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cleothegreat's review against another edition
4.0
She slits her eyes, keeps the lids smooth. She writes, 'I thought there be some power at work after all'
"'After all'?"
After all the ugly that has happen. After all the medicine and madness and sorrow.
Madness, madness, madness!
This was such a dark book. Set in medieval Scandinavia, this novel follows two protagonists as they discover the horrifying secrets and plots embedded within the history of a castle and it's inhabitants. Though it doesn't make any effort to sugarcoat gore or general unpleasantness, this book stays true to the time period it was set in and proves to be a mystifying read. (Not to mention that cover makes it a wonderful edition on my shelf.)
One thing I'd like to make note of is this: don't expect there to be much of a friendship between the two protagonists. It was something I wanted to see more of, but sadly, it didn't happen till the last quarter of the book.
Nonetheless, this novel is lovely but please refrain from indulging in it till after you're done eating. It is wickedly disturbing but it makes this book all the more compelling.
thisismeandme's review against another edition
dark
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? No
4.0
stephxsu's review against another edition
This is not a bad book. It really isn't. It IS odd, however, that this book should be marketed as YA when its themes and motifs of body modification, political and sexual manipulation, and ownership of the body are so, so mature. The casualness with which this book throws about scenes of rape and sexual fantasies and objectification baffles even me.
story_singer_101's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at over a hundred pages in. The prose is gorgeous, but the book's focus on sexual encounters (some positive but majority were some kind of assault/rape) between characters was too much for me.
sarahslays's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
n_o's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
roseswithoutthorns's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is not a book for the faint hearted. It is dense, and strange, and at points revolting. If you are not someone who enjoys watching the worse parts of history from the comfort of the modern era, this is not the book for you. Every character is three dimensional, sometimes to an uncomfortable extent. The people you want to root for drag others down, for no reason other than revenge. The characters you hate will have moments of tenderness, of humanity you will not want to give them. This book is thick, both in length and in language, and the amount of historical references might overwhelm someone looking for a casual read. If you are like me, however, and find history fascinating, and fairy tales, (true fairy tales, with complicated endings, not Disney stories) exciting, and you can enjoy poetic language for hundreds of pages, then this book is highly worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Slavery, Medical content, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
blackwolf1489's review against another edition
2.0
I really wish I had finished this book sooner. What a waste of time. It just felt like a bunch of word vomit.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
5.0
I adore this book but I can openly admit that this book isn't for everyone. It's a unique concoction of historical fiction, fairy tales, and gritty realism; all together crafted with, surprisingly handled in a mature manner, themes of manipulation and power. Susann Cokal definitely does not shy away from the gruesome and unseemly aspects of Renaissance Scandinavia which adds historical realism which I really appreciate.
If the synopsis sounds appealing, I highly recommend the book!
If the synopsis sounds appealing, I highly recommend the book!