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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don’t usually read historical fiction but this was recommended to me so i gave it a shot. I’m so glad i did. The world and character building are fantastic and i loved the way the stories wove together. I also liked that it was based on real people.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
A skillfully woven, engrossing, and satisfying tale inspired by a real historical figure. It deals convincingly with the heavy topic of sexual and patriarchal violence and the important role women have always played in society despite being largely erased from the historical record.
Although the book takes a firmly feminist point of view, it’s very much limited and defined by the boundaries of white cis feminism. Native people, people of color, and magical forest animals alike play roles as setting, backdrop, plot device, and worst of all, validation for the moral character and skill of white women who are at the center of the narrative; they never get a chance to speak for themselves or have their own stories. The main character describes midwifery as “women’s work,” and that men don’t belong at births, in a way that decidedly smells of gender essentialism; the author seems perfectly satisfied with this, and makes no effort to explore a broader view of birth work that includes people of varying genders in both caring and cared-for roles.
I also felt the portrayal of the past was not totally honest about the pervasiveness of patriarchy and other cultural values, and here is where it kind of failed as a historical fiction for me. The writer very much inserts values and norms of the modern day US into the period of the book. This includes everything from women being openly sassy to men without repercussions, to men and women having egalitarian relationships, to the way the dialogue and inner life of the character was rendered.
Although the book takes a firmly feminist point of view, it’s very much limited and defined by the boundaries of white cis feminism. Native people, people of color, and magical forest animals alike play roles as setting, backdrop, plot device, and worst of all, validation for the moral character and skill of white women who are at the center of the narrative; they never get a chance to speak for themselves or have their own stories. The main character describes midwifery as “women’s work,” and that men don’t belong at births, in a way that decidedly smells of gender essentialism; the author seems perfectly satisfied with this, and makes no effort to explore a broader view of birth work that includes people of varying genders in both caring and cared-for roles.
I also felt the portrayal of the past was not totally honest about the pervasiveness of patriarchy and other cultural values, and here is where it kind of failed as a historical fiction for me. The writer very much inserts values and norms of the modern day US into the period of the book. This includes everything from women being openly sassy to men without repercussions, to men and women having egalitarian relationships, to the way the dialogue and inner life of the character was rendered.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Would make a great TV limited series
Probably one of my favorite books so far this year. This historical fiction is riveting and well written. It has a little bit for everyone. Suspense, mystery, love, etc. Highly recommend.
informative
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fascinating read based on a true story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fantastic historical fiction.
I was completely absorbed into this story and time.
I was completely absorbed into this story and time.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation