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The Paper Duchess #1
The Bottle Stopper
"Too much trouble, and you'll end up just like your crazy mother."
Maeve was six when they took her mother away, and left her in the care of her Uncle Lou: a drunk, a misogynist, a fraud.
For eleven years she's lived with him in Falside's slums, deep in the silt of the Falwere River. She bottles his miracle medicine, stocks his apothecary shop, and endures his savage temper.
But as his violence escalates, and his lies come undone, she devises a plan to escape him forever. Even if it means people have to die.
Maeve was six when they took her mother away, and left her in the care of her Uncle Lou: a drunk, a misogynist, a fraud.
For eleven years she's lived with him in Falside's slums, deep in the silt of the Falwere River. She bottles his miracle medicine, stocks his apothecary shop, and endures his savage temper.
But as his violence escalates, and his lies come undone, she devises a plan to escape him forever. Even if it means people have to die.
212 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2015
26 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Angeline Trevena
33 books60 followersAngeline Trevena is a British science fiction, fantasy, and horror author. Creator of The Paper Duchess series, she is best known for her feminist brand of dystopia.
She’s been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pen, and after gaining a BA Hons degree in Drama and Writing, she honed her craft with horror and fantasy shorts which are published in numerous magazines and anthologies.
Angeline grew up on the edge of Dartmoor, Devon, amongst its legends and ghost stories, but now lives in central England with her husband, their two young boys, and a somewhat neurotic cat.
She’s been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pen, and after gaining a BA Hons degree in Drama and Writing, she honed her craft with horror and fantasy shorts which are published in numerous magazines and anthologies.
Angeline grew up on the edge of Dartmoor, Devon, amongst its legends and ghost stories, but now lives in central England with her husband, their two young boys, and a somewhat neurotic cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 2, 2016
This is a haunting and atmospheric story of a chilling future dystopian society.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A tale of abuse, secrets, and lies, The Bottle Stopper is a well thought out dystopian novel that tells the tale of Maeve and the abuse she suffers at the hands of her wicked uncle who she is forced to live with when the powers that be take her mother. This all-powerful authoritarian state-like existence carries on throughout the story and is the backdrop to the events that follow. I enjoyed the more sinister political concept of how easy it could be for governments to spy on and subjugate citizens.
What I liked the most was the use of metaphor to enhance the overall grim atmosphere of the book and on the whole, the narrative was well paced.
Maeve is a strong and well-thought out character. Stuck in a horrible job at her uncle’s shop, she reminded me a little of Cinderella as I read the detailed descriptions of her daily life putting corks into the bottle of her uncle’s ‘elixirs’. The story gets going when she must flee his reign of terror before he has a chance to murder her. So begins her attempt at freedom and revenge.
There are quite a lot of characters in this book and most of the time they are well developed. On occasions some of them seemed to be used just to give information rather than carrying the action forward. But this is a minor point.
However, there were too many dialogue attributions for my tastes that made the conversations lose a little of their impact. Also, far too many sentences beginning with pronouns; lots of ‘She heard, she looked up, he walked’ etc., one after the other. Again, these are minor editorial niggles and do not detract from the character driven narrative.
Overall a well written and thoughtful book that tackles difficult issues such as physical abuse, with style.
Highly recommended for readers of dark dystopian literature.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A tale of abuse, secrets, and lies, The Bottle Stopper is a well thought out dystopian novel that tells the tale of Maeve and the abuse she suffers at the hands of her wicked uncle who she is forced to live with when the powers that be take her mother. This all-powerful authoritarian state-like existence carries on throughout the story and is the backdrop to the events that follow. I enjoyed the more sinister political concept of how easy it could be for governments to spy on and subjugate citizens.
What I liked the most was the use of metaphor to enhance the overall grim atmosphere of the book and on the whole, the narrative was well paced.
Maeve is a strong and well-thought out character. Stuck in a horrible job at her uncle’s shop, she reminded me a little of Cinderella as I read the detailed descriptions of her daily life putting corks into the bottle of her uncle’s ‘elixirs’. The story gets going when she must flee his reign of terror before he has a chance to murder her. So begins her attempt at freedom and revenge.
There are quite a lot of characters in this book and most of the time they are well developed. On occasions some of them seemed to be used just to give information rather than carrying the action forward. But this is a minor point.
However, there were too many dialogue attributions for my tastes that made the conversations lose a little of their impact. Also, far too many sentences beginning with pronouns; lots of ‘She heard, she looked up, he walked’ etc., one after the other. Again, these are minor editorial niggles and do not detract from the character driven narrative.
Overall a well written and thoughtful book that tackles difficult issues such as physical abuse, with style.
