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stella_angelica's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful, simple fairytale, with surprisingly poignant reflections on death and the meaning of life.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
I am a sucker for stories that involve Death - damn that Elisabeth das Musical!
Anyway. This one was lovely, and had a fairy-tale like quality to it.
I finished it in one read. That's how easy it was, but it was too lovely to put down!
With this one you either like it or you don't. I don't see many people outright hating it.
If you are a sucker for Death and the maiden stories you gotta read this one.
Anyway. This one was lovely, and had a fairy-tale like quality to it.
I finished it in one read. That's how easy it was, but it was too lovely to put down!
With this one you either like it or you don't. I don't see many people outright hating it.
If you are a sucker for Death and the maiden stories you gotta read this one.
freevortex's review against another edition
2.0
Very prosaic, couldn't get into the story or feel for the characters. Alright story itself, but took too much in terms of emotion from fairy tales of old.
danoreading's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful writing, fantastic story - loved it. Could not put it down.
galileo_j's review against another edition
4.0
"In fall, she knew it was Death who sweetened the apples. He made her see the sun in a blue sky and hear the trees in the spring wind. He made her love the breath in her lungs. She knew she had never been truly alive until she met him."
rizz_amae's review against another edition
5.0
Actual rating: 4.5
This story is told in such an enchanting prose whoch left me feeling captivated and engrossed.
Though the story is short with less than 300 pages, it still managed to enthrall me and sweep me away. There is a lyrical quality in which the words were combined and the story was procured.
“You, my lord, are the ending of all true stories.”
It is fantastical, it is haunting, it is mesmerizing. In other words, it is simply beautiful.
This story is told in such an enchanting prose whoch left me feeling captivated and engrossed.
Though the story is short with less than 300 pages, it still managed to enthrall me and sweep me away. There is a lyrical quality in which the words were combined and the story was procured.
“You, my lord, are the ending of all true stories.”
It is fantastical, it is haunting, it is mesmerizing. In other words, it is simply beautiful.
karahob's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
audreyjginay's review against another edition
5.0
This is a must read. The writing makes you feel like you are reading a traditional fairy tale, which only adds to the charm of the story. Keturah is a likable protagonist and the story is unique and full of whimsy. It makes several really valuable philosophical points, and ends on a beautiful, hopeful note. This absolutely can be taught in classrooms, this book would likely be a big hit amongst students.
content warnings: the entirety of this book deals with themes regarding death (that should be a given) and there is mention of an impending plague. However neither of these themes are presented in a particularly disturbing way, so I don't think these elements would be much of a concern.
content warnings: the entirety of this book deals with themes regarding death (that should be a given) and there is mention of an impending plague. However neither of these themes are presented in a particularly disturbing way, so I don't think these elements would be much of a concern.
emleemay's review against another edition
5.0
“There is no hell, John Temsland. Each man, when he dies, sees the landscape of his own soul.”
This book kind of stomped all over my heart. Not because of the love story, which I don't consider a spoiler because anyone with a brain will see it coming from the beginning (Or the cover. Or the description.). But because of the beautiful, magical simplicity of the writing and the world and the characters. I love stories like this, that capture the timeless magic of fairy tales and make you feel like you're reading a story that is centuries old even when it clearly isn't.
The story is about a young woman called Keturah who loses her way in the woods. After days of wandering around and growing weaker and weaker, Lord Death eventually arrives for her. Keturah distracts Lord Death by telling him a love story, however, she cleverly withholds the ending and promises only to tell it to him if he allows her another day to live. One more condition is that, if she can find her true love in that time, he must let her live a full life. And so begins Keturah's mission to find her true love and postpone her date with death. Like all good fantasy, this mission introduces the reader to kings, magic spells, plagues and prophecies. I was mesmerised.
The writing has a beautiful tone to it that is hard to explain with a few simple quotes from the book. It's haunting, a little melancholy even, but this mood suits the setting and nature of the story perfectly. I think I need to be careful with my promises of kings and magic because this is not a wild and crazy tale filled with fast-paced action, it's a relatively quiet novel. But, that being said, it still managed to drag me in instantly and not let go. I think the subtlety of this story actually speaks volumes and carries the emotions better than any fast-paced action could.
An absolutely beautiful novel that was better than I'd ever anticipated. There is something about this last haunting piece of truth that gives me goosebumps:
“You, my lord, are the ending of all true stories.”
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narteest's review against another edition
4.0
What attracted me most about this story is the fact that it was woven as a literal fairytale. It's a fiction in which the main character, Keturah, inserts herself into the fairytale which she is telling others. And I loved it. This story brings out my love for fairytales with a darker twist to it. Not too dark, but darker in the sense that there isn't really a happy ending without a heavy implication.