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vaguewhisperings's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Found it okay. Characters weren't particularly notable, though I enjoyed the conflict. Thought it would be more fantastical than it was, and got stuck about 100 pages in. Still finished it, but a bit boring for me personally. Interesting depiction of the Fae.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Domestic abuse
thalymor's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
feyofbones's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
his book was pretty good all in all! Fairly slow start but about half way through I really started to enjoy my time with this book. I love the themes of magical realism and old familial tradition mixed with the expansion of the world around them.
Spoiler:
Also, damn, I would have been so weak for the huntress with the horns. That first deal would have been it for me 😂
Spoiler:
Also, damn, I would have been so weak for the huntress with the horns. That first deal would have been it for me 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Classism, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Animal death
Minor: Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Death of parent
aysha_blake's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Classism, Kidnapping, and Sexism
safiewafie's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
slow-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
I wasn't expecting to like this book nearly as much as I did, but I fell into the story the further I read.
The novel starts off rather slow, but I really enjoyed this early pacing. I felt I had time to get to know the characters; to understand their place in the world and their relationships to one another. I especially enjoyed the strong focus on the bond between Delphine and Alaine.
The sister's relationships with their loved ones was what really solidified this book for me. While the turn towards the fantastical realm of the fae felt abrupt, Delphine's drive to bring her family together created strong thematic throughline. I found this version of the fae realm to be especially interesting. The visual descriptions of the environment, as well as the unique magic that the fae utilize created strong imagery, which I imagine will stick with me for some time.
This wasn't quite a five star book for me, mainly due to the fact that in the earlier portions of the book, I often found I was more interested in one sister's POV over the other (in my case, I was more interested in Delphine). This made getting through some portions of the slow beginning a bit of a challenge.
While I think the exploration of feminism well crafted in this novel, I felt it lacked intersectionality. This is something I really look for in books, especially historical fiction, so the lack of POC really stood out to me. This didn't take away from the narrative itself, but did impact my personal enjoyment.
Overall, very strong! A great read.
(I think I might be a bit biased about the abrupt cut from real world to fantastical fae, because there was a two week gap between the first half and second half of the book for me due to finals season...)
The sister's relationships with their loved ones was what really solidified this book for me. While the turn towards the fantastical realm of the fae felt abrupt, Delphine's drive to bring her family together created strong thematic throughline. I found this version of the fae realm to be especially interesting. The visual descriptions of the environment, as well as the unique magic that the fae utilize created strong imagery, which I imagine will stick with me for some time.
This wasn't quite a five star book for me, mainly due to the fact that in the earlier portions of the book, I often found I was more interested in one sister's POV over the other (in my case, I was more interested in Delphine). This made getting through some portions of the slow beginning a bit of a challenge.
While I think the exploration of feminism well crafted in this novel, I felt it lacked intersectionality. This is something I really look for in books, especially historical fiction, so the lack of POC really stood out to me. This didn't take away from the narrative itself, but did impact my personal enjoyment.
Overall, very strong! A great read.
(I think I might be a bit biased about the abrupt cut from real world to fantastical fae, because there was a two week gap between the first half and second half of the book for me due to finals season...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Kidnapping
just_jess02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This wasn’t the read I was expecting. But it was still enjoyable. I’m glad this was a library rental and not a purchase though!
I loved the combination of academic excerpts and first hand experience of fairy lore. In general I enjoyed the world that was created. It was fanciful yet real, a perfect amount of detail in the descriptions, and had a lot of heart.
I was disappointed by the blandness of the end of the story. There was a great, slow build that felt like historical fiction with just a sprinkle of magic for at least the first half. But the end was just… there. I wanted suspense. I wanted to be absorbed in thefight to get the daughter back from the fae realm .
Overall, a great shell to the story but the plot just didn’t quite suffice.
I loved the combination of academic excerpts and first hand experience of fairy lore. In general I enjoyed the world that was created. It was fanciful yet real, a perfect amount of detail in the descriptions, and had a lot of heart.
I was disappointed by the blandness of the end of the story. There was a great, slow build that felt like historical fiction with just a sprinkle of magic for at least the first half. But the end was just… there. I wanted suspense. I wanted to be absorbed in the
Overall, a great shell to the story but the plot just didn’t quite suffice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
chelly_reads's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a good book and I think it would make a great film!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Animal death
uncreativeoops's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Forced institutionalization
brontesauruses's review
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for giving me an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Didn't finish, so no rating.
About a month ago, I set it down after doing some skimming, and it's time for me to accept that I just don't want to read this anymore, at least not right now. It had been moving pretty slowly, which I don't mind if I'm enjoying it otherwise, or if there's a decent payoff for it, but there wasn't; to be confronted with Alaine making an ill-advised bargain with the fae that will DEFINITELY scar her daughter for life after putting up with pages and pages of Delphine's shitty husband...I just don't think I have it in me to keep plugging along.
Maybe I'll go back to it eventually, who knows. There's good material here, but I'm just not feeling it.
Didn't finish, so no rating.
About a month ago, I set it down after doing some skimming, and it's time for me to accept that I just don't want to read this anymore, at least not right now. It had been moving pretty slowly, which I don't mind if I'm enjoying it otherwise, or if there's a decent payoff for it, but there wasn't; to be confronted with Alaine making an ill-advised bargain with the fae that will DEFINITELY scar her daughter for life after putting up with pages and pages of Delphine's shitty husband...I just don't think I have it in me to keep plugging along.
Maybe I'll go back to it eventually, who knows. There's good material here, but I'm just not feeling it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny
tetedump's review
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Antisemitism, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
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