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adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While I can appreciate the fact that Cecily is incredibly well written - a gripping retelling of British history led by the voice of an unbreakable woman - I found it exhausting to read. This is not the fault of the book itself, I can't fault the pacing, the detail, the strength of characters. But for me, the content was difficult to be immersed in. Garthwaite holds nothing back in her recount of the web-like dance of politics and stately drama. Almost every page is a fight for the next inch of leverage, or the reckoning of betrayal. It was simply not the story for me, which is not to say it isn't a brilliant book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death