Highly recommended for readers of dark dystopian literature.
January 29, 2016
Maeve is living a life of hardship and cruelty at the hands of her uncle. She has lived with him ever since the authorities took her mother away when she was a young child. As his violence towards her gets worse, she begins to put into action, a poisonous plan to get her revenge and escape. Uncle Lou is an evil piece of work who deserves what he gets in the story.
There are quite a large number of characters in this book, but they are all needed, serve a purpose and are well developed. This is a well written dystopian thriller, and although fictional, does make you wonder how much control governments will have over people in the future. I am pleased to see that this is the first in a series, as I'd like to know what happens next to Maeve and the Paper Duchess.
A chilling vision of a possible future. I enjoyed this so much I've also purchased Cutting the Bloodline by the same author.
There are quite a large number of characters in this book, but they are all needed, serve a purpose and are well developed. This is a well written dystopian thriller, and although fictional, does make you wonder how much control governments will have over people in the future. I am pleased to see that this is the first in a series, as I'd like to know what happens next to Maeve and the Paper Duchess.
A chilling vision of a possible future. I enjoyed this so much I've also purchased Cutting the Bloodline by the same author.
April 30, 2016
An imaginative dystopian novel that has some well thought out characters and an interesting but dark storyline. Maeve lives in a harsh, politically controlled world with a cruel and abusive uncle. She is made to work as a bottle stopper in her uncle's apothecary, until his escalating violence eventually pushes her into seeking revenge and planning her escape. It is an interesting story that has a likeable protagonist and enough twists to keep your interest. I did find that the numerous characters made it a little distracting at times but overall they do add some depth to the storyline. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
September 23, 2015
This is a solid introduction to this dark and seedy world. Well written and full of more than a handful of twists. Kept me hooked to the end and then some. Can't wait for the second instalment.
March 23, 2016
I really enjoyed this book.The author has a talent for world building and creating well developed characters.I liked that the book portrays a gritty dystopian world with flawed characters.The struggle of a young woman to escape from her abusive home and find her place in the world is engaging.The book finishes nicely yet leaves room for more books.I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2018
Maeve lives at the bottom of society, down by the stinking river where she collects water and appropriates bottles for her abusive uncle's shop. His rages have left her bruised and broken, and it's only a matter of time before he goes too far. But hope comes in the form of a monk with a hidden past, a friend she never knew she could have, and a little something extra hidden amoungst the apothecary's plant clippings, setting in motion events which slowly start to spiral beyond her control.
I love how this is a story about one tiny action causing huge ripples across society. It's a slowly unfolding tale which can be at times both frustrating and fascinating to read, as we know more than the characters and just have to wait for them to catch up. There are a lot of characters here, but this doesn't dilute the plot as it might do in a less skilled writer's hands. Each little vignette of life in Falside gives flavour to the world described, as well as reinforcing the butterfly effect message.
Maeve herself is a darkly curious character, constructed with a hint of apathy that somehow doesn't make her unpalatable. She's raw, angry, full of simmering-beneath-the-surface tension that's barely held in check by her conscience. Even though I felt her friendship with Topley could have been better explored, you could feel her desperation to be liked . Some of the character relationships could be so-so .
The world setting is one of a grim future-dystopia that's refreshingly old European in style. You can't fail to make the Handmaid's Tale connection - it's a society based on the necessity of protecting women to maximise an unusually low birth rate. Women of high social status are tagged and forced into marriages, the birth of a child (particularly female) is publicly celebrated, women are forbidden from things ranging from wearing trousers, buying "treats" or having same-sex relationships. However Falside is not deeply religious (not if the monks are anything to go by), the lower classes are free to do as they please procreation-wise, and what's happening beyond the city walls... Well, no one's sure. There are some holes in the logic here and there but it's an interesting world which will hopefully be expanded upon later in the series and answer some questions. The writing is solid throughout, and never strays too far into the nastier aspect of the world.
A disquieting read, but one well worth a go if you like your teenage dystopian rebel to be more brain and less adrenaline (and/or hormone) fueled brawn. While it might not be perfect, I'm so curious to know what will become of Maeve and the resistance that I've already got hold of the rest of the series.
I love how this is a story about one tiny action causing huge ripples across society. It's a slowly unfolding tale which can be at times both frustrating and fascinating to read, as we know more than the characters and just have to wait for them to catch up. There are a lot of characters here, but this doesn't dilute the plot as it might do in a less skilled writer's hands. Each little vignette of life in Falside gives flavour to the world described, as well as reinforcing the butterfly effect message.
