- #1
I had a hard time figuring out what this story is about.It explores womanhood in a gory, victorian, gothic setting. One chapter it's killing people with axes, the next chapter we're discussing Carynne's preferences for poofy dresses. It is heavy with female themes, or you could say gender themes. The book goes on about the differences between men and women, and the difficulties women have to go through under the patriarchy.This book is a weird twist on love. We see love in its fully dutiful form, its fairy-like setting, its obsession with a story...... depends on the character, really. Love, however, is never presented like some unstoppable and wonderful novelty as does most stories.In the end, it's a book on womanhood. That's what I've decided after mulling over it for too long.Really, the intrigue for what all characters have to do with Carynne's situation is what hooks the story together and drives the plot and readers' interest.I can't describe the book very well. It's not an issue of coherency but rather an issue of being overwhelmed by the novelty. Plus, there was a huge wait period as I waited for the story to come to an end at Chapter 234 so my memory is fuzzy. The exhilaration of going on this ride of a book, however, stays in my heart.