Harper Voyager Juniper & Thorn

Super état

What a breathtaking tale. The description, the story line, the characters. I absolutely adored this novel. It is about a young woman growing up in a family home to an abusive father and horrible sisters. One night she sneaks out of her house for the first time and her life changes forever. If you’re looking for a fairytale with a touch of darkness, then look no further this is the book for you

I don’t even know how to find words that feel like enough to express how absolutely, deeply this story has my heart. It was far and away, without question my favorite read in YEARS.Swept away into what feels like a dark, mysterious fairytale full of poetic melancholy, I didn’t want it to ever end and kept stalling reading the last 10% of the book because the thought of it being over was just unacceptable. It is both heartbreakingly sad yet also somehow feels impossibly like home. One of those stories that seems to be simultaneously seeping into and out of my heart, my bones, my soul…speaking to my inner despair, calling to all the dark shadowed parts of myself in a way that made me feel seen and less alone in the world.I read and enjoy many different genres and types of stories but in the end what I want from a book is to feel *something*…and this story absolutely made me FEEL, all the way to the very core essence of my being. It’s a stunning work of art and an absolute must-read for anyone who likes dark, gothic horror, I cannot recommend it enough!I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions and review are my own and provided voluntarily.

3.5 starsI enjoyed this but it was much darker than I was expecting it to be. There’s a lot of content that could be triggering for readers such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. There’s also brief mentions of pedophilia and rape. The main character has an eating disorder and we see her throw up after most meals. Her eating disorder is complex though and is tied to the abuse she faces from her father and the guilt she feels over her actions.The strongest aspect of this story is the romance between the two main characters. It is quite intense and touching. Apart from the romance, it felt like the traumas of the characters were the dominating aspect of the story. Overall, the amount of triggering content in this made it hard for me to fully enjoy but there were some elements that I liked. Ava Reid writes gorgeous prose and I will definitely read her next book.

Was so pleased with this book, sat down to read it and didn’t put it back down x