Bitterthorn

"I kneeled in a graveyard and told myself it was paradise."

Thanks to NetGalley and Andersen Press for this eARC.

This was a delightful read. A true gothic fairytale in the truest sense of the genre. It feels much like a sapphic retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast, and it does its job absolutely perfectly. So many gothic fantasy novels tend to fall flat in this day and age, but this one was a breath of fresh air amongst an often busy but stagnant genre.

From the first page, this one was an easy read for me. It was one I didn't want to tear my attention away from, and I read it quickly, only delayed due to the fact that I, unfortunately, had to work, eat and sleep at some points during the days! Beautifully written and show more descriptive, the setting of the German forests in the 19th Century worked perfectly for the genre, and I was really drawn into it,

The characters were complex and likeable, even when they were being cruel, or rude. The idea of love being the breaker of all curses is not a new one, but it's a trope that still lands well when it is done correctly; this novel is a true example of that.

At times a little heavy on the description, which could lead to some readers finding it slow in places. Overall, I throroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from the author. show less

A bewitching tale of estrangement, loneliness and the power of love.
I was immediately drawn into this story and captivated until the end.
I really felt for Mina and the loneliness she experienced. I also felt for the 'Witch' and the walls she had built around her heart to protect herself. I enjoyed reading the journey of them, both quite stubborn characters determined to have things "their way" but somehow still finding their way to one another.

A sapphic gothic fairytale romance with a heavy dose of loneliness.
The pace was quite slow and the “reveal” was pretty basic. I also felt that the “romance” was a little toxic and not something I would ship.
It was ok but nothing special.

this was the first book i've read after almost a decade of not toucing books to unfortunate reading block, and what a book to get back in. stormed through this in only a few days and enjoyed every page.