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keeganrb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Terminal illness, and Incest
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Child abuse
Minor: Self harm and Mental illness
crabbyabbe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars instead of 4. I loved it; the character of Margaret is a lot like me--insofar as being an introvert goes. To work in an antiquarian bookshop and read books all day would be THE DREAM JOB of all time. Having the story lead into a dark mystery with tragic pasts only made the novel more enjoyable and took my mind off the daily problems of life here in the Covid pandemic. The book left me wanting to know more and not wanting to leave the characters--even the ones who sorrowfully died. A thought-provoking page-turner. The only reason I knocked off half of a star was because the ending was too quick and too perky for the tone that encompassed the rest of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Incest, and Child abuse
jessierose617's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Rape, and Self harm
artemishi's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love an unreliable narrator and a twisty mystery, and this had plenty of both. It's not a quick read, though it's well-paced and with good character development, but it was engaging throughout most of the story.
I was more caught up in Vida's story than Margaret's, though I think that was by author design- there's far more meat (including disturbing familial events) in Vida's history which make the large gap between her young childhood and her now elderly circumstances that much more intriguing. Margaret, on the other hand, is mostly soggy toast who doesn't eat or feel or seem very aware of herself. She's caught in some grief loop about what she's lost, but it was a bit tiresome given it's her only character quality. The dynamic between the two- one pretty much lifeless, the other quite sassy and mysterious, works well to keep the story from feeling melodramatic.
The relationship between Margaret and her father was particularly touching, an the whole thing left a solid impression in my mind even days after finishing it (and I'm tempted to re-read it someday).
I definitely recommend it for fans of mysteries, history, and nuanced storytelling. Be aware, the story contains references to self-harm, incest, suicide, sexual assault, child neglect, child abandonment, and Alzheimer's.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, and Incest
paulasnotsosecretdiary's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The 13th Tale is a gothic novel about family secrets and legacies. The story touches upon the connection between twins, which has a little overall impact on the plot. The narrator, Margaret, is grieving over the loss of her twin and her mother. She works in her father's bookstore and writes biographies of notable scientists and others. Hired to write the biography of beloved author Vida Winters, Margaret untangles Vida's complicated family history, a history Vida has told in half-truths and outright lies in interviews. The truth is more terrible than Vida has let anyone believe, filled with incest, rape, child abuse, hunger, and physical and emotional neglect. Despite the split timeline of the story structure and parallels between Margaret and Vida's lives, by the end of the novel, we know little more about Margaret than we did at the beginning, but everything about Vida. The ending feels over-edited as though the author was strongly advised to conclude the book on a positive note with everything neatly tied up. However, the author's writing and pacing are on point, and a love of writing, words and books is a highlight of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
laurenleigh's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Is there a more satisfying feeling than finally crossing a book off your TBR? Especially when it’s been there for years?! This deeply atmospheric novel did not disappoint. I only wish I had read it in the winter though. Its slow pace, its setting in the moors, and its numerous mentions of cocoa made me wish I was curled up in wool socks by the fire while reading this somewhat spooky tale. It wasn’t quite in sync with my summer vibes at the moment. If you’re a fan of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or just a true lover of fiction in general, I recommend this one. It’s not just an homage to those classic works of literature, it celebrates that we all have our own stories to tell. Our birth and our life are a tale we’re constantly editing and inevitably mythologizing. We don’t even know ourselves what is “truth” and what is fiction at some moments, but there’s a magic nonetheless in finding special people to whom you can trust your story. The audiobook was lovely, and both narrators had terrific English accents. The ending was completely satisfying, which can ring false for me sometimes, but felt perfectly in keeping with this book’s trajectory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Terminal illness, and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
mariebrunelm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.25
When I decided to gift this book to a friend, I thought I might as well re-read it before parting with it. Dear me, I had forgotten how dark it was! But it's also a very elegant book, for reasons I can't quite point to.
The story is that of Margaret, a antique book seller who dabbles in biography writing for unknown people of the 19th century. One day she receives a very special invitation in the post: Vida Winter, the most famous writer of her generation, asks her to write her biography after years of misleading journalists about her past. There ensues a story about the stories we tell ourselves, those that shape us and those that we hide. It's an extremely dark character study of two women shaped by trauma and grief for things they can't always identify. But it's also a fabulous hommage to the power of literature.
Rep: lesbian MC.
The story is that of Margaret, a antique book seller who dabbles in biography writing for unknown people of the 19th century. One day she receives a very special invitation in the post: Vida Winter, the most famous writer of her generation, asks her to write her biography after years of misleading journalists about her past. There ensues a story about the stories we tell ourselves, those that shape us and those that we hide. It's an extremely dark character study of two women shaped by trauma and grief for things they can't always identify. But it's also a fabulous hommage to the power of literature.
Rep: lesbian MC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
paolina's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Prose a little too purple for me, plot a little too plodding, and drama a bit too messy for me to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Drug use, and Dementia
booksteaandchocolate's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh man this book is a wild freaking ride.
I went into this book knowing very little and to be honest I think that is the best way for someone to read this book. To say the least most people say its a mystery of why an author picks this woman to be her biographer, but I would greatly disagree with that. This book is more of a story about siblings and their relationships. Its hard to explain it without giving anything away so I will leave it be.
After reading it you are left with this compulsion to read it again so you can read it with the knowledge of what's actually happening and see it with new eyes. I kept having to jump back and forth because I kept trying to connect scenes.
The book is soooo atmospheric and has a very gothic feeling to the writing. I really love how immersive it feels.
I was so freaking emotional at the end of the book that it was a bit ridiculous. Even with how dark and twisted the whole story is you feel so much compassion for the characters and hearing their stories can be a little overwhelming. I truly loved the entire experience though. I highly recommend this to any gothic readers or mystery lovers. Such a good book.
I went into this book knowing very little and to be honest I think that is the best way for someone to read this book. To say the least most people say its a mystery of why an author picks this woman to be her biographer, but I would greatly disagree with that. This book is more of a story about siblings and their relationships. Its hard to explain it without giving anything away so I will leave it be.
After reading it you are left with this compulsion to read it again so you can read it with the knowledge of what's actually happening and see it with new eyes. I kept having to jump back and forth because I kept trying to connect scenes.
The book is soooo atmospheric and has a very gothic feeling to the writing. I really love how immersive it feels.
I was so freaking emotional at the end of the book that it was a bit ridiculous. Even with how dark and twisted the whole story is you feel so much compassion for the characters and hearing their stories can be a little overwhelming. I truly loved the entire experience though. I highly recommend this to any gothic readers or mystery lovers. Such a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Self harm, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Rape
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