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Set in Stone
In medieval Moldova, two women from opposing backgrounds fall in love.
But this is a world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and class. To make a life together means defying their families, the law, and the Church. The closer they become, and the more they refuse the roles assigned to them, the more sacrifices they have to make. While Mira’s rebellion puts her life in the gravest danger, Elina must fight to change her legal status to ‘son’ so she can inherit her father’s land and change their destiny.
Set in Stone delves into the past to uncover a story which is just as relevant today: the desire to forge your own path while constantly having to resist a patriarchal fear of women’s strength – and how ultimately love can help you choose your own truth.
But this is a world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and class. To make a life together means defying their families, the law, and the Church. The closer they become, and the more they refuse the roles assigned to them, the more sacrifices they have to make. While Mira’s rebellion puts her life in the gravest danger, Elina must fight to change her legal status to ‘son’ so she can inherit her father’s land and change their destiny.
Set in Stone delves into the past to uncover a story which is just as relevant today: the desire to forge your own path while constantly having to resist a patriarchal fear of women’s strength – and how ultimately love can help you choose your own truth.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2022
16 people are currently reading
895 people want to read
About the author
Stela Brinzeanu
2 books29 followersGrowing up in Soviet Moldova – a land where propaganda dominated the airwaves – Stela escaped into the world of literature from an early age. Books were the most exciting form of entertainment in her life and they saw her through the cold, candlelit nights when the country's authorities introduced mandatory power cuts.
Stela moved to London at the age of 18. With a BA in Media Studies from the University of Westminster, she embarked on a brief journalistic career, training with the BBC and running a community magazine, before she turned her attention to literature. Her fiction explores issues of identity, gender roles, the unity and inter-connectedness of nature, and the conflict of religion – organised religion – vs spirituality.
Stela moved to London at the age of 18. With a BA in Media Studies from the University of Westminster, she embarked on a brief journalistic career, training with the BBC and running a community magazine, before she turned her attention to literature. Her fiction explores issues of identity, gender roles, the unity and inter-connectedness of nature, and the conflict of religion – organised religion – vs spirituality.
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July 31, 2022
Based on a folktale that is well-known in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, this book was highly readable and undeniably interesting, but I found the pacing a little uneven. I can see why this story would have caught the interest of the author as a child.
In medieval Moldova, two motherless young women from opposite backgrounds meet and recognise a spark. Elina is the Boyar's (ruling nobility class) daughter while Mira is the peasant daughter of the village potter. Neither would expect friendship to form, let alone anything more, but when Mira is rescued from a serious accident by the local wisewoman, visits from Elina give her the will to recover. Their relationship has many obstacles to overcome, but their love is strong. When all seems hopeless, the pair must consider a most unconventional deception if they want to be together.
The obstacles actually litter the story quite liberally, and I think that contributes to the pacing issue. Many of them are quite dark - some shockingly so - and they are relentless. Still, it provides an interesting view of where Moldovan society has evolved from, particularly in relation to the status of women. I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to those who enjoy reimagined fairytales/folktales.
The text includes some Romanian terms, many of which can be readily understood in context, but there is also a Glossary provided at the end of the book.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
In medieval Moldova, two motherless young women from opposite backgrounds meet and recognise a spark. Elina is the Boyar's (ruling nobility class) daughter while Mira is the peasant daughter of the village potter. Neither would expect friendship to form, let alone anything more, but when Mira is rescued from a serious accident by the local wisewoman, visits from Elina give her the will to recover. Their relationship has many obstacles to overcome, but their love is strong. When all seems hopeless, the pair must consider a most unconventional deception if they want to be together.
The obstacles actually litter the story quite liberally, and I think that contributes to the pacing issue. Many of them are quite dark - some shockingly so - and they are relentless. Still, it provides an interesting view of where Moldovan society has evolved from, particularly in relation to the status of women. I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to those who enjoy reimagined fairytales/folktales.
The text includes some Romanian terms, many of which can be readily understood in context, but there is also a Glossary provided at the end of the book.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
June 19, 2022
AN INTERESTING PREMISE LET DOWN BY A LACK OF DEVELOPMENT
Development. That's definitely the one thing this story needed. For while the premise was interesting, the setting was unique and the story was engaging, it never really managed to capture me. It just left me wanting more. I needed more plot-development. I needed more insight into the characters. I especially needed more romance. That was probably the biggest offender. I never really understood why Elina and Mira were suddenly in love. It came out of nowhere and blindsided me. I really didn't understand it. And with their romance being the driving factor of the story, it really hurt my overall appreciation of the book.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
Development. That's definitely the one thing this story needed. For while the premise was interesting, the setting was unique and the story was engaging, it never really managed to capture me. It just left me wanting more. I needed more plot-development. I needed more insight into the characters. I especially needed more romance. That was probably the biggest offender. I never really understood why Elina and Mira were suddenly in love. It came out of nowhere and blindsided me. I really didn't understand it. And with their romance being the driving factor of the story, it really hurt my overall appreciation of the book.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
December 11, 2022
This one will be difficult to review... On the one hand, I think it's the first queer book I read inspired by Romanian/Moldovan history and mythology and I wanted to like it so much, on the other hand the execution is not the best.
Coming from the same culture, I understand all the historical/mythological references. The main myth is one that is widespread in Eastern Europe, you have Mesterul Manole in Romanian and Komuves Kelemen in Hungarian. The author mentions in the foreword being fascinated by it, and I completely understand because I was/am too. It's a very gruesome myth, and it always struck me as so unfair. I don't know how people outside of this culture will receive it, though. Not just this plot development, but the story as a whole, the lifestyle and mentality of characters.
Even if I set aside the cultural aspect, the biggest issue is with the lack of development between Elina and Mira. They barely meet a few times before they kiss. I didn't really understand why they liked each other, it was instalove. Especially for medieval times, I think at least one of them would be reluctant/afraid at first? And this relationship is so essential, since their future actions are all motivated by the love they have for each other and the prospect of having a future together.
There were also some very dark plotlines in this which could have been done differently. I don't think the sexual abuse/r*pe was necessary. :/
Giving this 3 stars solely because I really didn't expect the ending, and also because I want to see more queer Romanian stories.
Rep: sapphic Moldovan main characters, Roma side characters
Coming from the same culture, I understand all the historical/mythological references. The main myth is one that is widespread in Eastern Europe, you have Mesterul Manole in Romanian and Komuves Kelemen in Hungarian. The author mentions in the foreword being fascinated by it, and I completely understand because I was/am too. It's a very gruesome myth, and it always struck me as so unfair. I don't know how people outside of this culture will receive it, though. Not just this plot development, but the story as a whole, the lifestyle and mentality of characters.
Even if I set aside the cultural aspect, the biggest issue is with the lack of development between Elina and Mira. They barely meet a few times before they kiss. I didn't really understand why they liked each other, it was instalove. Especially for medieval times, I think at least one of them would be reluctant/afraid at first? And this relationship is so essential, since their future actions are all motivated by the love they have for each other and the prospect of having a future together.
There were also some very dark plotlines in this which could have been done differently. I don't think the sexual abuse/r*pe was necessary. :/
Giving this 3 stars solely because I really didn't expect the ending, and also because I want to see more queer Romanian stories.
Rep: sapphic Moldovan main characters, Roma side characters
August 9, 2022
Set in Stone is a lush page-turner about two women, Mira and Elina, who will steal your heart. I enjoyed every minute spent in medieval Moldova – from the adventure and romance to the chilling moment when I grasped the meaning of the title. This timely folktale will resonate with readers.
November 4, 2022
Martie's Rating: 2 1/2
Genre: Historical Fiction/LGBTQ
Publisher: Legend Press
Pub: August 4, 2022
This book takes place in the Eastern European country of Moldova during medieval times. Readers are informed in an Author Note at the beginning of the book that a Balkan folktale inspired her story. It centers on two female heroes who fall in love. They behave and dress as man and wife. Cross-dressing and living as the opposite sex has been around throughout history. I wish she had written more about the folktale. I want to know if she took an author’s liberty of changing the sex of one of her characters. Either way, I am happy to say that the author writes of the love affair in a sweet and respectful manner.
