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savage_book_review's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have been in love with this story since I was about 11 years old, when a friend lent me the book for reading time at school. So when I discovered it was a available as an audiobook, it jumped straight to the top of my Audible wishlist.
I will admit to being slightly nervous about buying it; what if the narrator ruins it, or it overrides the images I've always held? Fortunately, it's a very good rendition! The narrator is lively and engaging, bringing life to the characters and giving them their own voice without straying into caricature. Yes, I have always pictured the story being based in a little fishing village in Devon/Cornwall, whereas the narrator has chosen to give the vast majority of characters Irish accents, but the whole point is that the author never specifies a 'real' place or time for the setting. As a result, I was perfectly happy to accept the rendition while keeping my own headcanon intact. There were a couple of occasions where the accent wandered slightly, but nothing so obvious as to spoil the immersion into the story.
She also did an excellent job in bringing Marnie and Raven's hand words to life, making them just stilted enough to allow your imagination to see them discussing things with signs, while not disturbing the overall flow of the narrative. Likewise, I think she did a good job with Raven's mouth words, making them sound true to life without overdoing things and making them sound like bad impressions. The only thing I found slightly annoying was the indecision about how to pronounce the name Isake (Eyes-ache vs Isaac). There's a bit of both in here, and I feel like the pronunciation should have been decided upon prior to recording.
Turning to the story and the writing, everything about this book spears straight to the core of my soul. Right from the first line, you are drawn into this world of the downtrodden, poor, common folk of the Middle Ages, and their fear of anything different. It doesn't feel like a perspective we get to see very often, and the author does an amazing job at expressing the struggle that is their daily life and exploring the reasoning behind their closed-mindedness.
Our main characters, Marnie and Raven, are completely real to me and I feel everything as they do, from the joy of their communications to the terror of the whip and the hangman's noose. They are both spellbinding (and not just because of the witchcraft!). I literally walk every step of the story alongside them, dancing with them, fearing with them and just breathing with them. And like them, I do not have enough words to convey just how much this story means to me.
I will admit to being slightly nervous about buying it; what if the narrator ruins it, or it overrides the images I've always held? Fortunately, it's a very good rendition! The narrator is lively and engaging, bringing life to the characters and giving them their own voice without straying into caricature. Yes, I have always pictured the story being based in a little fishing village in Devon/Cornwall, whereas the narrator has chosen to give the vast majority of characters Irish accents, but the whole point is that the author never specifies a 'real' place or time for the setting. As a result, I was perfectly happy to accept the rendition while keeping my own headcanon intact. There were a couple of occasions where the accent wandered slightly, but nothing so obvious as to spoil the immersion into the story.
She also did an excellent job in bringing Marnie and Raven's hand words to life, making them just stilted enough to allow your imagination to see them discussing things with signs, while not disturbing the overall flow of the narrative. Likewise, I think she did a good job with Raven's mouth words, making them sound true to life without overdoing things and making them sound like bad impressions. The only thing I found slightly annoying was the indecision about how to pronounce the name Isake (Eyes-ache vs Isaac). There's a bit of both in here, and I feel like the pronunciation should have been decided upon prior to recording.
Turning to the story and the writing, everything about this book spears straight to the core of my soul. Right from the first line, you are drawn into this world of the downtrodden, poor, common folk of the Middle Ages, and their fear of anything different. It doesn't feel like a perspective we get to see very often, and the author does an amazing job at expressing the struggle that is their daily life and exploring the reasoning behind their closed-mindedness.
Our main characters, Marnie and Raven, are completely real to me and I feel everything as they do, from the joy of their communications to the terror of the whip and the hangman's noose. They are both spellbinding (and not just because of the witchcraft!). I literally walk every step of the story alongside them, dancing with them, fearing with them and just breathing with them. And like them, I do not have enough words to convey just how much this story means to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
ugh_itsjane635's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Grief
Minor: Rape, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
morganphoenix's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Rape
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