Author: Catherine Barter
Genre: Historical Fiction; Fantasy
Rating: 8/10
The story is inspired by the true tale of the Fox sisters in the 19th century, who made their fortune by acting as a medium to the spirit world. The story is narrated by fifteen-year old Maggie.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of this book. The voice of Maggie really shines through, and I liked how the author gave us many insights into her character without explicitly revealing her personality traits. I also appreciated how there were certain simple observations made about events that, in her voice, puts many of those nameless things we feel into actual words.
The characters are all very interesting, and their various personalities really reflect the environment they grew up in. This element of the vulnerability of mortality is a common trait in all of the characters, and it made the story so much more appealing to me. Many characters come and go throughout the course of the story, and even though not all of them are memorable, it is notable that they all provide interesting insights about the world they live in. I think the most alluring aspect of the story for me was the voice of Maggie and the interactions between Maggie and Kate, which felt really resonant with how sisters actually interact.
“The Devil is a name for things we can’t explain, which frighten us.”
As for the plot, there isn’t a very definitive singular climax or conflict, in my opinion. It’s a piece of Maggie’s life story, starting with an inciting incident and narrating all the events that follow through, ending with her coming to a decision about what she’s going to continue doing with her life. This book is more for the experience of immersing ourselves in the character’s shoes, seeing where the character’s choices lead them in life. It’s essentially a character-driven plot.
That being said, the story incorporates important events happening at the time–namely, the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. The way that these events intertwined with the main narrative, and the lens through which the author expresses these issues, were very unique. In the young, sometimes self-doubting voice of the character, the author also sensitively portrays how and why some people at that time went against the very movements which were meant to benefit them, which was quite a fresh perspective.
I was honestly quite surprised by how much I liked this book. I found the story to be very immersive, and I loved getting to know the Fox sisters. It was also fascinating to read about the real events from which the author took inspiration for the story–this is included at the end of the book. Though this book is relatively slow paced, I still enjoyed the reading experience, and I would recommend it for anyone interested in historical fiction.
“It was possible to believe and not believe something at the same time. It was easy.”
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (1st reading)
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