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A review by mcdermottcecelia
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Not Good for Maidens is truly a book that lives up to its epic description and gorgeous cover. This book follows the Wickett witches May and her niece Lou in this retelling of the Goblin Market. May fell for a goblin in the market and subsequently ties her family to the market as the memory of their name holds great power. When Neela is kidnapped by goblins, May and Lou must return to the temptations of the market to save their family member without losing themselves in the process.
This book was absolutely stunning. I'm unfamiliar with the original Goblin Market story, but I was so entranced by this novel. The plot was rich, the worldbuilding was immersive, and the characters were well-developed and exceptional. Following both May and Lou was artistically designed and easy to follow, and I loved following their stories as they intertwined in a wonderful way. Even the side characters and enemies were great to read about. I definitely connected more with May's storyline, but it was easy and enjoyable to follow both May and Lou throughout the book, and I wouldn't change it if I could. Additionally, the inclusion of both sapphic and ace stories helped make this book stand out. Even the gore-y reality of the market and the many horrors it entails were described well without being too repulsive that it'd pull the reader from the story. The conflicts were reasonable, the plot was well-paced, and even the narration of the audiobook was exceptional. Tori Bovalino really blew it out of the water with this one. I would give this 4.5 stars. I'm very picky about which books I give 5 stars in this genre, but this one really came close. The beginning may have been a tad bit slower than the latter half, but I know this book is still close to a perfect read for me.
I received a digital ARC copy of this audiobook through NetGalley and RB media in exchange for an honest review.
This book was absolutely stunning. I'm unfamiliar with the original Goblin Market story, but I was so entranced by this novel. The plot was rich, the worldbuilding was immersive, and the characters were well-developed and exceptional. Following both May and Lou was artistically designed and easy to follow, and I loved following their stories as they intertwined in a wonderful way. Even the side characters and enemies were great to read about. I definitely connected more with May's storyline, but it was easy and enjoyable to follow both May and Lou throughout the book, and I wouldn't change it if I could. Additionally, the inclusion of both sapphic and ace stories helped make this book stand out. Even the gore-y reality of the market and the many horrors it entails were described well without being too repulsive that it'd pull the reader from the story. The conflicts were reasonable, the plot was well-paced, and even the narration of the audiobook was exceptional. Tori Bovalino really blew it out of the water with this one. I would give this 4.5 stars. I'm very picky about which books I give 5 stars in this genre, but this one really came close. The beginning may have been a tad bit slower than the latter half, but I know this book is still close to a perfect read for me.
I received a digital ARC copy of this audiobook through NetGalley and RB media in exchange for an honest review.