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A review by dellydoos
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Reading Juniper and Thorn was like stepping into a smoky world filled with monsters, witches and good ol’ murder. The Hungarian and Jewish folklore really lent a unique and rich flavour to the story, intertwining seamlessly with the grimdark industrial setting. Ava Reid’s prose alone could be my favourite thing about this book, and her skilful storytelling helped create such an immersive world that felt both hauntingly familiar and delightfully fresh.
But I will warn you. This book was really bloody dark. A lot darker than I thought it would be.
The story follows Marlinchen, a plain-faced witch as she and her sisters are trapped under their xenophobic wizard father’s control. As the city of Oblya rejects magic and embraces industrialization, the family finds themselves thrusted to the side. Estranged from society as and despite her father’s warnings, Marlinchen explores the city's wonders at night. Where she meets and becomes infatuated with a ballet performer, the lovely Sevas. However, lurking in the shadows is a menacing monster, putting the city at risk and Marlinchen’s new found desires and wants along with it.
I really liked Marlinchen, and not necessarily because of her personality or because of the things she did. But rather how she was crafted. Pieced together by trauma and abuse, her character was thoughtfully drawn out in the way she reacted to certain situations and how she dealt with her father and sisters. Marlinchen’s journey as a witch seeking freedom from her controlling father, embodies themes of agency, resilience, and self-discovery (yay feminism!). Her tale is a dark one, but amidst the darkness, there is an unexpected sweetness too. Marlinchen’s developing romance with Sevas, adds a touch of tenderness that beautifully contrasts with the surrounding gloom. Their relationship is woven into the narrative with care and it felt really authentic and genuine.
The themes in this book will blow you away. Love, pain, transformation and emancipation were all crafted with expertise. And Reid’s use of motifs was beautiful as it was horrifying. From berries to poison, from magic and snakes to even vivid imagery of nipples and feet, this book was a delight to read.
But yet, if you're in a wobbly state of mind, my advice would be to wait until you’re ready for this book. Cause man, it was heavyyy. Content warnings include, firstly: cannibalism, paedophilia and rape, and then we’ve got body horror, gore, xenophobia, incest, eating disorders, self harm, and just about everything else you can image: violence, abuse, death and more death. I had to take long breaks from this book just to keep my endorphins alive.
By the time I finished the book, I wasn’t even sure I’d let myself read it again, despite how good it was. So go into it if you dare, is all I have to say. 4/5 stars.
But I will warn you. This book was really bloody dark. A lot darker than I thought it would be.
The story follows Marlinchen, a plain-faced witch as she and her sisters are trapped under their xenophobic wizard father’s control. As the city of Oblya rejects magic and embraces industrialization, the family finds themselves thrusted to the side. Estranged from society as and despite her father’s warnings, Marlinchen explores the city's wonders at night. Where she meets and becomes infatuated with a ballet performer, the lovely Sevas. However, lurking in the shadows is a menacing monster, putting the city at risk and Marlinchen’s new found desires and wants along with it.
I really liked Marlinchen, and not necessarily because of her personality or because of the things she did. But rather how she was crafted. Pieced together by trauma and abuse, her character was thoughtfully drawn out in the way she reacted to certain situations and how she dealt with her father and sisters. Marlinchen’s journey as a witch seeking freedom from her controlling father, embodies themes of agency, resilience, and self-discovery (yay feminism!). Her tale is a dark one, but amidst the darkness, there is an unexpected sweetness too. Marlinchen’s developing romance with Sevas, adds a touch of tenderness that beautifully contrasts with the surrounding gloom. Their relationship is woven into the narrative with care and it felt really authentic and genuine.
The themes in this book will blow you away. Love, pain, transformation and emancipation were all crafted with expertise. And Reid’s use of motifs was beautiful as it was horrifying. From berries to poison, from magic and snakes to even vivid imagery of nipples and feet, this book was a delight to read.
But yet, if you're in a wobbly state of mind, my advice would be to wait until you’re ready for this book. Cause man, it was heavyyy. Content warnings include, firstly: cannibalism, paedophilia and rape, and then we’ve got body horror, gore, xenophobia, incest, eating disorders, self harm, and just about everything else you can image: violence, abuse, death and more death. I had to take long breaks from this book just to keep my endorphins alive.
By the time I finished the book, I wasn’t even sure I’d let myself read it again, despite how good it was. So go into it if you dare, is all I have to say. 4/5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Rape, Cannibalism, and Gore