Reviews

Vardø: La isla de las mujeres by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

bea_bt's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

maddie_lewis28's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

OMG THAT ENDING. WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK. This book was so good and pulled out all the emotions, I loved it. My one critique is that I wish that some things had more explanation for what they are or like a “dictionary” at the front or back (this is mostly because I’m lazy and don’t like having to look stuff up on my phone when I’m going on my electronics to stay off my phone), but that’s just a personal preference. I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I would definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Death

renee_like_hurray's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.0

twofistededitor's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

jojobear's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

shhhleebag's review against another edition

4.0

“She had thought she had seen the worst from this harbour, thought nothing could rival the viciousness of the storm. But now she knows she was foolish to believe that evil existed only out there. It was here, among them, walking on two legs, passing judgement with a human tongue.” 

If you are looking for a happy ending, this is not the book for you. This fictional retelling of the very real 1617 storm and witch trials in Vardo is both disturbing and heartbreaking. 

I did not love the writing style at first, but it grew on me pretty quickly. The last 20% or so felt a bit rushed and I would’ve liked it to be drawn out a little more. 

Overall, an interesting (albeit depressing) read!

leilamaarit's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

franci26's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

nataliaalbin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

katybradley888's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

4.25

After The Deathless Girls I knew I wanted more of Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and I was not disappointed by this one. 

The prose was achingly beautiful. She so delicately wove together the subtle, everyday oppression of women by men (still pervasive today) with the more overt patriarchal norms of the time, with the freedom the women felt in being in what was basically a man-free society, however brief it was... and then there was the male violence, simultaneously brutal and casual, contrasted with the innocent, loving friendship

that started budding into something more, so pure and raw.

 

There were so many contrasts, so many contradictions, so much nuance to every single thing. This created such a complex tapestry, with depth and feeling. What a study in human behavior and interaction. And the sea. It was a character. I could go on and on about this book. I loved it so much. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking. 

HEA?

No, definitely not.