Hi everyone!
We are right in the middle of vacations here in Delhi. It's glaringly hot and I'm just trying my best to actually get out of the house and prevent my body from being permanently stuck in a lying position on the bed.
Other than that, I've been reading some amazing books lately, the most recent one of them being Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino.
I already am a Tori Bovalino fan- just a disclaimer. I loved her debut novel, The Devil Makes Three. And even though sadly I never wrote a proper review of it (as a matter of fact, I should get on that), I'm hoping more people pick it up and discover her writing, because she's amazing!
Check out the other fun posts in this tour here!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Book Info:
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Publishing Date: June 21, 2022
Book Links- Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository |
Synopsis:
Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”
Lou never believed in superstitions or magicuntil her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market. The market is a place Lou has only read about twisted streets, offerings of sweet fruits and incredible jewels. Everything from the food and wares, to the goblins themselves is a haunting temptation for any human who manages to find their way in.
Determined to save Neela, Lou learns songs and spells and tricks that will help her navigate this dangerous world and slip past a goblin’s defenses but she only has three days to find Neela before the market disappears and her aunt becomes one of them forever. If she isn’t careful, the market might just end up claiming her too.
Content Warning: on-page gore, on-page body horror, violence, trauma
RATING- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15 Reactions While Reading
Chapter 1- Ooh I didn't know this was a dual timeline story. This is the perfect first chapter.
We've already been introduced to this mysterious and seemingly dangerous market, goblets. It's getting real creepy already.
Chapter 2 - See! This is what I was talking about. Bovalino's writing reminds me a lot of VE Schwab, because of that slightly dark and ominous undertone they so effortlessly carry. The only difference is, that Schwab's plot takes a while to pick up, while Bovalino just runs with it the moment the ball drops.
This is a perfect example of a good first chapter. With only ... pages in, she has already established strong character relationships, a bit of the backstory, and internal conflict.
NEXT MOST IMPORTANT THING, is, that this book is already setting up the themes it want to talk about throughout the story so well.
Lou and Neela, her teenage aunt, have some a heart touching and important conversation in this scene. I don't consider this much of a spoiler but Lou comes out as asexual in this chapter. (Coincidentally I just read two books, both for book tours, with ace main characters, and i think that's so cool- check out Benji in Hell Followed With Us)
And we're already told in the beginning of the story that May is bisexual. In terms of representation, five out of five for this book.
(Also I think Neela is part Asian? I'm not sure yet)
Chapter 4- Can we also just take a minute to appreciate the amazing sibling relationships created here? Because it's amazing!?
The way May and Laura have this really strong friendship thats just more than being sisters. They're best friends. They have been there for each other every step of each other's life. There is the older sister protective instinct, and almost a psychic connection where they know with just subtle hints what the other's feeling.
I'm not sure if that's common with all sisters, 'cause I've only had mine for 14 years and we've spent 80% of that time fighting and bickering. I'd love to know your thoughts on this.
Chapter 8- I love how the past timeline is done in the story. Every time some sort of important information is revealed in those chapters that correlates with the coming events, or something that has already happened and it's like a puzzle piece clicking into place in your brain.
Chapter 33- Oh, the choice that will torment human till the end of time time!- right or left?
Okay, we're sooo close to getting out this mess. Pleaaase let them make our of this safely. And then finally maybe we can have some happy scenes?
This is ratcheting up my anxiety, oh my god.
"Morning and evening
Maidens hear the goblins cry
Come buy our orchard fruits,
Come buy, Come buy
We must not look at goblin men
We must not buy their fruits."
Overall Thoughts
About the Author:
Tori Bovalino grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and never knew she wanted to live abroad until she was already in London. She’s awful at picking favorites, but her consistent go to books are Pride and Prejudice, Fire, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. She’s enamored with books that make her cry.
Tori holds a BA in English fiction writing and anthropology and a minor in German from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London.
She is currently on the Creative and practice-based PhD course at RHUL, researching the relationship between Russian folklore and YA fantasy novels. In her free time, Tori enjoys reading (duh), embroidering, and traveling. She is represented by Dr. Uwe Stender and Amelia Appel at TriadaUS Literary Agency. She writes shirt stories, poems, and novels.