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A review by alsavini
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a gothic horror fantasy retelling that takes place in a fantasy world inspired by Russian culture. Marlinchen (main character) lives in a house with her two sisters whose only personality traits are mean and beautiful. The dad is supposed to be the most powerful wizard in the land but the only time we see his power truly displayed is when he turns the fence into snakes? Weak. Before Marlinchen's age was disclosed I thought she was a 12 year old child by the way she talked and acted but she was actually 23 which made the story and all the sexual scenes that happened uncomfortable and weird. I understand she was sheltered but come on. The romance with Sevas was rushed, shallow, and juvenile. I didnt find myself caring about any of the characters.
The one things I did like about this book is the authors descriptions. "Overhead the moon was as pale as a woman's face on a cameo pin, its reflection so bright and solid it seemed a dredge boat could scoop it right up out of the water. The black shoreline bunched and flattened, like the sash of a dress..and as far as I could squint my eyes to see, the electric lamps burned like live embers." However, the story was all over the place. Magic system was not explained well. This author definitely needs a better editor because the writing was good but the content wasnt so it canceled each other out. I almost didnt finish it but did just because I thought surely the ending would bring it all home yet was fully disappointed. Also, there was a lot of talk about food and the making of it?
I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. Someone else wrote in a a review “I finished reading this not really knowing what was important, what I was supposed to care about, what the point of it all was.” And that sums it up.
The one things I did like about this book is the authors descriptions. "Overhead the moon was as pale as a woman's face on a cameo pin, its reflection so bright and solid it seemed a dredge boat could scoop it right up out of the water. The black shoreline bunched and flattened, like the sash of a dress..and as far as I could squint my eyes to see, the electric lamps burned like live embers." However, the story was all over the place. Magic system was not explained well. This author definitely needs a better editor because the writing was good but the content wasnt so it canceled each other out. I almost didnt finish it but did just because I thought surely the ending would bring it all home yet was fully disappointed. Also, there was a lot of talk about food and the making of it?
I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. Someone else wrote in a a review “I finished reading this not really knowing what was important, what I was supposed to care about, what the point of it all was.” And that sums it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Death of parent, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Cannibalism, and Gore