Maeve herself is a darkly curious character, constructed with a hint of apathy that somehow doesn't make her unpalatable. She's raw, angry, full of simmering-beneath-the-surface tension that's barely held in check by her conscience. Even though I felt her friendship with Topley could have been better explored, you could feel her desperation to be liked . Some of the character relationships could be so-so .
The world setting is one of a grim future-dystopia that's refreshingly old European in style. You can't fail to make the Handmaid's Tale connection - it's a society based on the necessity of protecting women to maximise an unusually low birth rate. Women of high social status are tagged and forced into marriages, the birth of a child (particularly female) is publicly celebrated, women are forbidden from things ranging from wearing trousers, buying "treats" or having same-sex relationships. However Falside is not deeply religious (not if the monks are anything to go by), the lower classes are free to do as they please procreation-wise, and what's happening beyond the city walls... Well, no one's sure. There are some holes in the logic here and there but it's an interesting world which will hopefully be expanded upon later in the series and answer some questions. The writing is solid throughout, and never strays too far into the nastier aspect of the world.
A disquieting read, but one well worth a go if you like your teenage dystopian rebel to be more brain and less adrenaline (and/or hormone) fueled brawn. While it might not be perfect, I'm so curious to know what will become of Maeve and the resistance that I've already got hold of the rest of the series.
June 25, 2018
I downloaded this book a little over two years ago but only just got around to reading it now. It is a fairly decent book. Short though. I read it in a single day.
It is a dystopia, and a particularly brutal and bleak one at that. A little too much so for my taste but still a good story. The plot revolves mostly around one character. A seventeen year old girl living under the care of an uncle since years ago her mother was arrested and taken away and has been unheard-of ever since. The girl is abused by her uncle and the brutal society offers her no hope so she devises a sociopathic scheme to get rid of him. (Seriously - sociopathic. She starts killing people. She seems to get away with it too, so the ending is morally suspect at best).
The world is an interesting one, though not as well developed as I'd've preferred. It shows signs of being much more planned out but the author has saved most of the details for later books. From this book we know mostly just that it is a SciFi future Earth where civilization has devolved slightly. Most modern things still exist but are more rare and not as well understood. Society has also devolved. For some reason female births have dropped considerably (there are hints that this may have been intentionally done). As a result women are scarce and are treated as a rare commodity. That is, as possessions (slaves), mostly, although with a few small differences. While the fiercely authoritarian government and harsh economy would seem to make it a brutal climate for all citizens, the focus here is heavily stilted toward women's issues. The subjugation and abuse of women is a central theme and takes precedence over all other worldbuilding concerns. I'm not sure whether that makes this a feminist book or merely myopic.
Overall it's a fairly gripping story in a rather drab world. worth reading, but with room for improvement.
I'm torn between giving three stars or four. It's really right in the middle. Choosing to round up because in spite of the flaws I enjoyed the book more than other books I have given three stars before.
It is a dystopia, and a particularly brutal and bleak one at that. A little too much so for my taste but still a good story. The plot revolves mostly around one character. A seventeen year old girl living under the care of an uncle since years ago her mother was arrested and taken away and has been unheard-of ever since. The girl is abused by her uncle and the brutal society offers her no hope so she devises a sociopathic scheme to get rid of him. (Seriously - sociopathic. She starts killing people. She seems to get away with it too, so the ending is morally suspect at best).
The world is an interesting one, though not as well developed as I'd've preferred. It shows signs of being much more planned out but the author has saved most of the details for later books. From this book we know mostly just that it is a SciFi future Earth where civilization has devolved slightly. Most modern things still exist but are more rare and not as well understood. Society has also devolved. For some reason female births have dropped considerably (there are hints that this may have been intentionally done). As a result women are scarce and are treated as a rare commodity. That is, as possessions (slaves), mostly, although with a few small differences. While the fiercely authoritarian government and harsh economy would seem to make it a brutal climate for all citizens, the focus here is heavily stilted toward women's issues. The subjugation and abuse of women is a central theme and takes precedence over all other worldbuilding concerns. I'm not sure whether that makes this a feminist book or merely myopic.
Overall it's a fairly gripping story in a rather drab world. worth reading, but with room for improvement.
I'm torn between giving three stars or four. It's really right in the middle. Choosing to round up because in spite of the flaws I enjoyed the book more than other books I have given three stars before.
January 14, 2024
It was alright, but didn’t really light any fireworks in my head.
Lots of characters that needed a bit more development - eg - why was Lacey so important to Harris? How did Maeve become such good friends with Topley in such a short time? I’m not saying that she couldn’t, but that that particular step in the relationship seemed to have been assumed rather than demonstrated.
