spicedmice's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
paragraphsandpages's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book, and it was made even better by reading it with a friend (love u Brenda <3)
This book sucked me in quickly based a lot on nostalgia, almost, as reading this reminded me of a lot of the texts I used to read in my travel writing class in uni, except with less shitty people involved (well... less shitty narrator at least). I was wholly immersed in the setting and scenery of the story so quickly, and could feel the bitter cold alongside our characters. The description was so well-written and gave me such a strong sense of place throughout this whole story, and I loved seeing how each new chapter would reveal more secrets of Bedlam and its hidden beauty.
I loved our main character, Merrick, but I loved Raphael even more, and it was a joy to see the two open up more and share bits and pieces about their histories. Merrick also seemed genuinely invested and interested in Bedlam beyond some monetary gain to be had from stealing some trees, and it made the reader that much more invested in Bedlam and it's people as well. It was fascinating to see Merrick unravel Bedlam, and Raphael, piece by piece, and I found myself excited about each new chapter. It was also an achingly beautiful story, and I loved how generations were wrapped up in this single, ongoing story that Merrick stumbled upon.
I adored this book, and I can't wait to see what the other books in this series are like, and if they can bring the same strong imagery and beautiful writing as this one.
This book sucked me in quickly based a lot on nostalgia, almost, as reading this reminded me of a lot of the texts I used to read in my travel writing class in uni, except with less shitty people involved (well... less shitty narrator at least). I was wholly immersed in the setting and scenery of the story so quickly, and could feel the bitter cold alongside our characters. The description was so well-written and gave me such a strong sense of place throughout this whole story, and I loved seeing how each new chapter would reveal more secrets of Bedlam and its hidden beauty.
I loved our main character, Merrick, but I loved Raphael even more, and it was a joy to see the two open up more and share bits and pieces about their histories. Merrick also seemed genuinely invested and interested in Bedlam beyond some monetary gain to be had from stealing some trees, and it made the reader that much more invested in Bedlam and it's people as well. It was fascinating to see Merrick unravel Bedlam, and Raphael, piece by piece, and I found myself excited about each new chapter. It was also an achingly beautiful story, and I loved how generations were wrapped up in this single, ongoing story that Merrick stumbled upon.
I adored this book, and I can't wait to see what the other books in this series are like, and if they can bring the same strong imagery and beautiful writing as this one.
shmandy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
The shrine looked like an oil painting made into real substance. So did he. England's was a reading religion, one it was difficult to understand at the bleak unimpressive first glance, one that needed books to explain itself. But his was images and images, the same as the old stages, in a place where not everyone could read and good light was expensive.”
This book Natasha Pulley wrote is arguably a beautiful, perfect & heart-wrenching fairy tale that made my heart and soul soar AND is an intelligent commentary on colonialism and white people bullshit.
Anyways - please read Natasha Pulley with me and scream into the wonderful world she creates and come cry with me.
This book Natasha Pulley wrote is arguably a beautiful, perfect & heart-wrenching fairy tale that made my heart and soul soar AND is an intelligent commentary on colonialism and white people bullshit.
Anyways - please read Natasha Pulley with me and scream into the wonderful world she creates and come cry with me.
heresthepencil's review
5.0
rep: mlm physically disabled mc, Peruvian mlm li
edit: reading this for the second time???? not my brightest idea :<<<<
this is such a slow, rich, delicate, magical story!! it's not slow in the uneventful kind of way tho but rather: the beautiful, old-fashioned writing causes u to slow down, to notice & properly appreciate every little detail. this glacial pace makes perfect sense for a plot like this one as well... & yes, it takes a while before u get accustomed to that rhythm but oh! once u do!!
it's also one of the most hopeful stories i've read in a long time (at least when u don't think abt what will happen after...) & for its ending alone i would give this book all the stars in the sky.
edit: reading this for the second time???? not my brightest idea :<<<<
this is such a slow, rich, delicate, magical story!! it's not slow in the uneventful kind of way tho but rather: the beautiful, old-fashioned writing causes u to slow down, to notice & properly appreciate every little detail. this glacial pace makes perfect sense for a plot like this one as well... & yes, it takes a while before u get accustomed to that rhythm but oh! once u do!!
it's also one of the most hopeful stories i've read in a long time (at least when u don't think abt what will happen after...) & for its ending alone i would give this book all the stars in the sky.
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
This was such a strange book. I don't even really know how to review it? There wasn't a lot of character development. And I feel like there were some plot holes maybe. Definitely confusion because I think I missed some things or the meaning of some things.
I think my biggest issues though was for a book set in Peru, there was basically no Spanish? I can't even remember if the word "gracias" came up. Which really bothered me. It always just had something to note if the person said something in English, Spanish, or Quechua. According to the notes at the back, this author took months of Spanish so why aren't there phrases and words throughout?
Anyways. That really bothered me.
I think my biggest issues though was for a book set in Peru, there was basically no Spanish? I can't even remember if the word "gracias" came up. Which really bothered me. It always just had something to note if the person said something in English, Spanish, or Quechua. According to the notes at the back, this author took months of Spanish so why aren't there phrases and words throughout?
