emilyhallmoon 's review for:

The Blue Maiden by Anna Nóyes

2.0

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The description of this novel alludes to witchy vibes and buried family secrets, all in the shadow of a mysterious neighboring island. While we open with a sufficiently dark and disturbing witch hunt on Berggrund Island, the ensuing story of two sisters, Bea and Ulrika, growing up generations later, is frankly boring. Was their mother, an outsider and long dead, a witch? Are Bea's visions a result of a supernatural connection to the past? Does the red book really contain spells, or just home remedies? Nothing is particularly clear, the sisters are not terribly compelling characters, and there's unfortunately a lot of telling without much showing. Alyssa Bresnahan's narration is perfectly fine, but it can't make up for an otherwise lackluster story that never delivered on its compelling promise. 

Thanks Net Galley and RB Media for an advance copy of this book.