Scan barcode
A review by rey_therese07
The Brewer's Tale by Karen Brooks
3.0
3.75 Stars: I've finally decided on my rating for this book. I only finished it in January, but it seems so long ago.
CW: Rape, misogyny, sexual assault, grief and murder
I really loved the main character Anneke Sheldrake. She goes from a respected merchant's daughter to a scandalized brewer with no certain future. I was rooting for her and watching her development and transformation into a powerful woman. I really like this quote from one of Anneke's servants, Saskia, "you're servant, you're not a mother, you're not a wife. You're queen of your own empire." I think it really encapsulates what this book is about, a disgraced girl becoming a powerful woman who can look after herself is in charge of her life. The side characters also had depth and well developed backstories. I loved seeing how loyal and supportive the servants were to Anneke and how mentally strong Betje (Anneke's younger sister) was throughout the novel.
The setting of medieval England was rich, well developed and seems well researched. My main issue was that it was denser than what I'm used to a reading. I found it hard to stay invested in the story at times felt it could've been condensed a little. That said, I still enjoyed it and thought it was worth the read. I still want to read some more of Karen Brooks' books in the future after my reading comprehension improves and I can appreciate them for what they are.
CW: Rape, misogyny, sexual assault, grief and murder
I really loved the main character Anneke Sheldrake. She goes from a respected merchant's daughter to a scandalized brewer with no certain future. I was rooting for her and watching her development and transformation into a powerful woman. I really like this quote from one of Anneke's servants, Saskia, "you're servant, you're not a mother, you're not a wife. You're queen of your own empire." I think it really encapsulates what this book is about, a disgraced girl becoming a powerful woman who can look after herself is in charge of her life. The side characters also had depth and well developed backstories. I loved seeing how loyal and supportive the servants were to Anneke and how mentally strong Betje (Anneke's younger sister) was throughout the novel.
The setting of medieval England was rich, well developed and seems well researched. My main issue was that it was denser than what I'm used to a reading. I found it hard to stay invested in the story at times felt it could've been condensed a little. That said, I still enjoyed it and thought it was worth the read. I still want to read some more of Karen Brooks' books in the future after my reading comprehension improves and I can appreciate them for what they are.