on
3.5/5
Non-Fiction
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Rating: 3/5
Pages: 376
Started: 20 July 2022
Finished: 20 July 2022
Summary:
On a summer afternoon at Thornchapel Manor, six children snuck out, followed a mysterious tunnel, and held a pretend wedding in a ruined chapel covered in thorns. Now, more then twelve years later, the six of them are back together at Thornchapel. Though they all have their own reasons for returning, they agree to perform an ancient ritual at the chapel, for old times’ sake. But none of them are prepared for what, exactly, the ritual entails.
Thoughts:
This was a very odd book. I was prepared for occult three-person polyamory, but I wasn’t quite ready for what really happened. It definitely makes sense that this book was the first in a series, because the end was very unsatisfying. To be honest, if this book didn’t have Sierra Simone’s writing style, I might have given it a 2/5 stars. But though the plot was very weird and didn’t really get anywhere, the grace of Simone’s writing made the book at least vaguely palatable. She approaches topics with both respectful reverence and impressive knowledge. Like I noted after reading Sinner, her perspective on religion actually makes me appreciate it more, which is impressive. Her word choice is lovely, the way she talks about body image for fat people and sexual assault is the most respectful and understanding that I’ve ever read, and her chemistry is impressive even when I don’t love the characters or plot. I may try to read the rest of this series, mostly just to see if it’s going somewhere that redeems the chaos of the first book, but I guess we’ll just have to see. Regardless, I know I will read more of her books in the future.
Words:
Crenelated (v) provide (a wall of a building) with battlements
Sable (n) the fur of a rodent
Diametric (adj) complete opposite
Winsomely (adv) generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence
Mullioned (adj) (of windows) divided by vertical bars or piers usually of stone
Churlish (adj) rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
Diffuse (adj) spread over a large area; not concentrated
Variegated (adj) exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks
Strata (n) a layer of class to which people are assigned according to their social status, education, or income
Arcana (n) secrets or mysteries
Salient (adj) most noticeable or important
Tipple (v) drink alcohol, especially habitually
Torc (n) a neck ornament consisting of a band of twisted metal, worn especially by the ancient Gauls and Britons
Secular (adj) denoting attitudes, actives, or other things that have no religoius or spiritual basis
Recuse (v) challenge (a judge, prosecutor, or juror) as unqualefied to perform legal duties because of a potential conflict of interest or lack of impartiality
Demarcate (v) set the boundaries or limits of
Beveled (adj) having a sloping edge rather than a squared one
Prevarication (n) deviation from the truth
Brythonic (adj) denoting, relating to, or belonging to the southern group of Celtic languages, consisting of Welsh, Corning, and Breton
Dolmens (pl n) a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones, found chiefly in Britain and France
Menhirs (pl n) a tall upright stone of a kind erected in prehistoric times in western Europe
Enervated (adj) drained of energy or vitality
Aspecting (v) (of a planet) form an aspect with (another celestial body)
Bathetic (adj) producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax