libraryofclaire's reviews
235 reviews

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Readers be warned: this isn't your usual dark fairy tale. Ava Reid comes out swinging with teeth, claws, and fangs in Juniper & Thorn (a loose retelling of the Juniper Tree) with heavy themes of sexual assault/abuse, child abuse, emotional abuse, and body horror. 

Despite its heavy themes, Juniper & Thorn is decadent in Reid's signature delicious metaphors and horror-like atmosphere. Tension builds with every page, and the reader is constantly missing the right pieces to understand why — which makes it easy to get lost in the story for hours, unsure of when the next obstacle (or horror) will arise. 

At times, this book did have some purple prose, and I wish the dialogue between characters could have been cleaner. Reid's adherence to older vernacular is wonderful for atmosphere, but unfortunately difficult to parse as a reader. Also, I wish the relationships with "secondary" characters were more fleshed out (specifically her sisters, who tend to fall into fairytale tropes). But these are small things compared to the meat of story, which kept me pickup and putting down my book because I was so nervous to learn what happened next, but too curious to stop. 

This book needs big content warnings across it's few front pages, but for readers who are able to read these themes, this is a story you won't want to miss. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Body horror

Squire by Nadia Shammas

adventurous challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Through the Woods by E.M. Carroll

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Horrifying! I hated every second of it! 3.5 stars 

Nimona by ND Stevenson

adventurous dark lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Incredible Doom by Matthew Bogart

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

5.0

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Let’s be honest. I’m not here for the plot.