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znvisser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
quillyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
And it crams a LOT in. Too much, perhaps. As the books tries to ambitiously comment on grief, miscarriage, religious mania, tyrannical religious zealots, homophobia, xenophobia… It can’t investigate these themes in the depth they deserve or with the time or character development they require to become a theme, rather than just an embellishment.
Also, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. There’s little character development. And despite the huge amount of happenings in the final sprint of the book, the ending feels like it’s back to the start. The only difference is
I just couldn’t vibe with this book.
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Xenophobia and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Islamophobia
slinkmalink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Though I was sad about a lot of things and wished that theyd had happier endings,
Also everything about the bees was beautiful
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
signeskov's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Forced institutionalization
edamamebean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
jesselynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
We follow Lisbet, a heavily pregnant young woman who keeps bees alongside her husband and mother-in-law. Lisbet is desperate for her unborn child's survival, due to multiple previous miscarriages, which wounds her and familial relationships deeply. When her husband's sister Agnethe returns from seven years in the mountains atoning for a mysterious sin, the path of her life is forever changed.
The content is very emotionally stimulating, with really moving and detailed language and a narrative that is very centred around Lisbet's feelings and emotional state. The cast of characters are interesting, with Lisbet's sister-in-law Nethe being a favourite of mine. The story explores a very harrowing sapphic relationship, as well as themes of religious fervour, immigration and xenophobia. The story is not an account of the Dancing Plague as such, but the events of the summer and strange event are an atmospheric setting, the rhythm of the dance weaved throughout Lisbet's story in interludes. The novel is much more character focused than a simple retelling, which I liked. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially women's historical fiction. Tread carefully if pregnancy, infertility and miscarriage is a trigger point for you.
Thanks to Picador for the reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I'll definitely be recommending this one to my customers and am looking forward to future works from Kiran Millwood Hargrave!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jcinf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
That said, once I set aside the time to read, I really enjoyed it. Historical fiction is a beloved genre of mine, and this book did not disappoint.
A plague — especially such an obscure one, a romantic subplot, a window into medieval times, a reflection on women’s rank in society… so good.
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
mxrumphius's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Infidelity
safiya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Xenophobia
rozereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury