annemaries_shelves's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
It's dark and violent and sad, as we spend 100 pages with Geillis Duncan, a witch imprisoned in 1591 for witchcraft, as she meets with a witch named Iris from the future. Fagan packs a lot in about womanhood, gender expectations and roles, classism and power dynamics, religion, and the culpability of society in allowing these witch burnings to happen. As expected, it gets a little heavy-handed at times, but considering the limitations of a novella (and the beautiful writing), I'm fine with it.
I really appreciated Geillis and Iris's dynamic and relationship - it was lovely to read.
Definitely recommend as a short, dark read about the realities of witch hunts.
CW: graphic descriptions of torture (including rape), imprisonment, death by hanging.
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, and Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Death, and Classism
focaccia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
rachelwierick's review
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Bullying, Torture, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
emolr's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Sexism, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape
crazytourists_books's review
3.0
The idea to let Geillis Duncan tell her story had so much potential, but I think the writer wanted so badly to pinpoint the cruelty, the injustices, the violence of men against women of all time, that it got too didactic, and made the narration weaker...
And let's not forget; we are the daughters and grandaughters of the women they didn't manage to kill, to break, to burn...
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Torture
campbellio's review
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, and Death
josiee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death, and Domestic abuse