Brinzeanu shows us medieval Balkan women lived in a patriarchal world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and class. Mira and Elina are two motherless young women from opposite backgrounds. Both are expected to wed. Their fathers are in the process of finding their future husbands. In the opening chapter, “Dowry,” we meet Mira, the village potter’s peasant daughter. When Mira meets Elina from the ruling class, neither expects a friendship to form. Rozakau, the local female healer, often thought to be a witch, is the link between them. She is helping Mira recover from a horrific accident that Elina witnessed. Rozakau is the most interesting of the three women. She stays hidden in a hovel below the ground because she fears being burnt at the stake one day. Despite this, she continues growing medicinal plants because she believes this is her calling. Rozakau is written as magical and mysterious. The reader is never sure if she is who she thinks she is or an old insane woman.
The backdrop of the conflict between church and pagan beliefs that fuelled witch burnings across medieval and early modern Europe is well written and shown through Rozakau. The author gives her novel a bit of reality by incorporating some Romanian terms. There is a glossary provided at the end of the book. How then could such a compelling storyline be anything but entertaining? Yet the novel is not not a good read. It lacks depth and repeatedly mentions the same theme of gay love. Despite this, I appreciated that women’s issues and lives were shown to be not significantly different from today, especially in this current political climate where women’s rights are under attack. The author states that she “grew up in Soviet Moldova – a land where propaganda dominated the airwaves.” It is a shame that she did not use her political life experience in her novel. She barely writes about the politics of that time. She stuck with the love story.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.amazon.com/
Genre: Historical Fiction/LGBTQ
Publisher: Legend Press
Pub: August 4, 2022
This book takes place in the Eastern European country of Moldova during medieval times. Readers are informed in an Author Note at the beginning of the book that a Balkan folktale inspired her story. It centers on two female heroes who fall in love. They behave and dress as man and wife. Cross-dressing and living as the opposite sex has been around throughout history. I wish she had written more about the folktale. I want to know if she took an author’s liberty of changing the sex of one of her characters. Either way, I am happy to say that the author writes of the love affair in a sweet and respectful manner.
Brinzeanu shows us medieval Balkan women lived in a patriarchal world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and class. Mira and Elina are two motherless young women from opposite backgrounds. Both are expected to wed. Their fathers are in the process of finding their future husbands. In the opening chapter, “Dowry,” we meet Mira, the village potter’s peasant daughter. When Mira meets Elina from the ruling class, neither expects a friendship to form. Rozakau, the local female healer, often thought to be a witch, is the link between them. She is helping Mira recover from a horrific accident that Elina witnessed. Rozakau is the most interesting of the three women. She stays hidden in a hovel below the ground because she fears being burnt at the stake one day. Despite this, she continues growing medicinal plants because she believes this is her calling. Rozakau is written as magical and mysterious. The reader is never sure if she is who she thinks she is or an old insane woman.
The backdrop of the conflict between church and pagan beliefs that fuelled witch burnings across medieval and early modern Europe is well written and shown through Rozakau. The author gives her novel a bit of reality by incorporating some Romanian terms. There is a glossary provided at the end of the book. How then could such a compelling storyline be anything but entertaining? Yet the novel is not not a good read. It lacks depth and repeatedly mentions the same theme of gay love. Despite this, I appreciated that women’s issues and lives were shown to be not significantly different from today, especially in this current political climate where women’s rights are under attack. The author states that she “grew up in Soviet Moldova – a land where propaganda dominated the airwaves.” It is a shame that she did not use her political life experience in her novel. She barely writes about the politics of that time. She stuck with the love story.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.amazon.com/
August 27, 2022
I discovered Stela Brinzeanu's 'Set in Stone' recently. The story looked beautiful and so I was excited to read it.
It is the medieval ages. We are in Moldova. Elina is a young noblewoman. She lives with her father. Her mother has passed. One day she crosses paths with Mira. Mira is the potter's daughter who is hoping to become a potter herself one day. Magic happens. But this is the medieval ages. A woman falling in love with another woman and they both getting together is impossible. Also, their social divide is impossible to bridge. What happens to them forms the rest of the story.
At its core, 'Set in Stone' is a beautiful love story. But it is also much more than that. It depicts the lives of women in the middle ages and how everything was hard for them, how women who were healers were branded as witches, how people lived together as a community and helped each other out, the battle between different religions, the old and the new, how freedom was elusive whether one was poor or rich and how no one was truly free. At one point Elina asks her father, "What’s the use of all this if I can’t be free?" To which her father replies, "No one is really free, my dear. I’m at the behest of the voivode and he is a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, and so it goes. Real freedom doesn’t exist, and if it did, I’m not even sure we’d want it."
I loved most of the characters in the book (except the bad ones). Most of the women characters were fascinating and inspiring because they defied the restrictions imposed on them and tried to break free and express themselves and live beautiful lives. Stela Brinzeanu's prose is soft and beautiful and brings that period alive. The conversations between Elina and Mira were cool and stylish and were such a pleasure to read.
I loved 'Set in Stone'. This is the first ever book that I've read where the story is set in Moldova. Yay! 😊 I'm so happy about that! Stela Brinzeanu has written another book set in Moldova during contemporary times. I can't wait to read that!
I'll leave you with some of my favourite passages from the book.
"‘At the heart of any storm, whether it’s around or inside you, there’s a place of quiet like no other. When you find that place, you gain such strength that nobody could ever take that away from you."
"She watches the snowflakes swarming outside, as if they are choosing where to settle. Who is she fooling? Of course it isn’t up to them where they end up. It’s the invisible wind that’s tossing them about, teasing them with the promise of free will."
"Elina thinks how much easier it is to communicate with animals. They perceive the world in silence, and they’re never wrong. Words are useless tools if you’re digging for truth, she thinks. They lie, deceive and distort. Only in the absence of words can there be truth. That’s why people talk, because they have something to hide."
"Home isn’t really someone’s hut or manor, she thinks, but the place where your loved one is waiting for you."
Have you read 'Set in Stone'? What do you think about it?
It is the medieval ages. We are in Moldova. Elina is a young noblewoman. She lives with her father. Her mother has passed. One day she crosses paths with Mira. Mira is the potter's daughter who is hoping to become a potter herself one day. Magic happens. But this is the medieval ages. A woman falling in love with another woman and they both getting together is impossible. Also, their social divide is impossible to bridge. What happens to them forms the rest of the story.
At its core, 'Set in Stone' is a beautiful love story. But it is also much more than that. It depicts the lives of women in the middle ages and how everything was hard for them, how women who were healers were branded as witches, how people lived together as a community and helped each other out, the battle between different religions, the old and the new, how freedom was elusive whether one was poor or rich and how no one was truly free. At one point Elina asks her father, "What’s the use of all this if I can’t be free?" To which her father replies, "No one is really free, my dear. I’m at the behest of the voivode and he is a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, and so it goes. Real freedom doesn’t exist, and if it did, I’m not even sure we’d want it."
I loved most of the characters in the book (except the bad ones). Most of the women characters were fascinating and inspiring because they defied the restrictions imposed on them and tried to break free and express themselves and live beautiful lives. Stela Brinzeanu's prose is soft and beautiful and brings that period alive. The conversations between Elina and Mira were cool and stylish and were such a pleasure to read.
I loved 'Set in Stone'. This is the first ever book that I've read where the story is set in Moldova. Yay! 😊 I'm so happy about that! Stela Brinzeanu has written another book set in Moldova during contemporary times. I can't wait to read that!
I'll leave you with some of my favourite passages from the book.
"‘At the heart of any storm, whether it’s around or inside you, there’s a place of quiet like no other. When you find that place, you gain such strength that nobody could ever take that away from you."