Who are the folks at the Paper Duchess and why should I care? I realise there are as many as 2 sequels where this can be expanded upon, but mental snapshots of a Dickensian bookshop as a cover for a top secret resistance cell (if that’s what it is) run by caffeine-heads (with itchy trigger fingers, I wonder?) doesn’t really tell me enough to want to know more.
Other questions arising….I’m not really sure why anyone would trust an apothecary who sold unmarked bottles of an unknown substance for an un-marked price with unknown ingredients that tasted like foul river water. Hopefully the bottles would have been washed before being filled, but I think that living in vicinity of the river would involve some contact with it involving the occasional accidental swallow, or at least a look.
Knowing the natural microscopic horrors that lurk in rivers, perhaps poisoning would be a blessing? Polluted rivers would no doubt be several hundred times more toxic.
It was fortunate for Maeve that uncle Lou didn’t force any of the laced “medicine” down her throat after she followed the hemlock route. That could have been embarrassing.
No apparent utilities exist in the slums, and yet an un-networked computer is being used at the Paper Duchess.
All that said, I didn’t hate it. It was an interesting concept, but it could have answered a few more questions for me.
Lots of characters that needed a bit more development - eg - why was Lacey so important to Harris? How did Maeve become such good friends with Topley in such a short time? I’m not saying that she couldn’t, but that that particular step in the relationship seemed to have been assumed rather than demonstrated.
Who are the folks at the Paper Duchess and why should I care? I realise there are as many as 2 sequels where this can be expanded upon, but mental snapshots of a Dickensian bookshop as a cover for a top secret resistance cell (if that’s what it is) run by caffeine-heads (with itchy trigger fingers, I wonder?) doesn’t really tell me enough to want to know more.
Other questions arising….I’m not really sure why anyone would trust an apothecary who sold unmarked bottles of an unknown substance for an un-marked price with unknown ingredients that tasted like foul river water. Hopefully the bottles would have been washed before being filled, but I think that living in vicinity of the river would involve some contact with it involving the occasional accidental swallow, or at least a look.
Knowing the natural microscopic horrors that lurk in rivers, perhaps poisoning would be a blessing? Polluted rivers would no doubt be several hundred times more toxic.
It was fortunate for Maeve that uncle Lou didn’t force any of the laced “medicine” down her throat after she followed the hemlock route. That could have been embarrassing.
No apparent utilities exist in the slums, and yet an un-networked computer is being used at the Paper Duchess.
All that said, I didn’t hate it. It was an interesting concept, but it could have answered a few more questions for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2018
This was a free download for my Kobo, and it was the first book I've read by the author. It's a solid 3.5 stars because I loved the fast paced story telling, as well as how real most of the characters appeared to be.
The language used was simple and distinct, and the author didn't linger too much on the wallowing of some of the characters as they were experienced it, giving the reader just enough information to imagine what the characters were feeling. But at the same time, that was part of the downfall for this book- I like my characters who muse a little more deeply about what they have seen and experienced than was described, and so I felt a little bit detached.
The Bottle Stopper left me wanting to know more about the whole world the book was set in, and of course the sequels would, I'm sure, answer those questions. That's another thing that's both good and bad - good in a sense that as a reader, I didn't have to waste reading paragraph upon paragraph of world building, but at the same time it would've been nice to have little nuggets thrown into a conversation a little bit more of then than the author has done in this book.
The head hopping, although useful for getting to know the characters, sometimes have been a little overwhelming, and took me a few extra moments to place who they were.
Overall, however, it's a nice little story, and I'm really tempted to delve into further stories!
The language used was simple and distinct, and the author didn't linger too much on the wallowing of some of the characters as they were experienced it, giving the reader just enough information to imagine what the characters were feeling. But at the same time, that was part of the downfall for this book- I like my characters who muse a little more deeply about what they have seen and experienced than was described, and so I felt a little bit detached.
The Bottle Stopper left me wanting to know more about the whole world the book was set in, and of course the sequels would, I'm sure, answer those questions. That's another thing that's both good and bad - good in a sense that as a reader, I didn't have to waste reading paragraph upon paragraph of world building, but at the same time it would've been nice to have little nuggets thrown into a conversation a little bit more of then than the author has done in this book.
The head hopping, although useful for getting to know the characters, sometimes have been a little overwhelming, and took me a few extra moments to place who they were.
Overall, however, it's a nice little story, and I'm really tempted to delve into further stories!
