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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A provocative tale about an accused witch's last few hours alive before her hanging. The writing style felt very poetic and descriptive, which I enjoyed. The unexplained witchy elements leaned towards magical realism and, sadly, confused me severely. I also did not particularly like some of the conversations between the two main characters since they both seemed to lean towards radical feminism and they could not stop talking or thinking about that topic. There is also a questionable action taken by one of the protagonists on pages 93-94:
"I can't control it any more, I place a hex on every witness who takes glee in this - may a plague arrive one day to cast down every last one, may it pursue their children and their children's children. If your grandmother took pleasure in this, may you pay for her sins."
I don't know if it makes a whole of sense to curse innocent people just because their ancestors partook in something bad. Shouldn't the main characters be better role models in a case like this, where witch trials were ultimately just as hateful and ignorant as this quote? Parts like these hindered my emotional investment in the characters and the plot, and therefore my overall enjoyment of the novella.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
Sublime writing, as always, from Jenni Fagan. Read it in one sitting, heart thumping and spirit roaring.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’d give this a 3.5 I think. I was a little confused sometimes tbh. But reading this after the US election has inspired me to start asking men “me or bear?” If they encountered me in the woods I’d make them wish I was a bear.