Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

A Leviatán by Rosie Andrews

5 reviews

edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book is (all puns intended) bewitching. The suspense is so well done that I could hardly stand to put it down. There were a few moments were I felt like it was drawn out too much, but for the most part, it kept the plot moving seamlessly. I really liked the protagonist and Chrissa Moore, and the secondary and tertiary characters all felt well fleshed out and like individuals.

For most of the book, it is unclear whether or not the witch accusations stem from the supernatural.
Even though I am not the biggest fan of the supernatural in books, I was won over by this story. It might have been cooler to have Esther as the 'witch', hiding her true malicious nature under a facade of religious sweetness and docility, and the accusations merely a ploy of hers; however, that would have taken the story in a much different direction. I also would like to know where Thomas got his information about Manyon. He certainly kept us all in the dark about that one.
I loved the ending, and felt that all the loose ends were tied up effectively. I look forward to any future books that Andrews may publish!

If you liked The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, or The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, you will like The Leviathan. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bookforthought's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Right from its beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis, The Leviathan promised to be an unsettling and atmospheric read. Although it did achieve some of that thanks to some pretty impressive research and evocative writing, it ultimately left me somewhat disappointed.

The 17th-century setting works very well to help create that unnerving atmosphere of danger and distrust, with a Civil War and witch hunts looming in the background as we focus on Thomas's home, a deeply domestic setting and a safe haven that is safe no more. Despite this, the dual timeline removed much of the tension, as certain key points were very easy to guess once a few elements were revealed in the future.

Although the setting and atmosphere were mostly on point, the characters are where this book really lost me. None of the relationships felt established enough, remaining mostly surface-level and lowering the stakes even further. There were a lot of different elements to this (maybe too many), but none of them ever felt as if it came to completion, stopping just short, and all potential conflict elements (even those relating to the historical setting) were quickly dismissed. In the end, I found I just really didn't care much about any of it.

Still, this is by no means a bad read if you enjoy slower-paced and understated stories or if you're looking for an unsettling book just for the vibes as we enter spooky season, because this had spooky vibes aplenty. I just wanted something more from it, so sadly it didn't work for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gentle_garbage_baby's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed this book. The story is really intriguing and is written really well. The characters are interesting too - Thomas especially as he struggles with his thoughts on religion in a religious-heavy society. I preferred the first half of the book to the second - it doesn't 'drop off' or get worse as a book by any means, I just preferred this half of the story. Would recommend for people who enjoy historical fiction, witches, and the ocean.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

virtualdragonkitty's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I am truly at a loss for words about how to describe this book and my feelings about it. It was so good and covered some many theme and ideas. I can't wait to see what else Rosie Andrews delivers.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

theirgracegrace's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Leviathan is an interesting take on the cosmic horror genre. Thomas Treadwater is a returning soldier during the English Civil War who returns home to find his father on his deathbed, his sister inconsolable and their servant accused of witchcraft. While Andrews clearly has an understanding of the time period and of the mindset of those who lived in it, much of the book feels sluggish as Thomas desperately searches for answers. Even after getting them, he refuses to do much with them, causing a time jump of 60 years to when he finally gets the nerve to confront his fear. While an interesting take, only those with a deep interest in cosmic horror or period dramas will find the book "bewitching."
Expand filter menu Content Warnings