Scan barcode
gabbyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
ellornaslibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
2.0
This book is marketed as horror, and there are parts that definitely left me feeling a little scared at first. Except then it becomes something altogether and different. The thing that should scare you isn't what you should be scared of essentially. Always love it if it is done well and the possibility was there just wasn't delivered upon in the end. I liked Abitha a lot and the other main character a good deal; found the story fascinating enough to continue reading after the book turned out not to be what I was hoping for when I picked it up. I even found the side characters interesting.
However, the story moves so slow and the satisfaction I was hoping to find in this new possible story presented was short-lived as it turned into the usual predictable story. It was at least going to be a 3 or 3.5 star book though until the blatant ableism right at the end. Literal magic in this book, used multiple times throughout to do amazing things, and then we get to this part and just. . . it was insulting and offensive so now it's a 2 star book and I don't know if I'll pick up another book from this author anytime soon.
CW Ableism details:magic used to make corn sprout from the dirt, to make bees mass produce honey, to make them fly at one point on a broom. . . And instead of healing her damaged legs, makes a comment about living as a cripple the rest of her days and she shudders at the idea. Her reaction is even worse considering that her husband was disabled. . . Nevermind she could have all sorts of options with literal magic at her fingertips too even if her legs weren't fully healed. Just so offensive and exhausting at this point to see this attitude presented.
However, the story moves so slow and the satisfaction I was hoping to find in this new possible story presented was short-lived as it turned into the usual predictable story. It was at least going to be a 3 or 3.5 star book though until the blatant ableism right at the end. Literal magic in this book, used multiple times throughout to do amazing things, and then we get to this part and just. . . it was insulting and offensive so now it's a 2 star book and I don't know if I'll pick up another book from this author anytime soon.
CW Ableism details:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
alexstartsthings's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Torture, and Violence
cocopuff3438's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
this was emotionally harrowing 😠I appreciate and respect the commentary but that was brutal. It was like dark, disturbing Miyazaki—the visuals were really cool but instead of being a wholesome witch story it was a horror tragedy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture
vagrantheather's review
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's listenable and I'm not mad about it, but I also don't love it. The dialogue splits the difference between readability and historical accuracy in a way that falls in the uncanny valley for me. It doesn't commit enough to feel real and instead comes off a bit cheesy. The narrator does a good job but something about the accent leans into the uncanny valley feeling. The historical accuracy also feels limited - at one point two guards make a joke about chastity belts, which ... they were kind of a myth/joke among gentry, but commoners? Pilgrims? Idk.
I don't really like the writing. It's fine. It isn't pretty, it isn't evocative, it isn't literary. Rather straightforward. The plot development is similarly straightforward; there is no mystery about the machinations of the other characters, no suspense. The perspective changes from character to character to allow us to know everything going on. The only questions are Sampson's true nature and what's Wallace's greater conspiracy with the magistrate.
I don't love any of the characters, and I actively find the Wild Ones poorly done. Wallace is also too unlikeable to be a good villain.
The last 20% of the book switches genres to torture and revenge. I saw another reviewer say the first 80% was boring and she wanted the final 20% to have been the whole of it; I feel the opposite. The first 80% felt as though it could be building toward deeper themes, and the final 20% ripped it down and made "don't worry, she gets hers" the only theme.
There are so many changes I would have liked to see. I want a deliciously wicked, literary version of this book. Not a young adult book about a pilgrim witch.
I don't really like the writing. It's fine. It isn't pretty, it isn't evocative, it isn't literary. Rather straightforward. The plot development is similarly straightforward; there is no mystery about the machinations of the other characters, no suspense. The perspective changes from character to character to allow us to know everything going on. The only questions are Sampson's true nature and what's Wallace's greater conspiracy with the magistrate.
I don't love any of the characters, and I actively find the Wild Ones poorly done. Wallace is also too unlikeable to be a good villain.
The last 20% of the book switches genres to torture and revenge. I saw another reviewer say the first 80% was boring and she wanted the final 20% to have been the whole of it; I feel the opposite. The first 80% felt as though it could be building toward deeper themes, and the final 20% ripped it down and made "don't worry, she gets hers" the only theme.
There are so many changes I would have liked to see. I want a deliciously wicked, literary version of this book. Not a young adult book about a pilgrim witch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
sillysausagezj's review
dark
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
rubys100's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
ellewhyoh'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This feels like a book that I like better in concept than in execution. The art was phenomenal, and you end up feeling deeply for many of the characters. But the worldbuilding is honestly very strange and seems purposefully mysterious, and there are some weird moments that veer into anti-indigenous sentiment and/or appropriation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, and Religious bigotry
kelsilitts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Overall an awesome story with a very satisfying revenge plot. Loved the main characters. Felt a very real hatred towards others (as I believe was intended.) I definitely had to skim over a few of the more gruesome scenes because they were a bit too much for my sensitive self. Especially one involving a cat.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to read more of Brom’s work in the future!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to read more of Brom’s work in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Sexism, and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
mishup_3's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Blood, and Excrement