Book Review: Not Good For Maidens

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Not Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino is a creepy crawly frustrating read with reckless teenaged girls, magical violence and many body parts in The Goblin Market. A book that may horrify or delight with the casual violence of goblin creatures who gladly feast on human marrow.

This is a story about family, loyalty, forbidden love and protection. Of breaking rules and paying the price (somewhat 😒), of loss and sacrifice. Of dangerous beings ready to feast on stupidly unaware humans.

𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Not Good For Maidens

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Falling For a Murderous Bastard

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Tori Bovalino

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: RB Media |Page Street Kids

𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Audra

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Easy

𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Audiobook

4.6/5

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗕

Seventeen years ago, May and Laura Wickett fought their way out of the goblin market but the scars will never fade from May’s heart. After all, the market was more than the sum of the bodies it left behind: it was also the home of her first love. But when the price of freedom is blood and marrow, some heartbreaks are better left buried. 

In present-day Boston, Louisa Wickett-Stevens does not believe in magic, despite Mom’s and Aunt May’s superstitions. But after Lou’s teenage aunt, Neela, goes missing, Lou realizes that their superstitions have been handed down to protect them from York’s bloodthirsty goblin market. It’s up to Lou, Mom, and May to infiltrate the market and steal Neela back before the goblins disappear. But the market has its fair share of secrets, and this time, the goblins do not only want death: they seek vengeance.

🔅Content Warnings

Blood/gore, explicit violence, death

𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬

Enter this at once recognizable, yet foreign, creepy, crawly world where Wickett girls are plagued by goblins of the Goblin Market. Vicious and tricky goblins who tempt, cajole, seduce and lie; who take, drug, beat and kill; who crack human bones and feast on human marrow; who are somewhat held in check by a set of rules that keep some safe. Rules two of the Wickett girls will break as one seeks her heart’s desire; rules a Wickett girl will keep as she attempts to escape the horrors of the Goblin Market. Rules, curses and traps that will take this family to the brink as their coven seeks to protect their city from more than the occasional torso, head and leg that wash up. When a sister is taken, what will you do and become to save her? The Wicketts become MORE.

Louisa has always wanted to know more about her mother and aunt. The two women who raised her across the ocean and far from the grandmother and younger aunt she loves. The two women who have kept themselves from her for 17 years. The two women whose eyes go wide with fear when Lou receives a voice message from her dear aunt begging to be saved, speaking of the Market and then cutting to an eerie voice that calls her to the market. A market she knows nothing about.

While her mother forbids her to follow as she crosses the ocean back to York, Louisa will follow on her heels and watch as her mother, aunt and grandmother transform before her eyes. Watch as they open up about a centuries long legacy that has seen the Wickett Witches and their coven as the protectors of the city from a vicious goblin market. A market that follows specific rules, but that waits in heavy anticipation for the blood of witches and their TERRIBLE/poor choices. A market that 18 years ago feasted on the blood of a Wickett witch who barely made it out. This time the market will demand more and will offer surprises to the witches who never wanted to choose it, but were fated to.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧

~ Compelling mystery with family and goblins

~ LGBTQIA+ representation ✨

~ Unnerving teenage silliness

~ While I disliked the choices made by the teens, the storytelling was excellent

~ I would read a book 2 😍👏

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦:

▪️Folk Of Air (All three)

▪️The Stolen Heir

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦:

~ Family & Loyalty

~ Mistakes & Consequences

~ Caution of Appearances

𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘:

~ Mature YA

~ Adults

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗛:

~ Really stupid stupid teens – like, cannot think keep me safe while I act as a jackass please 😶 TEENS

~ The let me get myself killed because ‘love’ is worth it and I shall never be betrayed trope 😶

𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧:

Not Good For Maidens, has very vivid descriptions of attacks and violence. If you are squeamish or easily unsettled by violence in books, it may be best to read this with caution. Otherwise, read it! It was the story that stayed with me the most from 2022.

_____

𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗦

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Author links:

~ Website