Some nice lines. I might try another book of Martine Leavitt down the line.
3 cows
I must say the prose was really good, though. Some nice lines. I might try another book of Martine Leavitt down the line.
3 cows
bchallis's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
24marsha's review
5.0
What a love story and more. Certainly not your average teen romance or fairy tale. I think it is interesting to think of Death with a personality. And I just noticed that the author is from my hometown!
lievemealone's review
5.0
As far as fairytales go, I think this one is perfect.
I had tried to read this once before and I got bored, but after finishing it this time around I think it was a problem on my end. I was probably just trying to read too many books at once and couldn't focus. I'm really glad I gave it a second chance because the writing is absolutely gorgeous. It was honestly breathtaking and had the perfect tone for a fairytale.
I had tried to read this once before and I got bored, but after finishing it this time around I think it was a problem on my end. I was probably just trying to read too many books at once and couldn't focus. I'm really glad I gave it a second chance because the writing is absolutely gorgeous. It was honestly breathtaking and had the perfect tone for a fairytale.