January 16, 2019
A well-written book full of morally gray characters set in a dystopian world that could easily be our future. The protagonist of The Bottle Stopper is Maeve, a 17-year-old girl living with and working for her corrupt uncle who sells 'medicine' that is little more than dirty water. When a bottle of this medicine takes something precious from Maeve, she sets in motion events to bring down her uncle and free herself from his abuse. As Maeve finds the courage to fight back against her uncle, she also learns about her past, including the truth about who her father is and what he did with her uncle that saw Maeve's mother taken away by the authorities. There's a lot going on in this book, plenty of characters and events that all move at a quick pace. It's a hard book to put down once the story kicks off, and the hints about Maeve's mother and where she is, and an underground group who piece together cryptic clues that eventually help Maeve, keep you turning the pages until you've reached the last one. As the first in the series, it sets up the characters and the world and ties up enough plot threads to satisfy, whilst still leaving you with enough curiosity to read the rest of the series.
December 3, 2016
Maeve is orphaned after her mother is arrested because she was a seer. She is put under the care of her uncle, who runs an apothecary shop selling slum water as medicine in pretty bottles. Her uncle treats her miserably. She learns about the perfidy of her uncle and meets her father who is a nearby monk of a rather unsavory monastery. Both her uncle and father cannot resist the ladies of the night. Maeve vows vengeance after she learns her uncle initiated her mother’s arrest. Her father has remorse and sets up a refuge for abused and wayward women. But that doesn’t happen until a series of dramatic events take place. To reveal all that would be to spoil the intrigue of this horror story. Very well done…
I received an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
I received an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
March 27, 2019
This is a story which lures you in. The author lets it unfold in its own time. There is no rush.
A dystopian future zooms its focus onto one girl who's turning 18; Maeve. She's physically abused by her uncle, leaving her black and blue and desperately seeking a way out of the slums.
Women are scarce, and yet become a controlled commodity. Times are bleak indeed. But there is yet hope.
There is somehow a touch of Chaucer in here. Don't even ask me how. Just a vibe I get. Maybe it's the monk? Or the storytelling?
This is a brilliant start to a series. No qualms in recommending it at all.
Great character and world building.
A dystopian future zooms its focus onto one girl who's turning 18; Maeve. She's physically abused by her uncle, leaving her black and blue and desperately seeking a way out of the slums.
Women are scarce, and yet become a controlled commodity. Times are bleak indeed. But there is yet hope.
There is somehow a touch of Chaucer in here. Don't even ask me how. Just a vibe I get. Maybe it's the monk? Or the storytelling?
This is a brilliant start to a series. No qualms in recommending it at all.
Great character and world building.
February 21, 2020
Book one of this series gives a disturbing glimpse into a future world where women are tightly controlled. It seems to be a world of extremes and hypocrisy with quite odd characters.
Maeve is intriguing with a definite dark side, her origins and possible genetic make-up a mystery.
The world is cruel, strict and steeped in poverty, though only part of it has been explored as yet. There is a curious mix of technology and Victorian England, which, I assume, is a result of some catastrophe.
Reasonably well written, if a little jerky and confusing at times…losing the flow. I was intrigued, however, and will probably read more when funds allow.
Thought-provoking for sure.
Maeve is intriguing with a definite dark side, her origins and possible genetic make-up a mystery.
The world is cruel, strict and steeped in poverty, though only part of it has been explored as yet. There is a curious mix of technology and Victorian England, which, I assume, is a result of some catastrophe.
Reasonably well written, if a little jerky and confusing at times…losing the flow. I was intrigued, however, and will probably read more when funds allow.
Thought-provoking for sure.
August 28, 2017
Good read
I enjoyed this book very much. The horrors of being a woman throughout time seem to always go back to the men being far superior over the women. This story is well told and I feel like I can almost smell and feel the awfulness of this town. I want to cheer on any hope that can be found and want to see what the mystery is that the author is holding back.
I enjoyed this book very much. The horrors of being a woman throughout time seem to always go back to the men being far superior over the women. This story is well told and I feel like I can almost smell and feel the awfulness of this town. I want to cheer on any hope that can be found and want to see what the mystery is that the author is holding back.
August 28, 2018
I read this on my Kindle and the short chapters had me hooked throughout. This is a great book with a great title, which is synonymous with the central charactet whose significance grows and grows to the final page of the book as the next book in The Paper Duchess series hovers in the wings. An excellent start to a promising series. I'll definitely be reading more!
March 16, 2019
The story begins in a really dark surrounding and you can feel it slowly growing into you. The MC isn't someone you could ever forget. She grows into you. she is too real. I loved the way the story unfolds in a grotesque world and seems totally real and very well defined. I'm a slow reader but as I'm finally nearing the end, I can already feel anxiety growing in my stomach pit. Engrossing read.
