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leweylibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This was my pick for our book club (yay!) and it seemed like all but one really liked it! Even the two who say they don't like fantasy. Honestly even getting everyone to finish it is an accomplishment lol but I'm also really proud that the person I expected to have issues with it, particularly with the magic system, loved it enough for it to be her favorite we've read this year.
Okay so my feelings lol I do agree partially with the one person who had complaints about the pacing. However I didn't have issues with the pacing of the whole thing, just a chunk towards the end where Lou was at the market for the second time. I kept getting a little foggy on the rules, but I loved that there were like no guys who are major characters in the book and that the queerness was a part of the book but not a main focus. Like I live t so much that Lou is ace and it just came up in one convo to illustrate her relationship with her aunt. Oh and no one seemed to really care that May was in love with a woman, and a goblin no less lol I mean they cared but not really in a prejudice way, more in your average "dumb teenagers" way .
I loved the parallels between the two pairs of women in the family, I loved how the time and pov jumping was don't t, and I just devoured it really. Absolutely will be recommending this one to people!
I loved the parallels between the two pairs of women in the family, I loved how the time and pov jumping was don't t, and I just devoured it really. Absolutely will be recommending this one to people!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Colonisation and Classism
vampirequeen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Grief, Cannibalism, and Murder
celina246's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
this was a hard book to rate. on one hand, i really liked the lore, and it had a little bit of everything - horror, adventure, romance, fantasy, and for a YA book (which is NOT usually my top genre), i didn't hate reading it. but i also feel like it could have been so much more and it was hard for me personally to overlook all the editorial mistakes & so many unanswered questions.
i wanted to love it and give it a 4 so badly but i just can't.
i wanted to love it and give it a 4 so badly but i just can't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping and Grief
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Cannibalism
itsheyfay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
ash_ton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.75
when Laura said "I'd do ANYTHING for you May" i cried. idk man 🤧
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism
cameronreads's review
2.0
I think it was abundantly clear that the author of this book was not Jewish. Disclaimer; neither am I, but I think it's important to talk about. As soon as I realised the goblins in this book would be evil characters alarm bells were set off in my head, and since doing some research into the tropes used, I think this book does do harm. There is of course one good goblin, but the general idea is that the goblins are evil and want to hurt people (and eat them on occasion) and have magical blood. All things that are outrageous stereotypes of Jewish people, especially considering goblins have been used as a way to represent and do harm to Jewish people. I'd really recommend looking at some Jewish reviewer's discussions on this.
My opinions on the plot and characters of this book are rather average. I think the basic idea was there, but something about the pacing and what this book emphasised was off. I wasn't all that attached to the characters, especially because the character we're meant to be saving all through this book is never seen on page until the end. It meant the stakes didn't feel very high. To be honest, I would have read a whole book about one of the point of views (May's) if it had been expanded on and we had got to spend a bit more time with it (and there wasn't such antisemitic themes).
I do however like the casual queer representation. The main characters are ace and bi respectively, and there's a pan side character, and all of these words are said on page. There's no prejudice against them because of their sexualities, and the main romance is a sapphic one. That was all really nice to see.
I'm really mad about this one - I loved Bovalino's other book and the other goblin market retelling I've read (In An Absent Dream, Seanan McGuire) so I really wanted to love this too. Unfortunate.
My opinions on the plot and characters of this book are rather average. I think the basic idea was there, but something about the pacing and what this book emphasised was off. I wasn't all that attached to the characters, especially because the character we're meant to be saving all through this book is never seen on page until the end. It meant the stakes didn't feel very high. To be honest, I would have read a whole book about one of the point of views (May's) if it had been expanded on and we had got to spend a bit more time with it (and there wasn't such antisemitic themes).
I do however like the casual queer representation. The main characters are ace and bi respectively, and there's a pan side character, and all of these words are said on page. There's no prejudice against them because of their sexualities, and the main romance is a sapphic one. That was all really nice to see.
I'm really mad about this one - I loved Bovalino's other book and the other goblin market retelling I've read (In An Absent Dream, Seanan McGuire) so I really wanted to love this too. Unfortunate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
behindpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a short, atmospheric fantasy horror! I had some minor issues, though.
Not Good for Maidens is a retelling of the poem The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. It follows Lou, who finds out her family keeps some dark secrets: 18 years ago, her mother Laura and her aunt May escaped the Goblin Market. Now, the market wants its due and takes Lou's teenage aunt Neela. Determined to save Neela, Lou travels to York to uncover her family's dark past.
The plot here was two-fold: Lou's story in the present and her aunt May's story, eighteen years prior. For me, May's part of the story and how the Goblins lured her into the market was far more engaging and relatable. I found myself wondering why Lou's arc was there at all. May going to the Market and Laura rescuing her already made for a great story, with the romantic subplot as well. So Lou paled a bit in comparison, although her struggles were still understandable. The descriptions of the Goblin Market were vivid and atmospheric and the horror element of the story fit nicely here.
My major complaint was that the story was resolved too quickly. Once the characters entered the Goblin Market, it was all solved very easily. There were almost no obstacles in Lou's or May's path except for Goblins threatening to eat them. I would have liked there to be more challenges in the Market, or a deeper exploration of the Market. Moreover, the worldbuilding apart from the Market was threadbare. In conclusion, I wanted more from this story. Still, Not Good For Maidens was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3.5 stars.
Not Good for Maidens is a retelling of the poem The Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. It follows Lou, who finds out her family keeps some dark secrets: 18 years ago, her mother Laura and her aunt May escaped the Goblin Market. Now, the market wants its due and takes Lou's teenage aunt Neela. Determined to save Neela, Lou travels to York to uncover her family's dark past.
The plot here was two-fold: Lou's story in the present and her aunt May's story, eighteen years prior. For me, May's part of the story and how the Goblins lured her into the market was far more engaging and relatable. I found myself wondering why Lou's arc was there at all. May going to the Market and Laura rescuing her already made for a great story, with the romantic subplot as well. So Lou paled a bit in comparison, although her struggles were still understandable. The descriptions of the Goblin Market were vivid and atmospheric and the horror element of the story fit nicely here.
My major complaint was that the story was resolved too quickly. Once the characters entered the Goblin Market, it was all solved very easily. There were almost no obstacles in Lou's or May's path except for Goblins threatening to eat them. I would have liked there to be more challenges in the Market, or a deeper exploration of the Market. Moreover, the worldbuilding apart from the Market was threadbare. In conclusion, I wanted more from this story. Still, Not Good For Maidens was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
sixxed's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Gore and Torture