Reviews

3.5 stars. This was my first time reading a gothic novel and I enjoyed it. The book was incredibly readable but ultimately I don’t think it will make a lasting impression. I was not invested in most of the characters. The fen, however, is the true main character of this book and I grew to love it as much as Maud does.

capnlinnius's review against another edition

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3.0

This one's hard to rate. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, which was a downer to be honest. But it did make me feel very upset and uncomfortable at times, and it's been a while since a book left me feeling that way. The horror here is probably more tangible for anyone who ever grew up female; the fact that this was most likely the way the world treated half its population in the West during the Edwardian era only adds to the intense discomfort of several parts of this book.

I think I'll give it a very strong 3.5/5, because while I did enjoy this read, I found myself a little disappointed in it. However that is entirely on me, for trusting the recommendation I got (paranormal spooky, which this really wasn't). I'm still going to give her other books a go, though!

mjporterauthor's review against another edition

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4.0

Wakenhyrst drew me in because of the blurb and the cover. It might have helped that I've just read a few books with a similar theme - supernatural mixed with historical fiction.

Wakenhyrst didn't disappoint. The character of Maud was immediately engaging, that of her father, quite distant until we get some way through the book, and the reader begins to realise the story is about the relationship between Maud, her father, the fen and the local church.

What delighted me about this book was just how deeply embedded it was in the distant past - both the Early English period and the fifteenth century, moving forward to the early 1900s and also stopping off in the 1960s, making use of the pervading attitudes in all four time periods to drive the narrative.

It's not an easy, pleasant read, but it is a worthwhile read, extremely atmospheric and with a little twist, right at the end, which makes sense of so much more. Recommended.