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vbzshenanigans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book and the story it told. I found the historical side of it very interesting. Anya Bergman does a fantastic job of describing the desolate island of Vardo where the main portion of the story take place. I found the pacing steady and the novel easy to read despite some of the more difficult portions. My only issue with the whole thing is that Maren at the end *spoilers* is described as having true magical powers and that didnt sit right with me. The thing I like about this kind of book is how superstition and religion can taint the appearance of actual events to be 'like magic'. Therefore giving Maren the ability to summon birds or rats makes the whole thing too unrealistic for me. I know it's historical 'fiction' but that can be done without magical realism, in my mind. Just a little gripe, but overall the story was enjoyable and I would recommend it to someone interested in witch trials, historical fiction or magical realism.
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Suicide
anapthine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
arayo's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Excrement, Grief, and Death of parent
imlfox's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Animal death
na_no's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Domestic abuse
tigglez's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
srivalli's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Death of parent
lilyadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
The superstition so far north in the kingdom of Denmark and Norway was kindling for the fires that burned so many innocent women, children and the ones, like the semi-nomadic sámi, that didn’t fit, that worshiped other gods.
Here we have a mix of past and present women’s strife in a lyrical narrative telling the interwoven story of a three women and three children arrested for being witches, and that of one noblewoman sharing the same castle exiled by the king for being too outspoken and not going into the shadows as old women are meant to.
The story is told in mostly two POVs, that of one of the teens, sister and daughter of other accused, and the other the noblewoman’s. With some Nordic stories in between parts.
As the author says this book is one to give voice to the thousands of innocents murdered by the fearful, hateful and petty that manipulated the minds of the superstitious and aggrieved, and to make them echo into the present and future, forever living in the hearts of the people like them.
It’s slow going especially in the beginning but so worth it to push forth and dive into this dark, cold, violent, vibrant and fiery story where women suffer, die, but also persist and find happiness, searching inside for their inner lynx, their fierceness and royal-ness.
P. S.: The mention to the Sámi made me research them and find they’ve been always persecuted and pushed to conversations, it made me want to find more and read from their natives and hear their songs. To make their voice heard louder. They who’ve withstand, these natives to the Laplands with their gods and reindeers, with their songs and colors.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Animal cruelty