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vhlm's review against another edition
5.0
It took a while to build up tension but then i couldn't put it down. The setting with the excavations and island are just marvelous for such a thrilling story!
sereinoche's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
cat_hardy's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't draw me in, found it all a bit boring and didn't keep me hooked at all
alisarae's review against another edition
This book has such an interesting concept: the Lie Tree is a plant that feeds on lies. But the lies have to be believed and spread by many people. When the lie is ripe, the tree produces a fruit that reveals a truth about an aspect of the lie. Imagine having the power of blackmail!
Set in rural Victorian England, Faith is fighting for her mother's attention and her father's approval. Her growing interest in researching natural history alongside her chaplain-cum-scientist father is thrown into the air when her father's sudden suicide is a little too suspicious for Faith to accept. And when she discovers her father's research on the Lie Tree, well, she might be able to finally get some answers in a world where women are kept in the dark.
Does anyone else like creepy books in the autumn?? This book is begging for cider and popcorn and spooky sounds from the trees outside.
Set in rural Victorian England, Faith is fighting for her mother's attention and her father's approval. Her growing interest in researching natural history alongside her chaplain-cum-scientist father is thrown into the air when her father's sudden suicide is a little too suspicious for Faith to accept. And when she discovers her father's research on the Lie Tree, well, she might be able to finally get some answers in a world where women are kept in the dark.
Does anyone else like creepy books in the autumn?? This book is begging for cider and popcorn and spooky sounds from the trees outside.
eliza628's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
amber_hastings's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was hooked on this story!
There's a sentence towards the end when the main character realises her life has been so consumed by the island (Vane) that she and the family have travelled to, she forgets that life exists outside of it. That is kind of how I felt while reading this book. Totally immersed in this world! Totally convinced that in this period of history, with all the realism shown, there could be a magical tree that feeds off human lies. That's the strength of the evocative writing and the main character, who is so headstrong and full of realistic doubts and ambitions that it's hard not to love her.
I am not surprised that other reviews have described the start as too slow, but I preferred the set-up chapters. Again that goes back to being totally immersed in the world, the language and understanding the characters. I also preferred the earlier mystery of what the dad was running away from compared with the proper mystery about who killed him. I found that started to drop away for me towards the end — I guess I didn't actually care about who murdered the father as he seemed like a terrible man anyway. I can see that this is why it's a crossover title though: the pacier murder mystery and themes of parental separation and female empowerment fit in YA, but the slower pace, literary storytelling and broader societal themes are perhaps more geared towards an older reader.
I'm sure there is a lot of symbolism I didn't pick up on but I love the tie-ins of the tree to Eden and the revelations about what the dad did out of desperation to prove in creationism. I also love that the tree loved Faith, perhaps because she was using it for a just cause?!
There's a sentence towards the end when the main character realises her life has been so consumed by the island (Vane) that she and the family have travelled to, she forgets that life exists outside of it. That is kind of how I felt while reading this book. Totally immersed in this world! Totally convinced that in this period of history, with all the realism shown, there could be a magical tree that feeds off human lies. That's the strength of the evocative writing and the main character, who is so headstrong and full of realistic doubts and ambitions that it's hard not to love her.
I am not surprised that other reviews have described the start as too slow, but I preferred the set-up chapters. Again that goes back to being totally immersed in the world, the language and understanding the characters. I also preferred the earlier mystery of what the dad was running away from compared with the proper mystery about who killed him. I found that started to drop away for me towards the end — I guess I didn't actually care about who murdered the father as he seemed like a terrible man anyway. I can see that this is why it's a crossover title though: the pacier murder mystery and themes of parental separation and female empowerment fit in YA, but the slower pace, literary storytelling and broader societal themes are perhaps more geared towards an older reader.
I'm sure there is a lot of symbolism I didn't pick up on but I love the tie-ins of the tree to Eden and the revelations about what the dad did out of desperation to prove in creationism. I also love that the tree loved Faith, perhaps because she was using it for a just cause?!
heorina13's review
4.0
More like 4.7, really.
I bit slower start, but the rest of the book make up for it.
I bit slower start, but the rest of the book make up for it.
stegobookosaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Desolate island setting? Check. Fossil hunting? Check. Feminist themes? Check.
This one was a great Autumn read. I didn't see the plot twist coming either!
Faith was such a relatable character. Seeing her find the realities of the world and realise the strengths and drawbacks of womanhood was so interesting.
Let alone the inclusion of fossil hunting!!
Definite Autumn rec from me!
This one was a great Autumn read. I didn't see the plot twist coming either!
Faith was such a relatable character. Seeing her find the realities of the world and realise the strengths and drawbacks of womanhood was so interesting.
Let alone the inclusion of fossil hunting!!
Definite Autumn rec from me!