"She watches the snowflakes swarming outside, as if they are choosing where to settle. Who is she fooling? Of course it isn’t up to them where they end up. It’s the invisible wind that’s tossing them about, teasing them with the promise of free will."
"Elina thinks how much easier it is to communicate with animals. They perceive the world in silence, and they’re never wrong. Words are useless tools if you’re digging for truth, she thinks. They lie, deceive and distort. Only in the absence of words can there be truth. That’s why people talk, because they have something to hide."
"Home isn’t really someone’s hut or manor, she thinks, but the place where your loved one is waiting for you."
Have you read 'Set in Stone'? What do you think about it?
September 30, 2023
Thank you Net galley for sending me a copy of Set in stone in exchange for a honest review!
To be completely honest this book was a bit disappointing. Mainly due to the pacing,since it felt like (tragic) events which led to major life changes took place immediately one after the other leaving no room for the reader to see the characters have a more meaningful reaction to them.
The love story however is my main complain. It wasn't developed nearly enough untill the end of the book,and it felt like we missed out on the chance to see more courting and playful bander between the MC and her love interest
To be completely honest this book was a bit disappointing. Mainly due to the pacing,since it felt like (tragic) events which led to major life changes took place immediately one after the other leaving no room for the reader to see the characters have a more meaningful reaction to them.
The love story however is my main complain. It wasn't developed nearly enough untill the end of the book,and it felt like we missed out on the chance to see more courting and playful bander between the MC and her love interest
July 26, 2022
On my blog.
Rep: sapphic mcs
CWs: homophobia, ableism, anti Roma racism, rape, incest
Galley provided by publisher
To sum up Set in Stone in one word? Underdeveloped. This is a book that promised much, and ultimately delivered little.
Set in medieval Moldova, this book follows two girls, one born to a rich man and one to a poorer craftsman. Tying them together is a woman accused of witchcraft.
When I say that this book was underdeveloped, I mean it on every level, from the world to the characters to the plot. None of it felt more than surface level and that, primarily, is what let this book down.
Possibly the clearest example of this was the worldbuilding. But for a few Romanian words thrown in, the odd reference for a voivodeship, this could have been almost any pre-modern era in Europe. None of it tied it particularly to medieval Moldova. That, to me, was what made it especially boring—plot and characters I could have dealt with being light on, if I’d felt that there had been work put in to making the world come alive. As it was, a few Romanian words do not a world make.
Second on my list would be the lack of development with the characters then. This is a book where it feels as though the two girls have two scenes together total before deciding they’re in love with one another. I know the stereotype is that lesbians move fast, but Jesus… The lack of fleshed-out-ness of the characters of course extends to the supporting cast, none of whom really come to life off the page. The underdevelopedness of the book leads to a blandness in the characters.
Of the three, then, the plot actually comes out best. Scenes don’t feel too rushed, they’re mostly given time to breathe, and the plot itself is reasonably compelling (if possessing of a few too many tangents that it didn’t have time to deal with in depth). On the whole, this was not the issue I had.
I would say, though, that this is a book where the bare bones are there. It just needed a fair bit more work on it to make it more than that.
Rep: sapphic mcs
CWs: homophobia, ableism, anti Roma racism, rape, incest
Galley provided by publisher
To sum up Set in Stone in one word? Underdeveloped. This is a book that promised much, and ultimately delivered little.
Set in medieval Moldova, this book follows two girls, one born to a rich man and one to a poorer craftsman. Tying them together is a woman accused of witchcraft.
When I say that this book was underdeveloped, I mean it on every level, from the world to the characters to the plot. None of it felt more than surface level and that, primarily, is what let this book down.
Possibly the clearest example of this was the worldbuilding. But for a few Romanian words thrown in, the odd reference for a voivodeship, this could have been almost any pre-modern era in Europe. None of it tied it particularly to medieval Moldova. That, to me, was what made it especially boring—plot and characters I could have dealt with being light on, if I’d felt that there had been work put in to making the world come alive. As it was, a few Romanian words do not a world make.
Second on my list would be the lack of development with the characters then. This is a book where it feels as though the two girls have two scenes together total before deciding they’re in love with one another. I know the stereotype is that lesbians move fast, but Jesus… The lack of fleshed-out-ness of the characters of course extends to the supporting cast, none of whom really come to life off the page. The underdevelopedness of the book leads to a blandness in the characters.
Of the three, then, the plot actually comes out best. Scenes don’t feel too rushed, they’re mostly given time to breathe, and the plot itself is reasonably compelling (if possessing of a few too many tangents that it didn’t have time to deal with in depth). On the whole, this was not the issue I had.
I would say, though, that this is a book where the bare bones are there. It just needed a fair bit more work on it to make it more than that.
August 3, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for allowing me to read this ARC!
Content Warning: death, violence, murder, rape (on-page), homophobia, misogyny, victim-blaming, outdated racial terms, racism, drowning, incest.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
In medieval Moldova, Elina and Mira live totally separate lives. Elina is the wealthy daughter of a boyar, the aristocratic class that employ serfs and slaves, while Mira is a simple potter's daughter, used to going without a meal and trying to fight off the cold. But when the two are inadvertently brought together, there's an immediate spark between them, and they begin to realize that, as women, their stations in life might not be so different after all. As they come to terms with their feelings for one another, Mira and Elina both will have to make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve freedom -- and the possibility of spending their lives together.
Doesn't the premise for this book sound so great? Medieval Moldova is not a time nor place I've ever seen in another book, and it's a culture I'm not overly familiar with. Even more fascinating, the central relationship is between two women, and Set in Stone tackles many issues (some which we are, sadly, still facing today) over the course of Mira and Elina's journey. It saddens me to say I'm not able to give more than three stars here, though. For me, there were too many problems to bump this up to a full four stars. With that being said, let's delve into what worked for me, and what didn't.
Firstly, Brinzeanu's writing style didn't click for me. It was a little too dry for my tastes, and when it wasn't, the similes felt strangely overwrought. There was more telling than showing, which grew a bit irritating over time. I wanted to actually feel as if I was experiencing the scenes, instead of being told of it secondhand. This problem persists throughout the novel, although I will say that the longer I read, the more acclimated to the style I became.
Sadly, the characterization also struck me as a touch shallow. While I ended up loving both Elina and Mira, it took quite a while for it to actually feel as if you're seeing the events and emotions through their eyes. I also found the abrupt beginning to their relationship not only strangely paced, but I struggled with whether or not it made sense for young women of this time period and place. Personally speaking, I'm a huge fan of slow-burns, and I think there was more than enough time to work up to their relationship, and deepen it in the process.
That being said, I did root for both of them, separately and together, and this book offers a beautiful (and harrowing) insight into Moldavian culture, religion, class, and, of course, the lives of Moldavian women. There are some beautiful moments, suffused with nature magic and the tenderness of love, but once again, the writing style kept you at such a distance that it was sometimes hard to admire them fully.
One of my other issues concerns a (very one-dimensional) side character, Dafina. Dafina is a Romani slave, and in the brief instances where she interacts with Elina, she comes off as stereotypically "mysterious," reading palms and telling fortunes. Had she been more developed, it might've not been an issue, but otherwise, she serves little narrative purpose -- well, she does serve a purpose, but it would be a huge spoiler to say how. Let's just say that the purpose is to further Elina's journey, and otherwise, Dafina is just a walking stereotype, there to make cryptic comments and save Elina's hide. The slur commonly used against Romani people is also frequently found in this book. As I'm not Romani myself, I can't say whether or not this is offensive in its historical usage (considering Set in Stone takes place in the Middle Ages). I would love some input on this; all I'll say for now is be forewarned, and it did make me uncomfortable when I was reading it.
Overall, I did like Set in Stone, but nothing about it blew me away. I'm not sure it's the kind of book that will stick with me for very long. If you're interested in the culture and the time period, I'd definitely say give it a shot, but as it stands, for me, this felt more like reading a screenplay. I will consider picking up whatever Brinzeanu writes next, however, as I imagine her second novel will improve upon the issues I've mentioned here!
