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betharanova's review against another edition
4.0
Younger than I expected for this sort of thing, but still good! A quick, satisfying read, just what it says on the tin. Fairy tale bargains, romance, Death is hot. Death's hotness is in fact keeping the rating up beyond my two complaints, which were: we spent way too much time on the wrong man and also pies, and Keturah could be a painful POV character at times. Still worth it for that prose and mmmm tension.
starfire_rhexia's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
destobie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
xaqrii's review against another edition
4.0
MARTINE LEAVITT/FANTASY REQUIREMENT
Keturah and Lord Death is about young Keturah who becomes lost in the woods and encounters Lord Death. Using her story-telling skills, she escapes dying for one day unless she can find her true love. As she searches for love, and tries to protect her village from the plague, Keturah continually talks Death out of taking her. The reader, and Keturah, soon realize that Death loves Keturah, and that she has seen him all her life. After turning down a proposal from the village's young lord, Keturah goes to Death willingly, becaues she realizes that she loves him and always has. The book is predictable but the writing is simple and beautiful. The moral of loving death for what it is proves to be a really intersting and valuable lesson for readers. This would be a great book for more observant readers. To really get the message of the book, the reader really has to look closely. The closer the reader is willing to read, the more the book opens up and the reader realizes how beautiful and profound the thext actually is.
Keturah and Lord Death is about young Keturah who becomes lost in the woods and encounters Lord Death. Using her story-telling skills, she escapes dying for one day unless she can find her true love. As she searches for love, and tries to protect her village from the plague, Keturah continually talks Death out of taking her. The reader, and Keturah, soon realize that Death loves Keturah, and that she has seen him all her life. After turning down a proposal from the village's young lord, Keturah goes to Death willingly, becaues she realizes that she loves him and always has. The book is predictable but the writing is simple and beautiful. The moral of loving death for what it is proves to be a really intersting and valuable lesson for readers. This would be a great book for more observant readers. To really get the message of the book, the reader really has to look closely. The closer the reader is willing to read, the more the book opens up and the reader realizes how beautiful and profound the thext actually is.
seshoptaw's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book! Keturah and Lord Death is such a wonderful story. It's different, intriguing, and romantic. The author did an amazing job with her writing style, which is simple but incredibly eloquent. This book deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
(There are unhidden spoilers, so don't read if you don't want the story spoiled)
While out in the garden one day, Keturah sees a hart (ie deer) and fascinated by the creature, she follows him into the woods. However, when she loses him and looks around, she is lost. Although she tries to find her way back to her cottage, she cannot and for 3 days she wonders the woods. On the last day, weak from her journey as well as a lack of food and water, Keturah sits down to rest and waits for Death to take her. When Lord Death arrives, Keturah, who was known for her story-telling abilities, tells Death a story. But she denies him the ending, saying that she will tell it tomorrow if he gives her one more day. Lord Death is intrigued and agrees.
Each night, Keturah is to meet Lord Death and to go with him. Lord Death is bewitched by her and he tells her he will make her his bride. But Keturah foils his plans. Instead of ending her first story, she begins another one about Lord Death himself. Keturah has courage and wit and much to his surprise, Lord Death has fallen in love with her. Their history is long and Death has walked with Keturah always. She was born into death and has come face to face with him many times. Unlike most, she has always been able to see him.
Keturah uses the knowledge that Lord Death loves her and begs Lord Death for the lives of Goody Thompson and her baby first, then her grandmother, and finally that Death would save her village from the plague. Although Death does not want to grant her these gifts for death comes for everyone eventually, Death cannot refuse her, and so her people live. When the fair and the King arrive, everything is perfect. Her people are glowing and healthy, roads have been built, everyone wears new cloths, and her friends are with the men they love. Keturah is happy for them but she comes to the dawning realization that her friends' lives are moving on and passing her by. Keturah comes to understand that the thing she's been trying to avoid is the very thing she needs. She finally comprehends that the sun could not be so bright without the night and that happiness would not be quite so sweet without knowing sorrow. So, at the end of the day, she ventures back into the wood in search of the one thing she no longer wants to avoid. She searches for Lord Death and Death finds her. When she tells him she is ready for him to take her and make her his bride, Death cannot bear it and tells her he will return her to her family and friends. But Keturah does not want to return. She's in love with him too. So Lord Death takes her up on his stead and so ends life as Keturah knows it.
This story is beautiful. It is fascinating and the author wove the story in such a way that drew me completely into her world. I have no real complaints. I do wish that the author hadn't ended where she did, because I would love to know what happened after Keturah and Lord Death rode away, but even though I hate that it didn't tell me more, the ending was beautiful in and of itself. I would definitely recommend this to all of my friends.
(There are unhidden spoilers, so don't read if you don't want the story spoiled)
While out in the garden one day, Keturah sees a hart (ie deer) and fascinated by the creature, she follows him into the woods. However, when she loses him and looks around, she is lost. Although she tries to find her way back to her cottage, she cannot and for 3 days she wonders the woods. On the last day, weak from her journey as well as a lack of food and water, Keturah sits down to rest and waits for Death to take her. When Lord Death arrives, Keturah, who was known for her story-telling abilities, tells Death a story. But she denies him the ending, saying that she will tell it tomorrow if he gives her one more day. Lord Death is intrigued and agrees.
Each night, Keturah is to meet Lord Death and to go with him. Lord Death is bewitched by her and he tells her he will make her his bride. But Keturah foils his plans. Instead of ending her first story, she begins another one about Lord Death himself. Keturah has courage and wit and much to his surprise, Lord Death has fallen in love with her. Their history is long and Death has walked with Keturah always. She was born into death and has come face to face with him many times. Unlike most, she has always been able to see him.
Keturah uses the knowledge that Lord Death loves her and begs Lord Death for the lives of Goody Thompson and her baby first, then her grandmother, and finally that Death would save her village from the plague. Although Death does not want to grant her these gifts for death comes for everyone eventually, Death cannot refuse her, and so her people live. When the fair and the King arrive, everything is perfect. Her people are glowing and healthy, roads have been built, everyone wears new cloths, and her friends are with the men they love. Keturah is happy for them but she comes to the dawning realization that her friends' lives are moving on and passing her by. Keturah comes to understand that the thing she's been trying to avoid is the very thing she needs. She finally comprehends that the sun could not be so bright without the night and that happiness would not be quite so sweet without knowing sorrow. So, at the end of the day, she ventures back into the wood in search of the one thing she no longer wants to avoid. She searches for Lord Death and Death finds her. When she tells him she is ready for him to take her and make her his bride, Death cannot bear it and tells her he will return her to her family and friends. But Keturah does not want to return. She's in love with him too. So Lord Death takes her up on his stead and so ends life as Keturah knows it.
This story is beautiful. It is fascinating and the author wove the story in such a way that drew me completely into her world. I have no real complaints. I do wish that the author hadn't ended where she did, because I would love to know what happened after Keturah and Lord Death rode away, but even though I hate that it didn't tell me more, the ending was beautiful in and of itself. I would definitely recommend this to all of my friends.
embereye's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really gorgeous fairytale story, written with that sort of whimsical fairytale style to it. I definitely enjoyed it quite a lot and there was a lot of beauty to it while it was also quite sad and hopeful all mixed up at once.
callunavulgari's review against another edition
4.0
The only reason this didn’t get five stars is because I’ve seen this delightful trope done better elsewhere.
ljoy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
steph01924's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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.