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lizbeth_wolff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
myriadreads's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely and haunting read, lyrically written, scenic, and alive with magic.
Brigid is named for a saint, but her powers are otherworldly. In search of a miracle, she moves to a remote Irish island where her ancestors made their home, a place once inhabited only by women and still filled with their relics. Once established in her family's abandoned home, she strikes up a relationship that could do her more harm than good.
I loved the focus on women and women's relationships, and the nature magic that spun through the whole story. I'll definitely be reading more of Carey's work.
Brigid is named for a saint, but her powers are otherworldly. In search of a miracle, she moves to a remote Irish island where her ancestors made their home, a place once inhabited only by women and still filled with their relics. Once established in her family's abandoned home, she strikes up a relationship that could do her more harm than good.
I loved the focus on women and women's relationships, and the nature magic that spun through the whole story. I'll definitely be reading more of Carey's work.
sony08's review against another edition
5.0
https://noemptyshelveshere.blogspot.co.uk/
There a handful of books that leave scars on your soul and re surface once in a while so you never forget them. This is most definitely one of them.
Let’s start with the cover on this one. Amazing – I fell in love with the cover and didn’t really care about the blurb. But after reading that as well I was sold on this book. It was intriguing and didn’t really give that much away.
And oh my, I was in for a treat.
I can only describe this novel as beautiful. Set on a Irish island of St Brigid’s, the story follow one of the island women called Emer, twin to the more beautiful and popular Rose, and a newcomer Brigid, whose arrival will change the island in ways people could not imagine.
I don’t like to give the story away, so I would just say that I loved how the relationship between Emer and Brigid developed. Emer was so quietly desperate for her own friend and Brigid so desperate for the one thing she always wanted and never got. Their loneliness and despair brings them together and rip apart everything they believed in.
The island life was so stunningly portrayed I could just imagine the scenery when the women were walking the hills or having a picnic. The idea of fairies and changelings, superstition and healing magic is so well incorporated into the whole story and makes it that much more special.
Thank you to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for this honest review.
There a handful of books that leave scars on your soul and re surface once in a while so you never forget them. This is most definitely one of them.
Let’s start with the cover on this one. Amazing – I fell in love with the cover and didn’t really care about the blurb. But after reading that as well I was sold on this book. It was intriguing and didn’t really give that much away.
And oh my, I was in for a treat.
I can only describe this novel as beautiful. Set on a Irish island of St Brigid’s, the story follow one of the island women called Emer, twin to the more beautiful and popular Rose, and a newcomer Brigid, whose arrival will change the island in ways people could not imagine.
I don’t like to give the story away, so I would just say that I loved how the relationship between Emer and Brigid developed. Emer was so quietly desperate for her own friend and Brigid so desperate for the one thing she always wanted and never got. Their loneliness and despair brings them together and rip apart everything they believed in.
The island life was so stunningly portrayed I could just imagine the scenery when the women were walking the hills or having a picnic. The idea of fairies and changelings, superstition and healing magic is so well incorporated into the whole story and makes it that much more special.
Thank you to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for this honest review.
enchantedbookends's review against another edition
4.0
A well written book. I absolutely loved the author's writing style; it drew me into the setting. I was surprised by the magical realism aspect in the story. It is a story of women seeped in jealousy, love, superstition, and bound by blood.
emilyjoy828's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. This one caught my eye because the cover reminded me so much of Ireland (because it is. Neato.) While I enjoyed the premise of the book and the author’s obvious talent for writing, a few things kept this from being an entirely awesome reading experience:
1. Everything was sexual. Everythingggg. Sometimes it feels like authors think they must reference sex as much as possible in order to be truly literary. Call me a prude, but I’d have liked this book a lot better without the weird sexual healings, rape, pedophilia, abusive sexual relationships, etc. The thing that really got me was Brigid’s marrying a 30 year old when she was like 14, and the author presenting it like a consensual and innocent relationship. I say, put that guy in prison! Lock him up! Lock him up! (All together now!) Lock him up...
2. The use of the present tense was clunky and just didn’t seem natural. Present tense works in first-person, action-packed books, like the Hunger Games, but much less so in third-person, meandering, slow-moving books like this one right here.
3. The ending. So weird. I mean, the whole book is weird, but that was another level. Here’s hoping they gave that kid a bath!
4. While I really liked reading about Emer, Brigid was somewhat insufferable, thinking all about herself and assuming everyone on planet earth wants to have sex with her, and basking in her own power and letting other people suffer the consequences. A real piece of work, if you ask me. Also, her relationship with Emer almost felt predatory, but maybe that’s just me??
I did enjoy the suspense near the end of the book, and the premise is really creative. But overall, it was a mixed bag of Bertie Bott’s Beans for me, with just enough peach flavors to help me swallow the barf ones.
1. Everything was sexual. Everythingggg. Sometimes it feels like authors think they must reference sex as much as possible in order to be truly literary. Call me a prude, but I’d have liked this book a lot better without the weird sexual healings, rape, pedophilia, abusive sexual relationships, etc. The thing that really got me was Brigid’s marrying a 30 year old when she was like 14, and the author presenting it like a consensual and innocent relationship. I say, put that guy in prison! Lock him up! Lock him up! (All together now!) Lock him up...
2. The use of the present tense was clunky and just didn’t seem natural. Present tense works in first-person, action-packed books, like the Hunger Games, but much less so in third-person, meandering, slow-moving books like this one right here.
3. The ending. So weird. I mean, the whole book is weird, but that was another level. Here’s hoping they gave that kid a bath!
4. While I really liked reading about Emer, Brigid was somewhat insufferable, thinking all about herself and assuming everyone on planet earth wants to have sex with her, and basking in her own power and letting other people suffer the consequences. A real piece of work, if you ask me. Also, her relationship with Emer almost felt predatory, but maybe that’s just me??
I did enjoy the suspense near the end of the book, and the premise is really creative. But overall, it was a mixed bag of Bertie Bott’s Beans for me, with just enough peach flavors to help me swallow the barf ones.
pianorunner421's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like there were elements of 2 or 3 really good stories here, but too much was smashed together. What is the point? Fairy stories? Women living together? Unhappy marriages? Mystery? Who can say?
noodlecaboodle63's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
erinmc21's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mikaylaslibrary's review against another edition
4.25
This was an amazing book, and I'm really glad I picked it up at the second hand bookstore.
There are probably a few trigger warnings that I would've liked to know first, but it was still a great read.
There are probably a few trigger warnings that I would've liked to know first, but it was still a great read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage and Self harm