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A review by abeatriz_reads
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I feel like I read a different version of this book than anyone else. Most of my favourite book reviewers, whom I love and trust, gave this book such high praises, so I can't help but wonder: am I in the alternate universe where this book is… bad?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not bothered by the dark topics, I AM NOT associated with morality patrol thinking the CSA victims think too much about sex, I understand that Marlinchen is a perfect example of an imperfect victim, I get why she's insecure, and timid, and passive.
But why does she have to be so goddamn boring?
Look, praise where praise is due, Ava Reid has a great way with words, her descriptions are excellent. Scrumptious even. I find the worldbuilding very compelling, it's not super detailed, but it definitely feels lived in and believable. The atmosphere is superb. But holy shit, the plot, the characters??
I would be more forgiving if anything Marlinchen did, anything at all, was motivated by something other than the romantic interest, who's the blandest, most generic male character I have ever seen. But no, every decision she males, every action she takes, it’s all about him. And the romance is just... there. They meet once and are instantly in love. The book tries to play with the ol’ “my sharp edges fit in your scars” kind of romance for broken people, but it doesn’t land. I have no idea why I should care about this romance. Sev makes this big point of saying Marlinchen isn't plain and ugly like everyone says she is, but he never says what about her is so beautiful. Her hair, her eyes, her personality? Fuck it, her boobs? I would take anything, anything that made see why did he find this girl special. But there’s nothing.
At some point, Marlinchen’s evilest sister says it’s not fair that the most boring of them gets a "happy ending" and honestly, I'm forced to agree with her.
I know this review is harsh and I don't want to make light of the heavy topics this book deals with. I understand that it shows how a shared traumatic experience won't necessarily bring people together and they might hurt one another out of desperation or go after the weakest one in order to carve some sort of bearable life and I think it's commendable that the book made me think all of that, but I still think it's frustrating that such an interesting scenario is presented to the reader via such a boring, bland character.
If you don’t care about spoilers, I will say that, though I liked who the murderer was,I didn't like how, again, it showed so much lack of conscient action on Marlinchen’s part. Horay, you’re the monster and Sev loves you just like that! Girl, you didn’t even know what the fuck you were doing. The murders are framed in this poetic, creepy way apparently just to throw us off Marlinchen, who’s too passive to ever think something so creative.
And, coming back on the bit about shared trauma, it is disappointing to realise how much of the plot hangs on a complete lack of positive female relationships. Even Marlinchen's mom, who she loved, was mean to her. Her sisters just ignored the bird mother. Marlinchen never forgives the nice sister (who is revealed to not be so nice) despite every harm she caused being because she was also a victim. The mean sister suffers the worst consequences and Marlinchen never cares about her at all. She's gleeful that the news article doesn't mention her! Girl, what the fuck.
Oh, and the last fucking drop. When finally, the moment for Marlinchen to acts arrive, the showdown when she makes a whole point saying how "I'm the one who needs to do this"... she doesn't! She has to be saved by her knight in shining armor. WHAT IS THAT????
What was the point of it all? Why am I reading about her instead of her sisters, why does she have no personality trait beyond being kind and boring, why is everyone telling me this book is so good????
I would be more forgiving if anything Marlinchen did, anything at all, was motivated by something other than the romantic interest, who's the blandest, most generic male character I have ever seen. But no, every decision she males, every action she takes, it’s all about him. And the romance is just... there. They meet once and are instantly in love. The book tries to play with the ol’ “my sharp edges fit in your scars” kind of romance for broken people, but it doesn’t land. I have no idea why I should care about this romance. Sev makes this big point of saying Marlinchen isn't plain and ugly like everyone says she is, but he never says what about her is so beautiful. Her hair, her eyes, her personality? Fuck it, her boobs? I would take anything, anything that made see why did he find this girl special. But there’s nothing.
At some point, Marlinchen’s evilest sister says it’s not fair that the most boring of them gets a "happy ending" and honestly, I'm forced to agree with her.
I know this review is harsh and I don't want to make light of the heavy topics this book deals with. I understand that it shows how a shared traumatic experience won't necessarily bring people together and they might hurt one another out of desperation or go after the weakest one in order to carve some sort of bearable life and I think it's commendable that the book made me think all of that, but I still think it's frustrating that such an interesting scenario is presented to the reader via such a boring, bland character.
If you don’t care about spoilers, I will say that, though I liked who the murderer was,
And, coming back on the bit about shared trauma, it is disappointing to realise how much of the plot hangs on a complete lack of positive female relationships. Even Marlinchen's mom, who she loved, was mean to her. Her sisters just ignored the bird mother. Marlinchen never forgives the nice sister (who is revealed to not be so nice) despite every harm she caused being because she was also a victim. The mean sister suffers the worst consequences and Marlinchen never cares about her at all. She's gleeful that the news article doesn't mention her! Girl, what the fuck.
Oh, and the last fucking drop. When finally, the moment for Marlinchen to acts arrive, the showdown when she makes a whole point saying how "I'm the one who needs to do this"... she doesn't! She has to be saved by her knight in shining armor. WHAT IS THAT????
What was the point of it all? Why am I reading about her instead of her sisters, why does she have no personality trait beyond being kind and boring, why is everyone telling me this book is so good????