Content Warning: death, violence, murder, rape (on-page), homophobia, misogyny, victim-blaming, outdated racial terms, racism, drowning, incest.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
In medieval Moldova, Elina and Mira live totally separate lives. Elina is the wealthy daughter of a boyar, the aristocratic class that employ serfs and slaves, while Mira is a simple potter's daughter, used to going without a meal and trying to fight off the cold. But when the two are inadvertently brought together, there's an immediate spark between them, and they begin to realize that, as women, their stations in life might not be so different after all. As they come to terms with their feelings for one another, Mira and Elina both will have to make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve freedom -- and the possibility of spending their lives together.
Doesn't the premise for this book sound so great? Medieval Moldova is not a time nor place I've ever seen in another book, and it's a culture I'm not overly familiar with. Even more fascinating, the central relationship is between two women, and Set in Stone tackles many issues (some which we are, sadly, still facing today) over the course of Mira and Elina's journey. It saddens me to say I'm not able to give more than three stars here, though. For me, there were too many problems to bump this up to a full four stars. With that being said, let's delve into what worked for me, and what didn't.
Firstly, Brinzeanu's writing style didn't click for me. It was a little too dry for my tastes, and when it wasn't, the similes felt strangely overwrought. There was more telling than showing, which grew a bit irritating over time. I wanted to actually feel as if I was experiencing the scenes, instead of being told of it secondhand. This problem persists throughout the novel, although I will say that the longer I read, the more acclimated to the style I became.
Sadly, the characterization also struck me as a touch shallow. While I ended up loving both Elina and Mira, it took quite a while for it to actually feel as if you're seeing the events and emotions through their eyes. I also found the abrupt beginning to their relationship not only strangely paced, but I struggled with whether or not it made sense for young women of this time period and place. Personally speaking, I'm a huge fan of slow-burns, and I think there was more than enough time to work up to their relationship, and deepen it in the process.
That being said, I did root for both of them, separately and together, and this book offers a beautiful (and harrowing) insight into Moldavian culture, religion, class, and, of course, the lives of Moldavian women. There are some beautiful moments, suffused with nature magic and the tenderness of love, but once again, the writing style kept you at such a distance that it was sometimes hard to admire them fully.
One of my other issues concerns a (very one-dimensional) side character, Dafina. Dafina is a Romani slave, and in the brief instances where she interacts with Elina, she comes off as stereotypically "mysterious," reading palms and telling fortunes. Had she been more developed, it might've not been an issue, but otherwise, she serves little narrative purpose -- well, she does serve a purpose, but it would be a huge spoiler to say how. Let's just say that the purpose is to further Elina's journey, and otherwise, Dafina is just a walking stereotype, there to make cryptic comments and save Elina's hide. The slur commonly used against Romani people is also frequently found in this book. As I'm not Romani myself, I can't say whether or not this is offensive in its historical usage (considering Set in Stone takes place in the Middle Ages). I would love some input on this; all I'll say for now is be forewarned, and it did make me uncomfortable when I was reading it.
Overall, I did like Set in Stone, but nothing about it blew me away. I'm not sure it's the kind of book that will stick with me for very long. If you're interested in the culture and the time period, I'd definitely say give it a shot, but as it stands, for me, this felt more like reading a screenplay. I will consider picking up whatever Brinzeanu writes next, however, as I imagine her second novel will improve upon the issues I've mentioned here!
March 6, 2023
What this book lacks in description and insight into the characters, it makes up for in plot. While making it an easy read, the simple and sparse descriptions made it feel more like reading a draft of a book that outlines the plot in great detail, but leaves the decoration of imagery for the next draft.
The characters weren't quite insufferable but that is only because there was never any internal monologue from either or the protagonists. The relationships between characters felt too organic to the point where it was clear that they were characters in a story. There was never any consideration from either Mira or Elina as to their relationship and there was a significant lack of romance. I could count on one hand the number of romantic moments between the two of them throughout this book. There was never a consideration from either of the characters as to their feelings for each other which felt very forced and inorganic from a readers perspective.
I appreciate the setting and how it is implemented into the story telling without it being shoved down the readers throat as it very easily could have been.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as an easy read and an interesting story, but I wouldn't reread it or strongly recommend it. I would recommend it to someone in a reading slump due this books simple writing style.
TL,DR: not a terrible read, lacking in any description or thought from characters.
The characters weren't quite insufferable but that is only because there was never any internal monologue from either or the protagonists. The relationships between characters felt too organic to the point where it was clear that they were characters in a story. There was never any consideration from either Mira or Elina as to their relationship and there was a significant lack of romance. I could count on one hand the number of romantic moments between the two of them throughout this book. There was never a consideration from either of the characters as to their feelings for each other which felt very forced and inorganic from a readers perspective.
I appreciate the setting and how it is implemented into the story telling without it being shoved down the readers throat as it very easily could have been.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as an easy read and an interesting story, but I wouldn't reread it or strongly recommend it. I would recommend it to someone in a reading slump due this books simple writing style.
TL,DR: not a terrible read, lacking in any description or thought from characters.
July 31, 2022
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC free in exchange for an honest review
I loved this!
The medieval Moldovan setting was one I was unfamiliar with, but the author manages the world building so well that I was soon fully emerged.
And, it's a forbidden sapphic romance, what's not to love?
If I was going to give one issue, it would be that the pacing felt a bit off. A lot happens in this book, and it's not all explored in very much depth.
Still, I read it in 2 days, and had a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC free in exchange for an honest review
I loved this!
The medieval Moldovan setting was one I was unfamiliar with, but the author manages the world building so well that I was soon fully emerged.
And, it's a forbidden sapphic romance, what's not to love?
If I was going to give one issue, it would be that the pacing felt a bit off. A lot happens in this book, and it's not all explored in very much depth.
Still, I read it in 2 days, and had a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend
August 19, 2022
A colourful, evocative insight into a particular time and place - and a reworking of one of the most famous Romanian legends. Full review to follow on my blog
May 4, 2022
Set in Stone by Stela Brinzeanu - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4,5 but let's round it up)
Read the digital ARC between 28 april and 30 april. Special thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
Summary
Set in Stone is a reimagining of an Eastern European legend. However, rather than sticking to the original story, in her retelling Stela Brinzeanu seeks to give a voice to the women who have been silenced. And she has done well.
This book tells the story of two women from opposing backgrounds, who fall in love. In a society where a woman is less than a man and freedom always seems just out of reach, Mira and Elina fight for their lives, love, and happiness.
Writing - 8/10 ⭐️
The writing isn't complex, but it is compelling. It was hard for me to put this book down and when I could not read, I found myself guessing at future events. The addition of Romanian words (glossary included!) made it a little bit tougher to read, but it made the book feel more authentic.
Pace - 9/10 ⭐️
It's a relatively short book, so naturally, it will be more fast-paced. At times, the romance felt too quick. However, many stories we all know and love follow a similar approach. Yes, it was fast. But to me, it did not feel like a rushed and ridiculous case of insta-love. For this story, it was just right. Despite the story being more fast-paced, it did not feel rushed at all and events followed each other logically.
Plot - 10/10⭐️
Personally, I do not read a lot of books that are set in medieval times, so this was refreshing. Despite the book being a reimaging of a legend, I don't know a lot about Eastern Europe and its stories. Since I am not familiar with the original legend, several plot points came as a complete surprise. However, none of the twists were so far-fetched that the story no longer made sense. I'm not sure how much of the plot is original and how much is a spin on the legend, but I loved it.
Characters - 7/10 ⭐️
At first, the characters seemed a bit flat and I struggled to keep their storylines separate. This got better after the first 30-40 pages. There were some moments of secondhand embarrassment for Elina, who is clearly a product of being raised in a wealthy family. The characters grew, learned about other perspectives, about the world and themselves. And I sure appreciate growth (especially in relatively short books). My favorite side characters are probably Rozalia and The Old Cobzar.
