A review by wanderingmeek
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid
4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐

My eldest sister was right; I would smile blithely if someone tried to saw off my leg. But no one had ever told me that I was allowed to scream.

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Brilliant. Gruesome. Wild.

This story had me captivated from early on, because it was told in a beautifully mystical way. It had many gruesome twists and turns. Although, the imagery provided may not be suitable for every reader.. It was a story of how great and continual trauma can warp the mind. Developing into an exploration on how scary and difficult it can be to break the cycle of abuse that you have settled into to ensure survival.

While difficult to endure at times it was an enthralling read.

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Marlinchen is our main character and narrator. We are introduced to Oblya through her eyes and her experiences. Which, initially, are heavily influenced by her father. She grew up the youngest of three sisters and was quite young when her father transformed their mother into a bird and then killed her. This left the girls vulnerable to their father’s sick and uncaring mind during very impressionable years of their lives. Her father takes advantage of her eagerness to please and uses many forms of abuse to manipulate all three of his daughters into doing what he wants. The older two take many opportunities to rebel and take Marlinchen along on a forbidden outing that will change all of their lives.

This entire novel is watching Marlinchen evolve from the meek girl who is deeply entrenched under her father’s control into a young woman who tries her best to save them all.

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Trigger Warnings: Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Eating disorder, Blood, Body Horror, Cannibalism, Gore, Child Abuse
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