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wytherwytch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this quite a disappointing and difficult read. The sentences are a bit abstract and run on and I kind of got a bit lost trying to read it. It didn't hold my attention enough even though the premise was good and interesting. There's loads that didn't make sense to me like it was gatekeeping something. I found this quite a disappointing and difficult read. The sentences are a bit abstract and run on and I kind of got a bit lost trying to read it. It didn't hold my attention enough even though the premise was good and interesting. There's loads that didn't make sense to me like it was gatekeeping something. I found this quite a disappointing and difficult read. The sentences are a bit abstract and run on and I kind of got a bit lost trying to read it. It didn't hold my attention enough even though the premise was good and interesting. There's loads that didn't make sense to me like it was gatekeeping something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Death, Child death, Hate crime, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Classism
annemaries_shelves's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An absolutely perfect (albeit dark) read while on vacation in Edinburgh this summer.
It's dark and violent and sad, as we spend 100 pages with Geillis Duncan, a witch imprisoned in 1591 for witchcraft, as she meets with a witch named Iris from the future. Fagan packs a lot in about womanhood, gender expectations and roles, classism and power dynamics, religion, and the culpability of society in allowing these witch burnings to happen. As expected, it gets a little heavy-handed at times, but considering the limitations of a novella (and the beautiful writing), I'm fine with it.
I really appreciated Geillis and Iris's dynamic and relationship - it was lovely to read.
Definitely recommend as a short, dark read about the realities of witch hunts.
CW: graphic descriptions of torture (including rape), imprisonment, death by hanging.
It's dark and violent and sad, as we spend 100 pages with Geillis Duncan, a witch imprisoned in 1591 for witchcraft, as she meets with a witch named Iris from the future. Fagan packs a lot in about womanhood, gender expectations and roles, classism and power dynamics, religion, and the culpability of society in allowing these witch burnings to happen. As expected, it gets a little heavy-handed at times, but considering the limitations of a novella (and the beautiful writing), I'm fine with it.
I really appreciated Geillis and Iris's dynamic and relationship - it was lovely to read.
Definitely recommend as a short, dark read about the realities of witch hunts.
CW: graphic descriptions of torture (including rape), imprisonment, death by hanging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, and Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Death, and Classism
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