Enjoyability - 10/10⭐️
This book was great. The story was compelling, the plot was exciting and the characters were fun. I would definitely recommend this book.
Read the digital ARC between 28 april and 30 april. Special thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
Summary
Set in Stone is a reimagining of an Eastern European legend. However, rather than sticking to the original story, in her retelling Stela Brinzeanu seeks to give a voice to the women who have been silenced. And she has done well.
This book tells the story of two women from opposing backgrounds, who fall in love. In a society where a woman is less than a man and freedom always seems just out of reach, Mira and Elina fight for their lives, love, and happiness.
Writing - 8/10 ⭐️
The writing isn't complex, but it is compelling. It was hard for me to put this book down and when I could not read, I found myself guessing at future events. The addition of Romanian words (glossary included!) made it a little bit tougher to read, but it made the book feel more authentic.
Pace - 9/10 ⭐️
It's a relatively short book, so naturally, it will be more fast-paced. At times, the romance felt too quick. However, many stories we all know and love follow a similar approach. Yes, it was fast. But to me, it did not feel like a rushed and ridiculous case of insta-love. For this story, it was just right. Despite the story being more fast-paced, it did not feel rushed at all and events followed each other logically.
Plot - 10/10⭐️
Personally, I do not read a lot of books that are set in medieval times, so this was refreshing. Despite the book being a reimaging of a legend, I don't know a lot about Eastern Europe and its stories. Since I am not familiar with the original legend, several plot points came as a complete surprise. However, none of the twists were so far-fetched that the story no longer made sense. I'm not sure how much of the plot is original and how much is a spin on the legend, but I loved it.
Characters - 7/10 ⭐️
At first, the characters seemed a bit flat and I struggled to keep their storylines separate. This got better after the first 30-40 pages. There were some moments of secondhand embarrassment for Elina, who is clearly a product of being raised in a wealthy family. The characters grew, learned about other perspectives, about the world and themselves. And I sure appreciate growth (especially in relatively short books). My favorite side characters are probably Rozalia and The Old Cobzar.
Enjoyability - 10/10⭐️
This book was great. The story was compelling, the plot was exciting and the characters were fun. I would definitely recommend this book.
June 24, 2022
in medieval moldova, two women from opposing backgrounds fall in love. fall in love they do, but the lack of romantic development meant that my care for them was perhaps not as extreme as it could have been.
there is some incredible storytelling here - the writing style was my favourite part of this - but again the lack of development was infuriating. i needed more on the characters and more of the romance to be truly captivated by what could have been a five-star story. historical fiction that gives voices to forgotten women in history as two women fall in love should have had me hooked. unfortunately, it didn’t.
thank you to netgalley and legend press for the arc!
there is some incredible storytelling here - the writing style was my favourite part of this - but again the lack of development was infuriating. i needed more on the characters and more of the romance to be truly captivated by what could have been a five-star story. historical fiction that gives voices to forgotten women in history as two women fall in love should have had me hooked. unfortunately, it didn’t.
thank you to netgalley and legend press for the arc!
June 27, 2022
DNF @ 50%
I never normally rate my dnfs but I do feel this deserved a rating.
I enjoyed this book but I felt that something was missing from the romance. The romance to me lacked any real set up. One minute they meet, then they kiss and suddenly they start making serious plans. When reading this I felt that I had missed something, none of this was explained or explored. I felt that loads of stuff that happened off-page should have been shown. Especially on Elina's side of the romance.
Everything else was really engaging but I just wasn't really connected to the romance.
I never normally rate my dnfs but I do feel this deserved a rating.
I enjoyed this book but I felt that something was missing from the romance. The romance to me lacked any real set up. One minute they meet, then they kiss and suddenly they start making serious plans. When reading this I felt that I had missed something, none of this was explained or explored. I felt that loads of stuff that happened off-page should have been shown. Especially on Elina's side of the romance.
Everything else was really engaging but I just wasn't really connected to the romance.
September 22, 2022
"Words are useless tools if you're digging for truth, she thinks. They lie, deceive, and distort. Only in the absence of words can there be truth. That's why people talk, because they have something to hide."
Strong trigger warnings for rape, incest, and anti-Roma racism/xenophobia.
I think at this point it's safe to say that this book is the biggest disappointment of the year. The premise is intriguing and I was interested in based on the premise. Admittedly, I only learned some more about Moldova and the country's history this year, given the rising tensions and the war taking place right there, so an opportunity to learn more about the country's history and legends through a sapphic story seemed ideal.
Unfortunately, this ended up being very reminiscent of my experience reading "The Reckless Kind" by Carly Heath, down to the never-ending trauma lasagna. I was ready to DNF "Set in Stone" not even halfway through, and I don't necessarily regret getting to the end, but I wish it had been a better book. Some of the things that made me relive the pace of reading "The Reckless Kind" were:
1. A protagonist that suffers an injury, leading to a physical disability;
2. Inconsistent pace and time-skipping;
3. The conflict of christianity vs. paganism;
4. The aforementioned trauma lasagna – a small good thing happens, followed by a series of miseries, because you know what misery loves?
Given the amount of Misery™, it's quite hard to determine the reader's level or intended audience. The writing style felt quite YA, yet not even 50 pages in you're hit with an on-page rape/incest scene, which reoccurs later on in the book. After a while, it's possible to pretty much predict whether the chapter will be a short moment to breathe or another tragedy that bestows the protagonists.
On top of that, it doesn't feel rewarding at the end. A few plot lines (one of which, , seems pretty important given the circumstances) disappear, and the final chapters just... fizzle out.
While the writing style didn't really work for me, I think Elina and Mira were distinguishable enough where their POVs didn't feel overly similar. They had different upbringings and beliefs which impacted their thoughts and decisions. Their skills were well-utilised, though I have some issues with some of Elina's latter chapters.
Speaking of Elina and Mira, other reviews weren't kidding about the instalove being /very/ instant. However, it creates a strange situation where they're in love so suddenly yet they spend most of the time apart, making they feelings heavily "tell" and barely "show". It's hard to root for them when they practically don't know each other. It made more sense on Elina's end – in her interactions with strangers, she seems overly trusting and somewhat naïve. With Mira, it's a little less believable. More on-page interactions—actual interactions, not mere hints of the short time they spent around Rozalia—would've made Mira's inner conflict more believable.
There are issues with the treatment of Roma characters in the book. The word g*psy is thrown around constantly, and the characters fall into stereotypes. Other reviewers have done a better job describing these issues.
This is a small gripe, but the historical setting is also somewhat confusing. There aren't really strong indicators of time or place (though some Moldovan words are sprinkled throughout the text and a couple of villages are named). Additionally, the book is described as set in "medieval Moldova". However, in a comment on Goodreads, Brinzeanu said that it was set in the 17th century.
Overall, "Set in Stone" is, sadly, a great concept in theory that fell short on its execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the access.
Strong trigger warnings for rape, incest, and anti-Roma racism/xenophobia.
I think at this point it's safe to say that this book is the biggest disappointment of the year. The premise is intriguing and I was interested in based on the premise. Admittedly, I only learned some more about Moldova and the country's history this year, given the rising tensions and the war taking place right there, so an opportunity to learn more about the country's history and legends through a sapphic story seemed ideal.
Unfortunately, this ended up being very reminiscent of my experience reading "The Reckless Kind" by Carly Heath, down to the never-ending trauma lasagna. I was ready to DNF "Set in Stone" not even halfway through, and I don't necessarily regret getting to the end, but I wish it had been a better book. Some of the things that made me relive the pace of reading "The Reckless Kind" were:
1. A protagonist that suffers an injury, leading to a physical disability;
2. Inconsistent pace and time-skipping;
3. The conflict of christianity vs. paganism;
4. The aforementioned trauma lasagna – a small good thing happens, followed by a series of miseries, because you know what misery loves?