June 10, 2019
A nice little read
3.5 stars. A nice novel that kept me mostly engaged. Liked most of the characters. Loved Mauve. Some came and went too fast. And there were a few grammatical errors, but not a lot. Fun little dystopian novella.
3.5 stars. A nice novel that kept me mostly engaged. Liked most of the characters. Loved Mauve. Some came and went too fast. And there were a few grammatical errors, but not a lot. Fun little dystopian novella.
July 18, 2020
Very original take on the power of women. Trevena's story has all the accents of a bottle of medicine, sharp, sinister and sometimes scary, and her ability to portray the mind of a woman through revolution goes unmatched. I would recommend this book to anyone.
February 18, 2021
Are Maeve's actions justified?
A quick read but you end up caring for Maeve and wanting her to escape her uncle. But then you ask yourself if the way she is going about it makes her just as evil as her uncle or worse.
A quick read but you end up caring for Maeve and wanting her to escape her uncle. But then you ask yourself if the way she is going about it makes her just as evil as her uncle or worse.
July 30, 2017
Interesting
Wish it wasn't a series as I would have liked to been able to keep reading this story. Excellent characters
Wish it wasn't a series as I would have liked to been able to keep reading this story. Excellent characters
September 11, 2017
What an indictment of a future world in which the "administration" controls everything, everyone, everywhere, and where women are chattels as they were centuries ago.
Very well written.
Very well written.
May 24, 2019
Good read about the plights of women and the hardships placed upon them by men.
September 24, 2018
When Maeve was six years old, her mother was taken away by the authorities for unspecified crimes against the state. Since that time she has lived with her Uncle Lou, a horrible, abusive man that runs a sham of an apothecary. Maeve’s job is to scavenge old bottles from the nooks and crannies and alleyways of the “The Floor,” the poorest slum of the city of Falside where they live, and fill them with medicine to sell in the shop. In reality, the “medicine” is the polluted water from the local river and a sprig of whatever plant material she has gathered. It is a grinding existence until Topley and her loving parents open the bakery next door.
Topley’s family gives Maeve a vision of another life that she, too, can have once she turns 18 and leaves Uncle Lou. But when Topley suddenly falls ill and her desperate mother resorts to some of Uncle Lou’s medicine, Maeve’s dream of a better life changes to one of revenge.
Maeve’s world of Falside is grim and bleak where women are restricted and controlled and viewed as property. The birth of female children has, unaccountably, become a rare occurrence, and leaving Falside is viewed as treasonous and punishable by death. But there is a glimmer of revolution here and there such as in "The Paper Duchess," an old bookstore off the beaten path, where Denver, Kerise, and Tale try to discover what happened to Maeve’s mother.The Bottle Stopper is a dark and well-developed beginning to The Paper Duchess series. It is recommended for readers that enjoy dystopian tales and those with similarities to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
February 26, 2017
This is the first work I have read by this author, and I am impressed. This dark, dystopian tale introduces us to the characters who will be in the trilogy.
This is mostly Maeve's story, and it's not a pretty one. Maeve lives with her uncle who abuses her violently on a daily basis. There are lots of questions raised whilst you are reading, such as 'where are her parents?' and 'why on earth was she left with such a man?'. I don't want to say anything else or I will spoil the story, but do not underestimate Maeve or indeed any of the other characters.
There are quite a few characters in this first outing, but they all have their place, and we will, no doubt, hear all of their stories in time. Loved this!
This is mostly Maeve's story, and it's not a pretty one. Maeve lives with her uncle who abuses her violently on a daily basis. There are lots of questions raised whilst you are reading, such as 'where are her parents?' and 'why on earth was she left with such a man?'. I don't want to say anything else or I will spoil the story, but do not underestimate Maeve or indeed any of the other characters.
There are quite a few characters in this first outing, but they all have their place, and we will, no doubt, hear all of their stories in time. Loved this!
February 26, 2017
This dark tale draws you in and holds you even though, sometimes, you want to turn away from the horror of their everyday lives.
Even though there are many terrible events and violence that take place in this world so unlike ours I feel hope for the citizens that are mistreated and abused. That hope is generated by hints dropped throughout - something huge is going happen to change their way of life. The many twists, turns and shockers made for a compelling read.
There were quite a few unanswered questions in my mind. I suppose that is to be expected in a series and I do plan to read the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Even though there are many terrible events and violence that take place in this world so unlike ours I feel hope for the citizens that are mistreated and abused. That hope is generated by hints dropped throughout - something huge is going happen to change their way of life. The many twists, turns and shockers made for a compelling read.
