There is a lot more to the Brontë siblings than the world knows about. They are gifted writers and have the ability to create worlds, but they also have the ability to walk in the worlds that they’ve created. They figure it’s harmless, right? These are their characters. What could go wrong?
This book was not what I thought it was going to be. Initially I was really uncertain how the book was going to turn out. The premise was a little strange and I wasn’t quite sure how the world was supposed to work. As the story progresses however, things are explained and start to make more sense. I found myself enjoying the scenes where the siblings are in Verdopolis more than the ones where they’re in the real world (sorry Anne). Mostly what I got out of this book was a strong desire to learn more about the Brontës. I knew they were a set of siblings. I knew that there were two sisters who were especially well known (but I wouldn’t have been able to tell you which one wrote Jane Eyre and I’m embarrassed to say that I had no idea that a Brontë wrote Wuthering Heights). Anyway, I’m definitely ignorant as far as that family goes. I’m interested in reading both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights now and hope to get to at least one of them this year.
I liked that the author included an afterword. It placed what I’d just read in some context and it was interesting to see what truths she chose to take from real life and how she incorporated them into her story. I liked this magical take/reimagining of the Brontë’s pasts. I thought it was a good story but it had some pacing issues. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it seemed like there were some parts that really dragged. I didn’t know what was going on or why I should keep reading. There wasn’t a hint of much conflict until a good way through the book. Despite this, the author was able to create a really spooky atmosphere in some parts which did a great job at keeping the reader in suspense and on the edge of their seat.
Overall, I liked it and would recommend it to anyone who might want to learn a little more about the Brontës or for someone who’s looking for a little bit of a creepy read that won’t get too scary.
Overall Rating: 4
Language: None
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: Mild
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's She Reading? 