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ClareR (5854 KP) rated Cunning Women in Books

May 15, 2021

Cunning Women

Elizabeth Lee | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Cunning Women is everything I love about historical fiction.
I’m on a bit of a 17th century bender at the moment, and witches seem to crop up frequently. Basically, if you were female, didn’t have a man about the place (preferably one you were married to) and knew things other than washing, cleaning and popping out babies, you risked being accused of witchcraft. Add to that a birthmark, and/ or an opinion or two, AND not going to church regularly, then you might as well start picking your own stake out.

Sarah and her mother, brother and little sister, all live in a hamlet abandoned after all the inhabitants died of plague, known as the Plague Village. They have no money and little income after the death of Sarah’s father, and what money they do have comes from selling potions, small spells and begging. They’re outcasts, and there’s an atmosphere of dank, dark poverty in where they live and what they wear. They are avoided by pretty much everyone in the village - it seems to be a really lonely existence.

Then comes a spark of hope when Sarah meets the local farmer’s son, Daniel. He lives a very different life: one of open spaces, plenty of food, light and comfort. He’s treated poorly by his father and a farm hand, but he’s never hungry, and his living conditions are so much better than those of the Haworth family.

This is a story that feels so raw and real. You just know that it’s not going to be a happy ending. How can it? DOn’t get me wrong - I rather like endings that are unresolved or just plain unpleasant (weird, I know), but the youth of these protagonists had me hoping throughout for a better life for them.

Ahh, the 17th century - great to read about, but I’ve never been so glad to have been born in the 1970’s!

This is a really enjoyable, heartfelt historical fiction novel, and I’m so pleased that I got the chance to read it. Many thanks to Windmill Books for providing me with an e-arc through NetGalley.

Kudos

Second Glance

Jodi Picoult

7.6 (5 Ratings) Rate It

Book

When odd, supernatural events plague the town of Comtosook, a ghost hunter is hired by the developer...

Justin (2 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies

Feb 2, 2018 (Updated Feb 2, 2018)

Power Rangers (2017)

2017 | Action, Sci-Fi

6.4

(100 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Not much (0 more)

80% teen angst and 20% of what you wanted to see (0 more)

Meh

I dont get what this movie is trying to do. I kinda grew up with the original power rangers so the last thing i need from a movie based on them is loads of screen time taken up by character introduction. You could well argue that its targeted at a younger audience who might not have experienced the shows and latter movies first time round. But i would imagine they would have been as dissappointed and bored as i was by the majority of the movie being character intro and development and barely any of the fast action monster arse kicking that both us oldies and the younger generation would be expecting to see. Skip to the last half hour and you have a great high budget episode. Or just watch the trailer and see the last half hour condensed into a teaser that cons you out of your time/money into thinking youll get that throughout. Either way avoid like the plague.

Kudos

Gail (4 KP) rated Shattered Lies (The Unraveled Trilogy, #3) in Books

Jun 4, 2018

Final book in the Unraveled Trilogy has left me confused, excited and hopeful. Jax, Raven, Jackie and Max have been through the everything under the sun and it still doesn’t look like it’s over.
After so many years of wondering Jax finally might have the chance to ask his father why. But the cost is Michael juniors life. Can Jax and Max put their anger aside to save their sisters only child? Can they truly be safe from all their pasts? Those question plague Jax and Max everyday.
I was so lost throughout the trilogy. So much happened in these three books that I got frustrated. Don’t get me wrong it was entertaining and the relationships were amazing. I loved the way that they changed their ways to be a better family. I don’t think the author needed so much drama to make her books interesting. The plot and characters spoke for themselves and it was an amazing read.
Give this trilogy a go and you wont be disappointed. Death isn’t the end.