A review by cliterateur
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne

emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is slow. It develops slowly, things happen almost as if they were fading slowly in. But Haelewise is such a complex, nuanced character, artfully written. The writing is atmospheric and engrossing, even if things feel slow. The whole book is like taking a walk through a dusk-lit forest, finding magical things and sometimes nothing at all. It picks up in the later third of the book. The story is meticulously researched, which I adore. It’s almost a simple origin story to Mother Gothel. Almost. There’s a duality everywhere in this book which mirrors its themes of orthodox christianity and paganism, it’s simple yet complex, lovely yet dark, hopeful yet fearful of the unknown, religious yet political, harsh yet deliciously feminine, mystical yet grounded. Rapunzel is not the focus of this book, which I found refreshing. Over all, stunning writing of a deceptively simple story.