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minniepauline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
michelleleistadravelet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book mostly succeeds at establishing the magical atmosphere of it’s setting, but fails to really ground the historical part of the equation. Not so much as a criticism as a remark, the dialogue reads a bit contemporary at times and besides a few historical references there is no real reconstruction of the historical moment. While reading, especially for those like myself that are not really familiar with medieval history of Great Britain, one gets the sense enough that the story is supposed to take place in “old times” but exactly when is not so much ambiguous but unimportant. Also, the distinction between the Irish and British cultures reads a little like it’s influenced by modern sensibilities, although to be fair it may very well be that this is the other way around.
The pace of the book is slow and doesn't get moving much as the book progresses. Although it does pick up some half way through. Part of the slow pace of the story is in service of developing the different personalities and identities of our protagonist’s six brothers. Not exactly an easy task considering their number, that works just enough so that we are not left feeling that their existence is limited to function as Sorcha’s motivation. It could be argued that the slow progress of the book reflects some of the themes of the story, such as Sorcha’s martyr-like task and the love interest’s patience.
The book has a lot of merits in the subtlety of the dialogue of it’s two leads that leans itself to a nice chemistry whenever they have a moment together. One who's ever read a romance book knows the explanation behind the romantic interest motivations that sometimes the protagonist lacks. This inside, or lack thereof, is a big part of the overall tension of these two and while I find it sweet it could easily be annoying. Another good thing it has going for it is the secondary female characters that walk the line of being flawed but not villainized for this.
In regards to the villains per se of the story, they all feel little nuance in the end.
As for the use of folklore in the story, the enjoyment of the book lives or dies in one's enjoyment of tales as a vehicle for not only our characters to cope with trauma and pain but to communicate, not always effectively, their own feelings.
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
lisannerietveld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
btrz7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
matchai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Pedophilia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and War