bookswithpetra's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
viljaneito's review against another edition
4.0
Hieno, vangitseva kirja. Finlandia Juniorinsa ansainnut!
alisarae's review against another edition
#AlisaReadsTheWorld: Finland
This book has strong primordial female power vibes going on. The themes of sisterhood, friendship, duty, and respect are refreshing. It was easy to get immersed in the setting and the story, and I genuinely liked all the characters with their unique personalities.
No cattiness for the win! Just girls supporting each other.
P.S. If you think this is about girl scout camp, let me stop you right there. It is very dark: blood, death, rape, honor killing, patriarchy taken to the extreme.
This book has strong primordial female power vibes going on. The themes of sisterhood, friendship, duty, and respect are refreshing. It was easy to get immersed in the setting and the story, and I genuinely liked all the characters with their unique personalities.
No cattiness for the win! Just girls supporting each other.
P.S. If you think this is about girl scout camp, let me stop you right there. It is very dark: blood, death, rape, honor killing, patriarchy taken to the extreme.
elenavarg's review against another edition
3.0
Not what I hoped for (there were zero lesbians on an island full of women? I'm disappointed!) but not a total waste of time! A very fast read and enjoyable!
mollitron's review
5.0
When you read a proper book in less than twelve hours, it goes without saying that it's unbelievably good.
Having been drawn into Maria Turtschaninoff's beautifully poetic works by Naondel, I knew I had to read the book that began the entrancing world of the Red Abbey Chronicles. I did not really believe that a book that claims to tell the story of a haven for endangered women could possess the hypnotic and mysterious mood that makes Naondel so fascinating.
Needless to say, I was wrong.
Whilst Turtschaninoff's utopia is nothing short of perfect, the tone and information given by Maresi's narration makes it undoubtedly clear why the Red Abbey exists - why it has to exist: to protect the women of the story's world from the patriarchal societies and the cruel men that surround them. This layer of danger and threat keeps Maresi from ever seeming boring, even in its diligent chronicling of everyday life at the Abbey. When presented with this perfect and seemingly flawless setting, I found it hard not to draw a contrast with Naondel's world of danger and exploitation.
A defining feature of Maresi is how the characters drive the story, not setting or circumstance. Every choice they make is their own; everything that happens is a consequence of those choices. The only exception to this rule is Jai. In a corner of the world where the women choose what happens to them, wield a deadly power, and refuse to go silent, Jai's odyssey of necessity and danger is unique. She and her cruel family are the antithesis of Maresi's love, hope and freedom. These opposites, how they clash, and how they work together make Turtschaninoff's story one to never forget.
Maresi is, however, above all, a story about love. The love the sisters have for each other, the love Maresi's father showed by sending her to the Abbey, and Jai's love for Unai. These attachments and bonds make the story feel real, human, and believable. With this love, Maria Turtschaninoff has created a story that tells of pain, loss, sacrifice, and how we ultimately are made better people by our sufferings.
Having been drawn into Maria Turtschaninoff's beautifully poetic works by Naondel, I knew I had to read the book that began the entrancing world of the Red Abbey Chronicles. I did not really believe that a book that claims to tell the story of a haven for endangered women could possess the hypnotic and mysterious mood that makes Naondel so fascinating.
Needless to say, I was wrong.
Whilst Turtschaninoff's utopia is nothing short of perfect, the tone and information given by Maresi's narration makes it undoubtedly clear why the Red Abbey exists - why it has to exist: to protect the women of the story's world from the patriarchal societies and the cruel men that surround them. This layer of danger and threat keeps Maresi from ever seeming boring, even in its diligent chronicling of everyday life at the Abbey. When presented with this perfect and seemingly flawless setting, I found it hard not to draw a contrast with Naondel's world of danger and exploitation.
A defining feature of Maresi is how the characters drive the story, not setting or circumstance. Every choice they make is their own; everything that happens is a consequence of those choices. The only exception to this rule is Jai. In a corner of the world where the women choose what happens to them, wield a deadly power, and refuse to go silent, Jai's odyssey of necessity and danger is unique. She and her cruel family are the antithesis of Maresi's love, hope and freedom. These opposites, how they clash, and how they work together make Turtschaninoff's story one to never forget.
Maresi is, however, above all, a story about love. The love the sisters have for each other, the love Maresi's father showed by sending her to the Abbey, and Jai's love for Unai. These attachments and bonds make the story feel real, human, and believable. With this love, Maria Turtschaninoff has created a story that tells of pain, loss, sacrifice, and how we ultimately are made better people by our sufferings.
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderful, refreshing novel, set on a women-only island. The main character, Maresi, is a student in the Red Abbey on the island, having been sent there as a child because her parents struggled to feed and care for her. Most of the girls on the island have come due to poverty or to escape a repressive regime in their own country. The island is a sanctuary for them, and the only place they can live free from patriarchy. The fast-paced story focuses on Maresi searching for her role on the island, and it's refreshing to read a YA novel that critically looks at the role men have in our lives, and one which focuses so much on female friendship. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
christiepb's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
tuhkasirius's review against another edition
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
bunciaks's review
5.0
"Jeśli człowiek nie obawia się życia, zajmuje się nim z całego serca, to na dłuższą metę nie może również się bać śmierci. To tylko dwie strony tego samego medalu."