Juniper & Thorn is a gothic horror fairytale retelling that doesn't disappoint on any front. Every aspect of the book shows a stunning duality - the mJuniper & Thorn is a gothic horror fairytale retelling that doesn't disappoint on any front. Every aspect of the book shows a stunning duality - the magic that is both beautiful and terrifying, the world that is both old and new, and the characters that are both kind and cruel. This book is a nightmare of a dream—both the monster under your bed and the lover at your back.
I've always been a sucker for gothic horror, so adding in dark fairytale elements and a dash of spice is the easiest way to make me fall for a story. Throw in some viciously captivating prose and complex characters, and you've got me foaming at the mouth.
Marlinchen is sweet but frustratingly naive at times, so watching her character develop was deeply satisfying. But, of course, nothing was more satisfying than Sevas. He jeté'd his way right into my heart, and he is there to stay. All the characters did, really - even the villains. I love to hate them, which makes them quality characters in my book.
The only tiny qualm I initially had with the narrative is that it is very heavy with metaphors and similes, which I'm usually not a fan of because, more often than not, it comes off as excessive and redundant. However, Ava Reid writes them in such a polished and compelling way that I ended up loving every one! This one was my absolute favorite:
"All around us, Oblya gasped and panted like a woman in a too-small corset. Artisan schools and almshouses burst from between its ivory boning. An eye clinic and an electric station flowered up in two quick exhales. And then, at last, the ballet theater, with a breath that ripped the corset's seams and exposed Oblya's pale, heaving chest. Tourists walked from one of her bared nipples to the other, from the Yehuli temple to the onion dome of the oldest church. They gathered at the ballet theater in the valley of her breasts, right above her beating heart."
Just - UGH, *chef's kiss*! The rest of the book is just as exquisite, I assure you. There are just so many twists and turns and darkness and light, and as otherwordly as it is, there are moments of the mundane that make it so relatable. Overall, the book is hauntingly beautiful and makes me so excited to read another book with Ava Reid's gorgeous prose.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5!
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for the ARC!...more