Given the amount of Misery™, it's quite hard to determine the reader's level or intended audience. The writing style felt quite YA, yet not even 50 pages in you're hit with an on-page rape/incest scene, which reoccurs later on in the book. After a while, it's possible to pretty much predict whether the chapter will be a short moment to breathe or another tragedy that bestows the protagonists.
On top of that, it doesn't feel rewarding at the end. A few plot lines (one of which, , seems pretty important given the circumstances) disappear, and the final chapters just... fizzle out.
While the writing style didn't really work for me, I think Elina and Mira were distinguishable enough where their POVs didn't feel overly similar. They had different upbringings and beliefs which impacted their thoughts and decisions. Their skills were well-utilised, though I have some issues with some of Elina's latter chapters.
Speaking of Elina and Mira, other reviews weren't kidding about the instalove being /very/ instant. However, it creates a strange situation where they're in love so suddenly yet they spend most of the time apart, making they feelings heavily "tell" and barely "show". It's hard to root for them when they practically don't know each other. It made more sense on Elina's end – in her interactions with strangers, she seems overly trusting and somewhat naïve. With Mira, it's a little less believable. More on-page interactions—actual interactions, not mere hints of the short time they spent around Rozalia—would've made Mira's inner conflict more believable.
There are issues with the treatment of Roma characters in the book. The word g*psy is thrown around constantly, and the characters fall into stereotypes. Other reviewers have done a better job describing these issues.
This is a small gripe, but the historical setting is also somewhat confusing. There aren't really strong indicators of time or place (though some Moldovan words are sprinkled throughout the text and a couple of villages are named). Additionally, the book is described as set in "medieval Moldova". However, in a comment on Goodreads, Brinzeanu said that it was set in the 17th century.
Overall, "Set in Stone" is, sadly, a great concept in theory that fell short on its execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the access.
November 16, 2022
This was a historical novel with an interesting concept that it failed to execute properly.
Firstly, a couple of things I did like:
This was set in medieval Moldova, a place I most admit I don't know much about including its history, and haven't previously read any fiction set there, so I appreciate that it was an attempt at exploring something different. I am also intrigued to learn more about the original myth this is based on, another thing I was not aware of prior.
I liked the two main characters individually and Brinzeanu did a good job of showcasing them as people, who they were and what they wanted, and how they differed. (Elina is gentry whilst Mira is a potter's daughter.)
Unfortunately, I also had a few issues with this book that made it hard reading at times:
I found the romance a little forced - they seemed to suddenly be in love out of nowhere - and this was a part of an overall problem with the pacing.
Elena's plot takes a quite sudden dark turn near the start when (spoiler warning and also content warning for rape and incest) she is raped by her uncle. I really wish the story had come with a content warning, as I was not expecting this twist. This was also part of a wider issue where the story felt a bit like one trauma after another. And whilst I understand that life could be hard and traumatic for women in this period, I don't think it was handled particularly well in this story.
Mira wants to study with the local wise woman, Rozakau, and to do so she agrees to become her apprentice in her pagan faith. She seems to go from being sceptical and agreeing for practical reason to suddenly sharing Rozakau's belief. She does undertake a ceremony but it's not well described enough for it to feel like it should completely overthrow her beliefs and motives.
Overall, I would definetely advise approaching with this one with caution (especially if you are affected by the content mentioned in the warning above) but it might still be of interest for someone looking for a story based on lesser known folklore.
Firstly, a couple of things I did like:
This was set in medieval Moldova, a place I most admit I don't know much about including its history, and haven't previously read any fiction set there, so I appreciate that it was an attempt at exploring something different. I am also intrigued to learn more about the original myth this is based on, another thing I was not aware of prior.
I liked the two main characters individually and Brinzeanu did a good job of showcasing them as people, who they were and what they wanted, and how they differed. (Elina is gentry whilst Mira is a potter's daughter.)
Unfortunately, I also had a few issues with this book that made it hard reading at times:
I found the romance a little forced - they seemed to suddenly be in love out of nowhere - and this was a part of an overall problem with the pacing.
Elena's plot takes a quite sudden dark turn near the start when (spoiler warning and also content warning for rape and incest) she is raped by her uncle. I really wish the story had come with a content warning, as I was not expecting this twist. This was also part of a wider issue where the story felt a bit like one trauma after another. And whilst I understand that life could be hard and traumatic for women in this period, I don't think it was handled particularly well in this story.
Mira wants to study with the local wise woman, Rozakau, and to do so she agrees to become her apprentice in her pagan faith. She seems to go from being sceptical and agreeing for practical reason to suddenly sharing Rozakau's belief. She does undertake a ceremony but it's not well described enough for it to feel like it should completely overthrow her beliefs and motives.
Overall, I would definetely advise approaching with this one with caution (especially if you are affected by the content mentioned in the warning above) but it might still be of interest for someone looking for a story based on lesser known folklore.
December 15, 2022
Set in Stone is a powerful but sweet love story that i will always keep very close to my heart. As someone passionate about the customs and rituals of my culture, the healing, beliefs and ancient wisdom that my folk has developed among the years.
In this medieval Moldovan society, women do not have much agency and many are feared. Which is why the queer aspect of the story makes it so powerful. The love between two women, Elina and Mira, with opposing social backgrounds is forbidden but more genuine than anything. The misunderstood power of healing and ancient wisdom carried by women condemned as witches is another obstacle they have to face.
The title Set in Stone gives away more than it seems :) if you are quite familiar with a grim Eastern European legend about sacrifice and creation. I will only say this: The book shows a world so close to my heart and is an unconventional fairy tale that speaks so much about old and new, ancient and modern, privileged and outcasts. I really hope this book gets the praise it needs, and worldwide as well because it holds so much truth and feeling about a less known culture.
In this medieval Moldovan society, women do not have much agency and many are feared. Which is why the queer aspect of the story makes it so powerful. The love between two women, Elina and Mira, with opposing social backgrounds is forbidden but more genuine than anything. The misunderstood power of healing and ancient wisdom carried by women condemned as witches is another obstacle they have to face.
The title Set in Stone gives away more than it seems :) if you are quite familiar with a grim Eastern European legend about sacrifice and creation. I will only say this: The book shows a world so close to my heart and is an unconventional fairy tale that speaks so much about old and new, ancient and modern, privileged and outcasts. I really hope this book gets the praise it needs, and worldwide as well because it holds so much truth and feeling about a less known culture.
May 6, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my review.
A quick summary: set in Medieval Eastern Europe, two women of different classes (the daughter of a nobleman and a potter’s daughter) meet and fall in love. They must each undergo their own journey to find each other again.
——
The world building is great, presented in simple and graspable language. I like the Romanian terms (even if I have to look them up- I didn’t find the glossary until I finished the book, so it would have been helpful to know that it was there). The dialogue feels quite formal but reflective of the time for the most part, though sometimes there’s a bit of a disconnect between it and the time period of the setting. The characters feel pretty fleshed out and very distinct from one another, even the smaller side characters.
That being said, I wasn’t convinced by the development of the relationship. Elina refers to them as “close friends” and they do spend a good amount of time together past the first few chapters, but I didn’t feel like enough time or depth was given to their romantic relationship beyond that to lead to the eventual conclusion. I suppose the time that the characters spend apart probably increased their longing for one another, but I didn’t feel particularly engaged in their story as a pair of lovers. Both arcs were interesting enough to keep me reading.
I liked the overall theme of questioning what a woman’s place was in Medieval times. As the characters went through their journeys, it made me think about how certain events would be reacted to today and how things have or haven’t changed. I also wonder how historically accurate this novel is in its portrayal of the events that take place.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
A quick summary: set in Medieval Eastern Europe, two women of different classes (the daughter of a nobleman and a potter’s daughter) meet and fall in love. They must each undergo their own journey to find each other again.
