The multiple POVs and time jumps make this choppy. Additionally a lot of this has been, “the character did this and then this so she could do this”.  The adult women POVs read like that of a teenager instead of a grown woman. Finally, the mother keeping secrets from the daughter was petty and childish. 

All of these complaints made it hard for me to connect to any of the character. 


Might come back to, but probably won’t. Tried both physical copy and audio. 

Listen, this book isn’t bad but I can tell if I try to make myself keep going I will be stuck back into a reading slump and I'm not about to let this book do that. 

I can see what Madeline Miller was trying to do - expand on the love story of Achilles and Patroclus through Patroclus explaining their story to Thetis to get into the underworld. However, this is so slow and the writing style changes randomly. I only got to page 139 and still think a lot could've been cut out to make this move faster. 

In the end, aren't retellings supposed to have more oomf than the original? 

Also, yes Achilles is the son of a goddess, but does that warrant Patroclus constantly idolizing his knees and feet? Like that's what you love about the guy you've fallen in love with?

And yes I tried it both on audio and the physical copy. The audiobook narrator sounds like a more boring version of Prince Harry

I was HOOKED from the start. Just the mystery I needed to start off a mythology readathon with the mix of Celtic folklore/mythology in this one

I have never been more excited to have two books from an author’s backlist sitting on my shelf to pick up ASAP. 

More of a review to come 

First J.T. Ellison and it didn’t disappoint. Will definitely pick up more from this author, including the two unread ones sitting on my shelf. 
 

If you love Marie Benedict's stories centered around women in science that aren't talked about in history books, this one is for you. 

I absolutely loved this. 

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year as well as an Indie Press List pick from Currently Reading Podcast, so I'm disappointed it wasn't a 4.5 or higher.

Overall I had a good time, the downfall of this is that it dragged in several spots and then the ending seemed rushed. If the pacing may have been worked on throughout, this would've ended up higher. The ending seemed so rushed that it got a bit cheesy, and I think the epilogue needed a little more of 'where is she now' in it. 

A story of friendship and relationships of married and widowed women in an Indian village with a twist of a woman who everyone thinks killed her husband. I think this would be a good book club book as it does discuss caste systems and the life inside and outside of villages etc. 

March has been a really hard reading month for me so I'm just glad this one didn't turn out to be a complete dud, but coming out of a reading slump while reading this didn't exactly help my enjoyment. 

Don't forget to take a look at reviews from Own Voices reviewers!

Sadly I'll be DNFing this at 31%. 

I think the writing style in this just doesn't match my personal tastes and that the sudden drift from present time to past memories does a real disservice to the story. 

I'd be really interested in the plot of the fire and the aftermath and then boom we're to where her brother is attacked. It's just jarring and disconnected. 

This has a lot of promise, but needs tighter editing. 

I can't believe I read this on International Women's Day of all days. 

What this is: an evangelical self help book
What people were hoping for: a tell all
What I took from it: Jinger is still in a cult

I, like many, grew up watching the Duggar family on TLC. As a Christian, I can't say I was fascinated in how the family operated because frankly it terrified me. I knew then that there is no way we were interpreting the Bible the same way. 

I wish I was surprised that it's clear Jinger has gone from one cultish sect of Christianity, IBLP, to another one, Calvinism. She went right from one conservative, transphobic, homophobic, and anti-women sect to another.

We should take this book with a grain of salt as since her ghost writer works for the church she attends, we can deduce things had to be approved by said church. Yuck. 

A lot about this made me cringe, but the quote that made me cringe the most was, 'A woman's identity is in Jesus'. Which isn't surprising given she failed to quote any verse about any of the amazing women mentioned in the Bible or the fact she belongs to a church where women cannot share the Word as pastors. I have never been so glad to have been raised in a Christian faith that is accepting and told me I was my own person. 

I'd be remiss to say she also mentioned abortion being a sin which as of March 8, 2023 is a little ironic considering her sister had one a few weeks ago in a red state where she had to go before a board to justify it (don't argue with me, it will be listed as such by insurance.)

The way she shames any person that decided to leave the church completely isn't very Christian in my opinion. We all have different spiritual journeys and clearly the only option she thinks women should have is to just disentangle their beliefs just like her. 

If you're looking for a tell all, this isn't it. I think we all know the only 'Duggar' we may get a tell all from is Amy or maybe Derek/Jill. 

I think the audience for this one is for evangelical women, who may be coming from IBLP or any other far right sect into other denominations. This is not for any person who is close to leaving religion all together. I do hope this does not make it into any Bible study group.