There were quite a few unanswered questions in my mind. I suppose that is to be expected in a series and I do plan to read the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
almost 1/3 thru as I write this. reminds me of king, in that I think I smell a story in there. if you like king, you might like this better-update-halfway thru now-there's a story in there, n some intensity, buried in the scenery, n a lot of realism too(a bunch). still recommend if pacing's not an issue. is fer me, wading thru the mud n the stench of low tide to get across town, minus one shoe, is descriptive, but I could skip it to just get there. but that's me. still sure a lot of other folks will really like it
March 10, 2016
The Bottle Stopper started a little slow for me. In fact, were it not for the fact I promised a review of the book, I may have stopped reading it altogether before I made it to the first quarter mark. However, now that I've finished it, I'm glad I stuck with it and am heartily looking forward to the second book, The Matching, which is due to be available this spring.
The Bottle Stopper is definitely very dark, with no holds barred when it comes to abuse, death, secrets and lies. Angeline's style of writing is easy to fall into, though for me, the physical descriptions of Falside could be expanded upon more. (Though, this is purely due to personal preference). While I could picture the apothecary and the bakery and individual places, the city as a whole somehow seems to escape my grasp.
There is a certain death at... around the 1/3 mark (one of many), that leaves the protagonist, Maeve, with feelings of (misplaced) guild and remorse, as well as (righteous) hatred for her uncle Lou. However, to me as the reader, the death didn't have as big an impact. The character was there, and present, and was friends with Maeve, but I just never came to care about the character. That death could have been much better handled. I feel like that death had as much impact as the numerous others that are detailed in the remainder of the book.
Now, recall how I said the beginning of the story started slow? I figured out why it seemed that way at around the halfway point. Angeline reveals little tidbits of truth through the novel. So, obviously, at the beginning, we know little about the circumstances surrounding Maeve, other than she was left with her abusive uncle. (At this point in the book, all we are meant to do is form an attachment to Maeve; and, I'll be honest, I flinched or cringed every time Uncle Lou became angry.)
Through the remaining book, we are given snippets of other's lives, and how the actions of this one little slip of a girl on the Floor can have far reaching consequences. Not only that, but we are introduced to some other characters and, rather late in the book, are given more snippets of truth regarding Maeve's mother, and father, and the bookshop, and everything starts coming together like the pieces of a puzzle.
Despite the slow start and everything, I love, Love, LOVE the setting, and the characters, and the questions. And I'm giving it Five out of Five stars. Amazing, no question.
The Bottle Stopper is definitely very dark, with no holds barred when it comes to abuse, death, secrets and lies. Angeline's style of writing is easy to fall into, though for me, the physical descriptions of Falside could be expanded upon more. (Though, this is purely due to personal preference). While I could picture the apothecary and the bakery and individual places, the city as a whole somehow seems to escape my grasp.
There is a certain death at... around the 1/3 mark (one of many), that leaves the protagonist, Maeve, with feelings of (misplaced) guild and remorse, as well as (righteous) hatred for her uncle Lou. However, to me as the reader, the death didn't have as big an impact. The character was there, and present, and was friends with Maeve, but I just never came to care about the character. That death could have been much better handled. I feel like that death had as much impact as the numerous others that are detailed in the remainder of the book.
Now, recall how I said the beginning of the story started slow? I figured out why it seemed that way at around the halfway point. Angeline reveals little tidbits of truth through the novel. So, obviously, at the beginning, we know little about the circumstances surrounding Maeve, other than she was left with her abusive uncle. (At this point in the book, all we are meant to do is form an attachment to Maeve; and, I'll be honest, I flinched or cringed every time Uncle Lou became angry.)
Through the remaining book, we are given snippets of other's lives, and how the actions of this one little slip of a girl on the Floor can have far reaching consequences. Not only that, but we are introduced to some other characters and, rather late in the book, are given more snippets of truth regarding Maeve's mother, and father, and the bookshop, and everything starts coming together like the pieces of a puzzle.
Despite the slow start and everything, I love, Love, LOVE the setting, and the characters, and the questions. And I'm giving it Five out of Five stars. Amazing, no question.
December 15, 2015
Grim and Dark, with flashes of Hope
Maeve grows up a slum girl under the brutal care of her misogynist uncle, helping him run his sham of an apothecary. She is the titular bottle stopper(-er). As Maeve grows old, she is subject to increasingly violent punishments by her uncle. She needs to escape before he actually killed her.
When the government began to actively spy on people using the technology that once connected and informed them, people gave them up for the reprieve it brought. A new political order arose amidst the looming problem of skewered birthrate in favour of male children to ensure safety for women. Safety came at huge price of surrendering liberty and rights.