——
The world building is great, presented in simple and graspable language. I like the Romanian terms (even if I have to look them up- I didn’t find the glossary until I finished the book, so it would have been helpful to know that it was there). The dialogue feels quite formal but reflective of the time for the most part, though sometimes there’s a bit of a disconnect between it and the time period of the setting. The characters feel pretty fleshed out and very distinct from one another, even the smaller side characters.
That being said, I wasn’t convinced by the development of the relationship. Elina refers to them as “close friends” and they do spend a good amount of time together past the first few chapters, but I didn’t feel like enough time or depth was given to their romantic relationship beyond that to lead to the eventual conclusion. I suppose the time that the characters spend apart probably increased their longing for one another, but I didn’t feel particularly engaged in their story as a pair of lovers. Both arcs were interesting enough to keep me reading.
I liked the overall theme of questioning what a woman’s place was in Medieval times. As the characters went through their journeys, it made me think about how certain events would be reacted to today and how things have or haven’t changed. I also wonder how historically accurate this novel is in its portrayal of the events that take place.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
June 2, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Another lovely addition to the queer historical fiction shelves! Set in Stone has a pace that feels comfortable and familiar, and the writing is well done while not flowery. The twists are obvious, but in a way to makes it seem as though even though it’s your first read, you’re revisiting a world and story you already love.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, and found it cozy and inviting, with characters who are easy to love, and some that are just as easy to hate.
Another lovely addition to the queer historical fiction shelves! Set in Stone has a pace that feels comfortable and familiar, and the writing is well done while not flowery. The twists are obvious, but in a way to makes it seem as though even though it’s your first read, you’re revisiting a world and story you already love.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, and found it cozy and inviting, with characters who are easy to love, and some that are just as easy to hate.
August 6, 2022
unfortunately, this book did not work for me. the present tense writing style threw me off from the very beginning and the use of modern language at times simply kept taking me out of the story. I found the characters under-developed and their romance unconvincing. the concept of the book itself is interesting: how women have been robbed of their achievements throughout history, but the execution was poor. (2.10)
TW: ableism, rape, incest, racism (especially against Roma people), racial slurs, slavery, victim blaming
TW: ableism, rape, incest, racism (especially against Roma people), racial slurs, slavery, victim blaming
September 11, 2022
Based on a folktale, set in medieval Moldova, two women from different backgrounds fall in love. I really didn't see this book coming, from the gorgeous storytelling, beautiful atmosphere, to the strong inspiring female leads and the topics it explores, I was consumed and finished this one in a day. It was such a rich vivid and romantic read I didn't know I needed. I'd given it all the stars if the romantic part of the story was a bit more developed but that aside, absolutely beautiful.
April 29, 2022
Overall, I liked the plot of "Set in Stone". The idea was interesting and I liked Mina's arc.
My main problem was that the romantic connection between the protagonists felt rushed and underdeveloped. There were a lot of ideas introduced and just kind of developed off-screen, so I didn't really feel invested in the characters as much as I could have been.
My main problem was that the romantic connection between the protagonists felt rushed and underdeveloped. There were a lot of ideas introduced and just kind of developed off-screen, so I didn't really feel invested in the characters as much as I could have been.
July 22, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of Set in Stone by Stela Brinzeanu. I loved the historical witchcraft like aspects of this book, it’s an amazing setting and so underrated! The romance was cute but I felt a little disappointed by it because there were only like 4 romantic scenes and the rest of the time was just Elina worrying about Mira. There was a total lack of development and wasted potential. I would still recommend this if you’re looking for sapphic historical romance but I would advise looking at a trigger warning list beforehand. I have rated this book 3 stars.
March 17, 2023
This was my read the world selection for Moldova.
In medieval Moldova, two women fall in love. However in a time and place ruled by religion and class this love was never going to be something that could be displayed or even known to others, particularly as Elina is from the ruling class and Mira is a peasant.
Based on a folk story that is well-known in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the author takes us to a time when wise women and indeed the strength of women were misunderstood and feared, and those who didn’t conform stood out and were maligned.
I enjoyed this tale! The author is quite a good storyteller and had me engrossed in the story the whole way through the book. The medieval Moldova setting was really interesting, as were the societal expectations and beliefs.
I did have a couple of issues with this story however. I found the pacing at the beginning of the book a little erratic and choppy and I just felt it lacked a bit of polish. It did seem to improve as the story went on - or perhaps I just became accustomed to it 🤷🏻♀️
My main issue with the book though was that the love story just appeared out of nowhere - one day they met and the next day were in love 🤔 I felt like I’d missed a section of the book, but I hadn’t! It just didn’t feel very convincing to me. That aside, I found the story itself interesting but would have liked a little more character and relationship development. Definitely worth reading though! Probably more a 3.75 for me, but am rounding up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
In medieval Moldova, two women fall in love. However in a time and place ruled by religion and class this love was never going to be something that could be displayed or even known to others, particularly as Elina is from the ruling class and Mira is a peasant.
Based on a folk story that is well-known in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the author takes us to a time when wise women and indeed the strength of women were misunderstood and feared, and those who didn’t conform stood out and were maligned.
I enjoyed this tale! The author is quite a good storyteller and had me engrossed in the story the whole way through the book. The medieval Moldova setting was really interesting, as were the societal expectations and beliefs.
I did have a couple of issues with this story however. I found the pacing at the beginning of the book a little erratic and choppy and I just felt it lacked a bit of polish. It did seem to improve as the story went on - or perhaps I just became accustomed to it 🤷🏻♀️
My main issue with the book though was that the love story just appeared out of nowhere - one day they met and the next day were in love 🤔 I felt like I’d missed a section of the book, but I hadn’t! It just didn’t feel very convincing to me. That aside, I found the story itself interesting but would have liked a little more character and relationship development. Definitely worth reading though! Probably more a 3.75 for me, but am rounding up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
October 19, 2022
Medieval Moldova is not a time or place for two women to ever hope to find solace and love with one another, yet two such creatures from opposing backgrounds will hide their secret not only from themselves, but pull the veil over those around them to protect their futures. Yet it cannot be denied or hidden forever no matter how much they pray or hope otherwise.
This is a world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and by class. And non shall falter from this path. To make a life together would mean defying their families, the law, and most dangerously, the Church.
The closer these two souls become, and the more they refuse and deny the roles placed upon them, the more sacrifices must be made and it’s not long before the weight of such a task starts to rip the two women apart, threatening their lives.
While Mira’s rebellion sees her life hanging in the balance, Elina must continually fight to change her legal status from daughter, to son so she can secure and inherit her father’s land and change their destiny.
Yet they are easy to forget the looming presence and pressure of the Church which shall deliver more than a severe punishment on them both should they even dare dream of a life together, in which Mira and Elina realise that perhaps their love for each other isn’t enough to break free of such a terrible and strong patriarchal grip, yet perhaps all is not lost if they can only keep hold of their belief and love, maybe they will pull through and break the chains that keep them in place.
A moving, sweeping tale of intrigue, identity, love, and loss, this story is one that feels fresh, original, and earnest from start to finish.
This is a world where a woman’s role is defined by religion and by class. And non shall falter from this path. To make a life together would mean defying their families, the law, and most dangerously, the Church.
The closer these two souls become, and the more they refuse and deny the roles placed upon them, the more sacrifices must be made and it’s not long before the weight of such a task starts to rip the two women apart, threatening their lives.
While Mira’s rebellion sees her life hanging in the balance, Elina must continually fight to change her legal status from daughter, to son so she can secure and inherit her father’s land and change their destiny.
Yet they are easy to forget the looming presence and pressure of the Church which shall deliver more than a severe punishment on them both should they even dare dream of a life together, in which Mira and Elina realise that perhaps their love for each other isn’t enough to break free of such a terrible and strong patriarchal grip, yet perhaps all is not lost if they can only keep hold of their belief and love, maybe they will pull through and break the chains that keep them in place.