Anyways. That really bothered me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Vomit, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Violence, Ableism, and Miscarriage
lagobond's review against another edition
3.0
If you picked up this book because the back cover says it's "a fast-paced adventure story," you'll want to count your losses and find something else to read. This thing isn't fast-paced, and the adventure consists mostly of walking and people-watching; insightful yet drawn-out musings on colonialism, language, history, and botany; and clever (but not particularly eventful) dialogue. Yes, there's adventure, but everything honestly feels more like a dream than an adventure.
If you enjoy slow reads, prepare yourself for a truly glacial stunner. There's beauty in this book, and yes there's a well-thought-out plot, but you have to get through almost 300 pages of nothing much (and much of it repeated ad nauseam) before things start to click into place.
I read this entire book in the pool, and it took me almost exactly 6 months to get through it; not because I don't spend enough time in the water, but because it truly is a slow, pensive story. I obviously liked it enough to keep going, probably partly because I enjoyed seeing the gorgeous cover against the sun-glittery turquoise water. But I honestly think this book could have been edited down to half its page count, and it would have made for an unforgettable read.
If you enjoy slow reads, prepare yourself for a truly glacial stunner. There's beauty in this book, and yes there's a well-thought-out plot, but you have to get through almost 300 pages of nothing much (and much of it repeated ad nauseam) before things start to click into place.
I read this entire book in the pool, and it took me almost exactly 6 months to get through it; not because I don't spend enough time in the water, but because it truly is a slow, pensive story. I obviously liked it enough to keep going, probably partly because I enjoyed seeing the gorgeous cover against the sun-glittery turquoise water. But I honestly think this book could have been edited down to half its page count, and it would have made for an unforgettable read.
antithesis90's review against another edition
4.0
A slow burn but worth the persistence; I wasn't really "hooked" until about halfway through, but the second half of the book reminded me of why I so enjoy this author. The soft touch she applies to complex relationships is spectacular and some of the most touching writing I have read.
aislinn_mcd_harrison's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Hard to rate this one. I started it November 2022 and didn’t get pay page 100 until I read it on a flight in January. It’s written well in terms of language and description but I think the characters and their relationships were too flimsy for me to really invest, and it was a cooler idea than it was a plot. Feel a bit mean but a bit of a let down after the watchmaker of filigree street which I recall loving, although it similarly suffered from a very slow start!
linnealouise's review
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
acquiescence's review against another edition
5.0
This book was in a way recommended to me by the author herself. I attended an author panel about the writer's research at Dutch Comic Con which included Natasha Pulley. Her enthusiasm about her research and the information she uncovered was inspiring. It made me want to read her work. I would never have been drawn to a book set in Peru if it hadn't been for her own account about the research for this book.
I flipped through it and read a few snippets. I liked her style of description, and what's more, the beginning of it is set in Cornwall, a place I've grown to love over the past year. I bought the book, she signed it and I had a lovely chat with her.
I couldn't wait to start reading it, and it delivered.
Initially, I thought it was strictly historical fiction and so when I started reading it, this was in the back of my mind. The character’s journey into Peru and towards Bedlam with its strange happenings was my journey. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I began to question it, and realised the mystery of it all was meant to be surreal. It creates a magical world you can believe in, a world that is steeped in history and fact but takes it far beyond.
Pulley writes in a descriptive style that conjures the world and the scenes in your mind’s eye without overdoing it, and it is clear from the writing – as much as her own account of her research – that she knows what she is talking about.
The reader becomes familiar with the other characters through Merrick’s eyes and I think this is what makes especially Merrick and Raphael’s relationship beautiful. At first Raphael seems mysterious and strange, a little aloof and in it because he has no choice, but as Merrick gets to know him, so does the reader. The reader begins to understand that there is more to Raphael’s actions and words, and sometimes, lack thereof.
This is a rich novel with believable characters in a magical realistic world that might just surprise you.
I flipped through it and read a few snippets. I liked her style of description, and what's more, the beginning of it is set in Cornwall, a place I've grown to love over the past year. I bought the book, she signed it and I had a lovely chat with her.
I couldn't wait to start reading it, and it delivered.
Initially, I thought it was strictly historical fiction and so when I started reading it, this was in the back of my mind. The character’s journey into Peru and towards Bedlam with its strange happenings was my journey. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I began to question it, and realised the mystery of it all was meant to be surreal. It creates a magical world you can believe in, a world that is steeped in history and fact but takes it far beyond.
Pulley writes in a descriptive style that conjures the world and the scenes in your mind’s eye without overdoing it, and it is clear from the writing – as much as her own account of her research – that she knows what she is talking about.
The reader becomes familiar with the other characters through Merrick’s eyes and I think this is what makes especially Merrick and Raphael’s relationship beautiful. At first Raphael seems mysterious and strange, a little aloof and in it because he has no choice, but as Merrick gets to know him, so does the reader. The reader begins to understand that there is more to Raphael’s actions and words, and sometimes, lack thereof.
This is a rich novel with believable characters in a magical realistic world that might just surprise you.