An in such a world, Maeve could not actively go up against her uncle for fear of the Authorities. When the unthinkable happens, Maeve decides that she'd stop at nothing to gain her freedom. Even if it meant the death of hundreds of innocents.
The story also weaves in the lives of others- people who oppose the regime, and people resigned to their fates. They complete the world that we see through Maeve's eyes. The multiple view points do seem excessive at times. Angeline Trevena tries to give all her bit players depth and that felt a little distracting.
The concept of female subjugation in an dystopian future is a much explored trope and this particular concept is similar to Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaiden's Tale'. Only it explores the lives of those in the lower strata and the resistance. It is quite interesting but the Angeline's storytelling seems a little fragmented. Maybe its because it's just the first book in the series, establishing world and characters, and we aren't introduced to the big baddies yet.
It all boils down to someone who was trodden down, rising up to fighting back. And we all love underdog stories. This one's no different.
And yes, Angeline makes good on her promise of a dark story to beat back the excessive cheer of the holiday season :)
Maeve grows up a slum girl under the brutal care of her misogynist uncle, helping him run his sham of an apothecary. She is the titular bottle stopper(-er). As Maeve grows old, she is subject to increasingly violent punishments by her uncle. She needs to escape before he actually killed her.
When the government began to actively spy on people using the technology that once connected and informed them, people gave them up for the reprieve it brought. A new political order arose amidst the looming problem of skewered birthrate in favour of male children to ensure safety for women. Safety came at huge price of surrendering liberty and rights.
An in such a world, Maeve could not actively go up against her uncle for fear of the Authorities. When the unthinkable happens, Maeve decides that she'd stop at nothing to gain her freedom. Even if it meant the death of hundreds of innocents.
The story also weaves in the lives of others- people who oppose the regime, and people resigned to their fates. They complete the world that we see through Maeve's eyes. The multiple view points do seem excessive at times. Angeline Trevena tries to give all her bit players depth and that felt a little distracting.
The concept of female subjugation in an dystopian future is a much explored trope and this particular concept is similar to Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaiden's Tale'. Only it explores the lives of those in the lower strata and the resistance. It is quite interesting but the Angeline's storytelling seems a little fragmented. Maybe its because it's just the first book in the series, establishing world and characters, and we aren't introduced to the big baddies yet.
It all boils down to someone who was trodden down, rising up to fighting back. And we all love underdog stories. This one's no different.
And yes, Angeline makes good on her promise of a dark story to beat back the excessive cheer of the holiday season :)
October 10, 2020
In a dystopian UK somewhere in the future the young woman Maeve has to live with her brutal uncle, who manhandles her and makes her his slave. He is a fraud, sells dirty river water as a medicin to cure people’s sickness, pain, ailment, or affliction. She has to fill and cork up the bottles, hence the title of the book. Her mother has been taken away from her when Maeve was a child. There seems to be something special about her mother and we get some hints (not much) throughout the story, what makes it a bit of a mystery. We also get to know about her father. Later on she plans to take revenge on her uncle.
My opinion. The writing style is nothing special, ordinary at best (yes, I know, mine as well), in a very easy English. A lot of characters in this book, so I had to make a list. I always do, this is not criticism but an advice to you readers. But some characters are not developed well enough. Certainly Topley and also Gretta should have been worked out better. Some things are difficult to believe, that Maeve thinks very adult and self-confident for her age, and that people are that naive to believe a bottle containing a liquid could cure their sickness, pain, ailment, affliction. You know, when it looks and smells and tastes like putrid water, it probably is putrid water. Some minor things remain unclear. Who is Lacey, and what about her relationship with Harris?
Still, the ending is suspense, well found, I must say. I liked it.
It can be read as a standalone but towards the end seeds are sown for at least one sequel.
Recommendable? Well...yes. I am even interested in that sequel. But not too soon.
My opinion. The writing style is nothing special, ordinary at best (yes, I know, mine as well), in a very easy English. A lot of characters in this book, so I had to make a list. I always do, this is not criticism but an advice to you readers. But some characters are not developed well enough. Certainly Topley and also Gretta should have been worked out better. Some things are difficult to believe, that Maeve thinks very adult and self-confident for her age, and that people are that naive to believe a bottle containing a liquid could cure their sickness, pain, ailment, affliction. You know, when it looks and smells and tastes like putrid water, it probably is putrid water. Some minor things remain unclear. Who is Lacey, and what about her relationship with Harris?
Still, the ending is suspense, well found, I must say. I liked it.
It can be read as a standalone but towards the end seeds are sown for at least one sequel.
Recommendable? Well...yes. I am even interested in that sequel. But not too soon.
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