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atalea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
veliana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Abandonment
amyteurhour's review against another edition
3.75
Definitely make sure to look through the content warnings (I'm sure I've missed some). Kent's writing was very atmospheric and painted a bleak picture of Agnes's last days. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Morven Christie gives an amazing performance to really bring Kent's words to life. If you usually speed up the audio, I wouldn't go any further than 1.5x; let yourself sink into the story. It's really slow, but just be patient with it
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
e11en's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder
fbarros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
I was genuinely anxious while reading it even though the plot is already fixed. It made me reflect on what it means to come to terms with death, injustice, and honestly, I couldn't put it down.
The only minor quibble I have is that I wished for more exploration of those breathtaking Icelandic landscapes. Nevertheless, the desolation of certain places is definitely conveyed, which significantly influenced the overall atmosphere of the book.
After another emotionally charged read, I think it's time for a break from sad books
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Murder
felkyo_grey's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief
kimmillington's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Much of the landscape and the plot is bleak, foreboding and inescapable so there is a dull misery and inevitability to the course of the story. There are no surprising twists and when Agnes finally tells her tale, it is much as the reader would anticipate.
This book therefore has very little in terms of plot development and is all about reflecting on the thoughts and actions of the characters.
There are a diverse range of complex characters which adds interest and the reader does become particularly sympathetic to Agnes. She is a well rounded character, illiciting a feeling of sympathy but also dread when she makes decisions and takes action to do things that are as damaging to herself as the actions and decisions of others.
I am unsure about why Tóti’s story includes some level of desire and romantic feeling for Agnes as this element didn’t have legs and didn’t develop into anything. Is this perhaps a spiritual aside- the difficulty for those that give their life to God to walk the line between feeling a higher spiritual purpose whilst experiencing carnal desires.
I am also unsure why Margrét laid out her clothes near to the end of the book. Obviously Lauga relinquishing her brooch was relevant to her realising all was not as it first seemed, but I don’t understand the relevance of Margrét’s actions.
I also don’t understand why Tóti suffered a long and debilitating illness- Agnes could have told her story through Tóti as easily as she did through Margrét so I’m unsure why the author chose to cut Tóti from the narrative for several months.
I did not like the historical letters included. I found them dull and two dimensional and did not really add anything to the story. I understand it was important to the author to include them to nail the narrative to the true story but I felt they were unnecessary.
A dark and mostly depressing read- well written but uneventful and unsurprising.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sarah_speaks's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Chronic illness and Pregnancy
brittany_alleman_ayers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy