Scan barcode
A review by behindpaperbacks
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a short, atmospheric fantasy horror! I had some minor issues, though.
Not Good for Maidens is a retelling of the poem The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. It follows Lou, who finds out her family keeps some dark secrets: 18 years ago, her mother Laura and her aunt May escaped the Goblin Market. Now, the market wants its due and takes Lou's teenage aunt Neela. Determined to save Neela, Lou travels to York to uncover her family's dark past.
The plot here was two-fold: Lou's story in the present and her aunt May's story, eighteen years prior. For me, May's part of the story and how the Goblins lured her into the market was far more engaging and relatable. I found myself wondering why Lou's arc was there at all. May going to the Market and Laura rescuing her already made for a great story, with the romantic subplot as well. So Lou paled a bit in comparison, although her struggles were still understandable. The descriptions of the Goblin Market were vivid and atmospheric and the horror element of the story fit nicely here.
My major complaint was that the story was resolved too quickly. Once the characters entered the Goblin Market, it was all solved very easily. There were almost no obstacles in Lou's or May's path except for Goblins threatening to eat them. I would have liked there to be more challenges in the Market, or a deeper exploration of the Market. Moreover, the worldbuilding apart from the Market was threadbare. In conclusion, I wanted more from this story. Still, Not Good For Maidens was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3.5 stars.
Not Good for Maidens is a retelling of the poem The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. It follows Lou, who finds out her family keeps some dark secrets: 18 years ago, her mother Laura and her aunt May escaped the Goblin Market. Now, the market wants its due and takes Lou's teenage aunt Neela. Determined to save Neela, Lou travels to York to uncover her family's dark past.
The plot here was two-fold: Lou's story in the present and her aunt May's story, eighteen years prior. For me, May's part of the story and how the Goblins lured her into the market was far more engaging and relatable. I found myself wondering why Lou's arc was there at all. May going to the Market and Laura rescuing her already made for a great story, with the romantic subplot as well. So Lou paled a bit in comparison, although her struggles were still understandable. The descriptions of the Goblin Market were vivid and atmospheric and the horror element of the story fit nicely here.
My major complaint was that the story was resolved too quickly. Once the characters entered the Goblin Market, it was all solved very easily. There were almost no obstacles in Lou's or May's path except for Goblins threatening to eat them. I would have liked there to be more challenges in the Market, or a deeper exploration of the Market. Moreover, the worldbuilding apart from the Market was threadbare. In conclusion, I wanted more from this story. Still, Not Good For Maidens was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Murder