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brightly_unfiltered's review against another edition
3.0
MILD, NOT-IMPORTANT SPOILER IN THIS REVIEW! Won't ruin the story for you but it is a "spoiler."
I wanted to give this a better rating. The storyline is mostly original, with all the key factors to make this a modern-ish day fairytale in all its darkly luscious glory.
But.
Miren bothered me so freaking much! She's extremely sheltered growing up, but is raised under some not-child-friendly conditions. And yet she is strong and manages to not show any signs of childhood trauma, a heroine!...but then can't smell some very large lies? At several key points in the story I found myself feeling whiplashed because one moment Miren is a total badass, but very shortly after she would do something so ridiculously, obviously stupid. She's the heroine I want so badly to love, and end up just cringing my way through.
If you care more about character consistency, you might struggle with this story. If you care more about mermaids, dark fairy tale vibes, or family scandal, you'll really enjoy this story.
I wanted to give this a better rating. The storyline is mostly original, with all the key factors to make this a modern-ish day fairytale in all its darkly luscious glory.
But.
Miren bothered me so freaking much! She's extremely sheltered growing up, but is raised under some not-child-friendly conditions. And yet she is strong and manages to not show any signs of childhood trauma, a heroine!...but then can't smell some very large lies? At several key points in the story I found myself feeling whiplashed because one moment Miren is a total badass, but very shortly after she would do something so ridiculously, obviously stupid. She's the heroine I want so badly to love, and end up just cringing my way through.
If you care more about character consistency, you might struggle with this story. If you care more about mermaids, dark fairy tale vibes, or family scandal, you'll really enjoy this story.
allc_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
shaba815's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible story about power, secrets, and greed in a magical world with memorable characters. It pulled me in and I knew I wouldn't stop until the end. I can't wait to revisit this world next year!
venneh's review against another edition
4.0
Solid, gothic-ish story about the last scion born to a decaying house, the parents she never knew, and her escape from a marriage she doesn’t want. She’s surrounded by death and varying takes on mermaid and Gaelic mythos. There’s a fair few tropes this plays into, and while there’s only so deep the characterization goes, it’s a solid read and manages to wrap up fairly well. Definitely worth a look when it comes out.
susysstories's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Again a great gothic story by AG Slatter. Though maybe I liked The Briar Book of the Dead better (the pace was a bit faster and more even), I loved being back in this world and I absolutely love Slatter's writing style. I read this while listening to Aoife McMahon's narration which definitely enhanced the experience.
Characters 10
Atmosphere 10
Writing Style 10
Premise 8
Execution/Plot 8
Execution/Pace 8
Execution/Setup 9
Enjoyment/Engrossment 8
Narration 10
Characters 10
Atmosphere 10
Writing Style 10
Premise 8
Execution/Plot 8
Execution/Pace 8
Execution/Setup 9
Enjoyment/Engrossment 8
Narration 10
serpentskirtt's review against another edition
4.0
I feel lots of ways about this book. On one hand, I love it. On the other, the plot and overall structure and characterization felt a little lacking. So my oft-awarded four stars it is.
The writing here is exquisitely beautiful. Fairy tales (the author's own, I understand, from another publication?) are woven throughout, and provide some hints as to Miren's history mystery. (LOL, I now love that phrase). But, I found myself just really dragging through the first - HALF - of the book. Not much had happened to move the plot along. I also wasn't sure what kind of world I was in, because the fantasy aspects took awhile to actually be confirmed.
There are swaths of book that take place in two main settings and a minor third. I'm just not sure everything tied together. Likewise, while this was a bildungsroman for Miren, I felt her characterization a little inconsistent. Perhaps the place dictates her character.
Overall, I am very glad I stuck with the book even when it felt nothing was happening. The beauty of the writing kept me in, and ultimately, I felt rewarded and very satisfied when finished.
The writing here is exquisitely beautiful. Fairy tales (the author's own, I understand, from another publication?) are woven throughout, and provide some hints as to Miren's history mystery. (LOL, I now love that phrase). But, I found myself just really dragging through the first - HALF - of the book. Not much had happened to move the plot along. I also wasn't sure what kind of world I was in, because the fantasy aspects took awhile to actually be confirmed.
There are swaths of book that take place in two main settings and a minor third. I'm just not sure everything tied together. Likewise, while this was a bildungsroman for Miren, I felt her characterization a little inconsistent. Perhaps the place dictates her character.
Overall, I am very glad I stuck with the book even when it felt nothing was happening. The beauty of the writing kept me in, and ultimately, I felt rewarded and very satisfied when finished.