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A review by emilyrainsford
Deep Is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I didn't overly enjoy A Hunger of Thorns, which was set in the same magic world as this, so I was a bit nervous about this one but decided to give it a crack anyway. Happily, I enjoyed this one a lot more.
I thought the whole idea of "toad magic" and a creepy society of toads was really unique and interesting, different from anything I've read before. There's definitely some underlying critique here of social inequality and capitalism, but I don't think it's too in your face.
I enjoyed the creepy vibes of the swamp and the toads, but I have to say, it's QUITE dark. There are some mild body horror type elements that to me went beyond what I would expect in a YA story. I felt the book read more like a dark fairytale with teen characters, rather than being a book FOR teens, but that might just be me.
The one confusing thing about the worldbuilding is that it reads kind of medieval village style, but then all of a sudden they're driving cars. But there are no smartphones or computers. I guess there's no reason why a fantasy universe has to line up with a specific time period in the real world, but the cars and jeans did feel a little jarring tbh.
The main character was quite annoying and the story is in first person so you spend the entire book in her head. Some of her views are clearly not meant to be agreed with - just because a POV is first person, doesn't mean you're necessarily meant to agree with or empathise with them. But her small-mindedness and not-like-other-girls stubbornness was definitely grating at times.
Overall though, I did find it a really unique and satisfying read with interesting magic and a macabre atmosphere.
I thought the whole idea of "toad magic" and a creepy society of toads was really unique and interesting, different from anything I've read before. There's definitely some underlying critique here of social inequality and capitalism, but I don't think it's too in your face.
I enjoyed the creepy vibes of the swamp and the toads, but I have to say, it's QUITE dark. There are some mild body horror type elements that to me went beyond what I would expect in a YA story. I felt the book read more like a dark fairytale with teen characters, rather than being a book FOR teens, but that might just be me.
The one confusing thing about the worldbuilding is that it reads kind of medieval village style, but then all of a sudden they're driving cars. But there are no smartphones or computers. I guess there's no reason why a fantasy universe has to line up with a specific time period in the real world, but the cars and jeans did feel a little jarring tbh.
The main character was quite annoying and the story is in first person so you spend the entire book in her head. Some of her views are clearly not meant to be agreed with - just because a POV is first person, doesn't mean you're necessarily meant to agree with or empathise with them. But her small-mindedness and not-like-other-girls stubbornness was definitely grating at times.
Overall though, I did find it a really unique and satisfying read with interesting magic and a macabre atmosphere.