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lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t love this one. The author’s note explained some of the story, and gained it a little respect. But the novel itself was confusing and foggy, almost like I had eaten poison goblin fruit myself - and then couldn’t make sense of what was reality and what was fiction. That might have been an intentional literary device, but if so? Not my taste.
ksjones's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? No
4.5
cwareham's review against another edition
1/5 stars. I’ll give most books a chance even if they’re bad, but this was exceptionally awful. Bad writing, characters with no personality, more religious than fantasy, just no.
twolfster's review
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
carlyxdeexx's review
4.0
I’d like to start by saying it was very hard for me to put this down. Was it the writing style? The rich historical and fairytale-laden context? The sensuality and romance? The transformations of people into animals? All of this, I think, contributed to how quickly I finished this book. I genuinely enjoyed reading it, even the parts in verse which seem to have really ground some other readers’ gears. I’ll admit the verse didn’t exactly have me earmarking Laya’s chapters and trying to memorize them—I don’t think they’re brilliant standalone poems. But they tell the story in a loose, freer form that parallels Laya’s looser, freer way of being. I think that connection was just fine and did its job without distracting me from the story.
I do agree with other reviewers who’ve mentioned that the story doesn’t dig very deeply into its historical context—the pogroms, anti-Semitism, the actual atrocities committed. These two sisters and their internal coming-of-age struggles are the center of this story. Not the history. Is that bad? No. But I can see why readers looking for a less YA-coming-of-age story would be disappointed. This does not delve as deeply into the history or weave the fairytale elements and magic as deeply into the history as it could. But, it’s still, I think, well done and compelling.
It did wrap up a bit quickly and neatly for my taste, but it did leave some things open-ended, which I saw as a plus. This was a chance buy while I was browsing at The Golden Notebook, and I’m glad I heard its call and opted to give it a read.
I do agree with other reviewers who’ve mentioned that the story doesn’t dig very deeply into its historical context—the pogroms, anti-Semitism, the actual atrocities committed. These two sisters and their internal coming-of-age struggles are the center of this story. Not the history. Is that bad? No. But I can see why readers looking for a less YA-coming-of-age story would be disappointed. This does not delve as deeply into the history or weave the fairytale elements and magic as deeply into the history as it could. But, it’s still, I think, well done and compelling.
It did wrap up a bit quickly and neatly for my taste, but it did leave some things open-ended, which I saw as a plus. This was a chance buy while I was browsing at The Golden Notebook, and I’m glad I heard its call and opted to give it a read.
thebookdreamersalley's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
gramsay's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this book was crazy. idk what rena was trying to do but she did something for sure. i got se fed up with the characters like halfway through but one u got to the last third there was more plot and less character so i powered through. crazy though
ketutar's review
4.0
This book started as a retelling of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market. It was set in the author's East European Jewish roots, and the story was woven into several Slavic and East European tales, legends, myths, and folklore.
We get a sort of magical realist story of two sisters, whose father is a bear and whose mother is a swan. One of the daughters, the oldest, inherits the father's shape, and the youngest inherits the mother's shape. The parents must leave their daughters alone for some time, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, as they are almost 18 and 16, and they have friends and allies in the village close by. The problem arises when mysterious fruit sellers arrive at the village, and things start happening.
The setting and how the author deals with it reminds me very much of [b:Small Favors|55835986|Small Favors|Erin A. Craig|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604853261l/55835986._SY75_.jpg|76987783], but in this book, the siblings aren't warring. It is very much a coming-of-age story, and very much a story of love. One could take it as a YA romance novel, but I see it as much more than that. It is about families, the importance of love between spouses, siblings, generations, neighbors, and strangers, and of all kinds of love, not just erotic, romantic love. That is there, sure, but it's not the main focus. It is also a story of being oneself and loving oneself. The power of truth and openness.
They also talk about the nasty things that happened in Europe to Jewish people. And... still happen in some form. Antisemitism and blood libel is alive and well even in today's world.
We get a sort of magical realist story of two sisters, whose father is a bear and whose mother is a swan. One of the daughters, the oldest, inherits the father's shape, and the youngest inherits the mother's shape. The parents must leave their daughters alone for some time, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, as they are almost 18 and 16, and they have friends and allies in the village close by. The problem arises when mysterious fruit sellers arrive at the village, and things start happening.
The setting and how the author deals with it reminds me very much of [b:Small Favors|55835986|Small Favors|Erin A. Craig|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604853261l/55835986._SY75_.jpg|76987783], but in this book, the siblings aren't warring. It is very much a coming-of-age story, and very much a story of love. One could take it as a YA romance novel, but I see it as much more than that. It is about families, the importance of love between spouses, siblings, generations, neighbors, and strangers, and of all kinds of love, not just erotic, romantic love. That is there, sure, but it's not the main focus. It is also a story of being oneself and loving oneself. The power of truth and openness.
They also talk about the nasty things that happened in Europe to Jewish people. And... still happen in some form. Antisemitism and blood libel is alive and well even in today's world.
therealbel's review
4.0
Yes. Really. A grown up book. The most wonderful “folk tale” so unlike of anything I have read this year. History and fantasy combined this was a gentle yet very deep and dark story.