A moving, sweeping tale of intrigue, identity, love, and loss, this story is one that feels fresh, original, and earnest from start to finish.
November 2, 2022
This book was exactly the type of book I love. Interesting female characters and Slavic folklore make up my perfect genre. Lesbians doing magic is an added bonus. I loved the descriptions of everything in the book, I could picture everything so clearly. The shocking twists and turns, the perseverance of Elina and Mira, and the developed supporting characters were all really exciting to read. I also love the deep veins of Moldovan lore running through the text. It's fitting, as Brinzeanu is Moldovan herself. This book does seem a little unpolished and not terribly complex, but it is delightful and I look forward to reading more from Stela Brinzeanu.
Note for trigger warnings: this book contains rape and incest, though they are not graphic or romanticized.
I recommend this book, especially to fans of "The Bear and The Nightingale." I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Stela Brinzeanu.
Note for trigger warnings: this book contains rape and incest, though they are not graphic or romanticized.
I recommend this book, especially to fans of "The Bear and The Nightingale." I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Stela Brinzeanu.
May 29, 2022
From the first sentence, I was hooked. Brinzeanu masterly weaves her words into a deeply lush, magical story, that, save for the sapphic romance, reads like so many beloved folktales we all know. I really enjoyed the attention to detail in style itself. Folk tales were often cautionary tales. They may have had adventure and romance, but sprinkled throughout are lots of moments of reality, lessons for the audience take note of, and much like classic tales, this story is weighted with topics that have impacted women for centuries- and still do.
The story pacing takes it’s time. The characters and scenery are fleshed out in detail, which I absolutely loved. But the second half picked up a bit more and ultimately I was compelled to stay up deep into the night to finish it. Although the novel is historical fiction, Elina & Mira’s individual stories, and their love story are timely, and relatable. I circle back to my comments about folktales being cautionary tales. Whether it’s Medieval Moldova, or modern day America/UK/wherever- women’s lives are still being *ahem* guided (I’ll choose a nice word here I guess), by historic and social confines and as the saying goes, “history repeats itself”. Brinzeanu gives us the hope that your identity, your story can just maybe be changed.
Absolutely a 5 star read.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my review.
The story pacing takes it’s time. The characters and scenery are fleshed out in detail, which I absolutely loved. But the second half picked up a bit more and ultimately I was compelled to stay up deep into the night to finish it. Although the novel is historical fiction, Elina & Mira’s individual stories, and their love story are timely, and relatable. I circle back to my comments about folktales being cautionary tales. Whether it’s Medieval Moldova, or modern day America/UK/wherever- women’s lives are still being *ahem* guided (I’ll choose a nice word here I guess), by historic and social confines and as the saying goes, “history repeats itself”. Brinzeanu gives us the hope that your identity, your story can just maybe be changed.
Absolutely a 5 star read.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my review.
May 4, 2022
I loved this book which, inspired by a Moldovan folk story maintained an atmosphere shared by folk tales of many European countries. Sharp woodsmoke pierces a frosty evening and witches live in clearings in woods.
By creating a full narrative and fleshing out the characters in her tale Brinzeanu gives us the tools to look again at al the stories we know so well from our childhoods. A witch? Or a herbalist and naturopath? The principal boy in English pantomimes being played traditionally by a girl, theatrical convention or shedding light on a practice that was common in every town and city? After all, the way women were subjugated and risked their lives to bear children surely many of them decided to try a disguise and a new reality.
Everything about this book worked for me, the characterisation was very strong from the smallest role to that of its protagonists Elina and Mira. I felt for both women as their family loyalties and belief systems were challenged over and over.
The scene setting was also beautifully done. I have a clear mental image of Elina’s home, Mira’s and Rozalia’s hovel and her private space. I could smell food cooking, feel the cold of the nun’s cell and feel the hot breath of Elina’s horse.
The pacing of the novel was also spot on for me. A gentle first half and then it took off, gathering pace and excitement and causing me to write this review at 1:45am because it wouldn’t let me put it down and go to sleep! While there were parts I could predict it didn’t matter, I just wanted to be there when those predictions came to pass.
I will be recommending this book to as many people as I can!
By creating a full narrative and fleshing out the characters in her tale Brinzeanu gives us the tools to look again at al the stories we know so well from our childhoods. A witch? Or a herbalist and naturopath? The principal boy in English pantomimes being played traditionally by a girl, theatrical convention or shedding light on a practice that was common in every town and city? After all, the way women were subjugated and risked their lives to bear children surely many of them decided to try a disguise and a new reality.
Everything about this book worked for me, the characterisation was very strong from the smallest role to that of its protagonists Elina and Mira. I felt for both women as their family loyalties and belief systems were challenged over and over.
The scene setting was also beautifully done. I have a clear mental image of Elina’s home, Mira’s and Rozalia’s hovel and her private space. I could smell food cooking, feel the cold of the nun’s cell and feel the hot breath of Elina’s horse.
The pacing of the novel was also spot on for me. A gentle first half and then it took off, gathering pace and excitement and causing me to write this review at 1:45am because it wouldn’t let me put it down and go to sleep! While there were parts I could predict it didn’t matter, I just wanted to be there when those predictions came to pass.
I will be recommending this book to as many people as I can!
August 6, 2022
Set in Stone is the debut novel from Stela Brinzeanu and can we just take a minute to admire that beautiful cover? The physical copy shimmers and there are so many elements of the story reflected in the illustrations on the cover.
Set in Stone is an entrancing story exploring customs and rituals, healing, beliefs and ancient wisdom. In this mediaeval Moldovan society, women do not have much agency and many are feared. It’s a reimagining of an Eastern European legend and certainly has that mystical, folklore feel about it.
Elina is of noble birth and an only daughter, but as a daughter she cannot inherit her father’s estate unless she can be legally recognised as a son. Mira is the potter’s daughter and a potter herself until an accident makes that almost impossible. Without skills, how will she survive? Rozalia is the wise woman, the one who knows how to use plants and herbs to heal. As you can imagine, although her wisdom and knowledge is much in demand, she has to tread a fine line so as not to be accused of witchcraft. These three women were such interesting characters to read about. They all faced significant challenges and danger but showed their strength and courage when it mattered.
Stela Brinzeanu paints a vivid picture of this historical period. It’s a time of fear and suspicion, of mistrust of anything that could be construed as witchcraft. It was certainly a dangerous time to be a woman. I enjoyed reading about the three women’s resourcefulness and resilience in standing up to a patriarchal society. There’s a fascinating exploration about gender roles in that society which really could be equally relevant today. I was caught up in this magical story and transported to mediaeval Europe. Set in Stone is is beautifully written, full of colour and imagery and a real feast for the senses.
Set in Stone is an entrancing story exploring customs and rituals, healing, beliefs and ancient wisdom. In this mediaeval Moldovan society, women do not have much agency and many are feared. It’s a reimagining of an Eastern European legend and certainly has that mystical, folklore feel about it.
Elina is of noble birth and an only daughter, but as a daughter she cannot inherit her father’s estate unless she can be legally recognised as a son. Mira is the potter’s daughter and a potter herself until an accident makes that almost impossible. Without skills, how will she survive? Rozalia is the wise woman, the one who knows how to use plants and herbs to heal. As you can imagine, although her wisdom and knowledge is much in demand, she has to tread a fine line so as not to be accused of witchcraft. These three women were such interesting characters to read about. They all faced significant challenges and danger but showed their strength and courage when it mattered.
Stela Brinzeanu paints a vivid picture of this historical period. It’s a time of fear and suspicion, of mistrust of anything that could be construed as witchcraft. It was certainly a dangerous time to be a woman. I enjoyed reading about the three women’s resourcefulness and resilience in standing up to a patriarchal society. There’s a fascinating exploration about gender roles in that society which really could be equally relevant today. I was caught up in this magical story and transported to mediaeval Europe. Set in Stone is is beautifully written, full of colour and imagery and a real feast for the senses.
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