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El leviatán
Algo oscuro ha despertado y ya no descansará. Inglaterra, 1643. El soldado Thomas Treadwater está combatiendo en la guerra civil cuando un preocupante mensaje de su hermana Esther lo obliga a regresar a toda prisa a su hogar. Al llegar, descubre que su padre ha sufrido una apoplejía y que una nueva criada de su familia está en prisión, acusada de brujería. Thomas se enorgullece de ser un hombre racional y moderno, pero a medida que va desentrañando el misterio de lo ocurrido descubre algo oscuro y antiguo relacionado con un naufragio acontecido años atrás. Superado, Thomas pide ayuda a la única persona que cree capaz de arrojar luz sobre el asunto: su antiguo tutor, el poeta y erudito John Milton, un hombre muy versado en la disección del bien y el mal. Juntos se enfrentarán a lo desconocido.
Con un trabajo de documentación exquisito, una prosa hipnótica y una trama deliciosamente inquietante, El leviatán es una novela sobre la familia, la lealtad, la superstición y el sacrificio, pero, sobre todo, es un misterio fascinante y una historia de cosas imposibles. Best seller del Sunday Times. Una de las diez mejores novelas debut del año según The Observer.
Con un trabajo de documentación exquisito, una prosa hipnótica y una trama deliciosamente inquietante, El leviatán es una novela sobre la familia, la lealtad, la superstición y el sacrificio, pero, sobre todo, es un misterio fascinante y una historia de cosas imposibles. Best seller del Sunday Times. Una de las diez mejores novelas debut del año según The Observer.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,004 reviews
August 25, 2024
Norfolk 1643, and Thomas Treadwater has returned home on leave to the family farmhouse after fighting in the Civil War. Though he hates the war, he hasn’t returned of his own accord, but because his sister Esther has sent him letters implying that Chrissa Moore, a servant, has an unhealthy interest in their widowed father, (a devout and religious man), and is indulging in an illicit affair with him. He may have left the battlefield behind, but a much bigger battle awaits him in the form of pure evil!
The book actually begins in 1703, with the chilling words ‘She is Awake”
Back to 1643, and on his return Thomas discovers his father’s flock of sheep all dead with no visible signs of injury. At the farmhouse he finds his sister Esther in a state of fear, and their father a shadow of his former self - incoherent and unable to carry out even the simplest of tasks. Esther believes Chrissa is a witch and has cursed them all. Thomas however doesn’t believe in such things, and he pledges to discover the truth - he might have reason to regret that decision!
This was a well written, darkly gothic and evocative story, that takes the reader into some very dark, dangerous and horrifying situations, but it made for a terrific read!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
The book actually begins in 1703, with the chilling words ‘She is Awake”
Back to 1643, and on his return Thomas discovers his father’s flock of sheep all dead with no visible signs of injury. At the farmhouse he finds his sister Esther in a state of fear, and their father a shadow of his former self - incoherent and unable to carry out even the simplest of tasks. Esther believes Chrissa is a witch and has cursed them all. Thomas however doesn’t believe in such things, and he pledges to discover the truth - he might have reason to regret that decision!
This was a well written, darkly gothic and evocative story, that takes the reader into some very dark, dangerous and horrifying situations, but it made for a terrific read!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
February 13, 2022
A brilliant debut character-driven novel that had my all attention for a couple of days and that will stay with me for a long time.
The plot revolves around Thomas Treadwater who, after 60 years, tells a story of his life and of the events which he, being a man of reason, found hard to comprehend.
I loved everything about this novel - the characters, including John Milton, the way Ms Andrews uncovers the tale piece by piece, and the idea of the Leviathan on which I am not going to say anything so as not to spoil the pleasure of reading. Dark and atmospheric, this book took me on a tour that was most rewarding.
Some debut novels are spectacular and in my opinion The Leviathan belongs to this category. The Author set the bar high for herself regarding future books.
I would love to have a print copy as the cover is stunning!
A big thank-you to Rosie Andrews, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
The plot revolves around Thomas Treadwater who, after 60 years, tells a story of his life and of the events which he, being a man of reason, found hard to comprehend.
I loved everything about this novel - the characters, including John Milton, the way Ms Andrews uncovers the tale piece by piece, and the idea of the Leviathan on which I am not going to say anything so as not to spoil the pleasure of reading. Dark and atmospheric, this book took me on a tour that was most rewarding.
Some debut novels are spectacular and in my opinion The Leviathan belongs to this category. The Author set the bar high for herself regarding future books.
I would love to have a print copy as the cover is stunning!
A big thank-you to Rosie Andrews, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
December 31, 2021
Rosie Andrews weaves a beguiling gothic piece of historical horror fiction set in Norfolk in the 17th century, in one of the most politically turbulent times in English history, a country rife with divisions, religious zealots, and superstitions, a time that sees King Charles I lose his head. It is 1643 and the battle injured Thomas Treadwater returns home after fighting in the Civil War, having received a disturbing letter from his distraught younger sister, Esther, accusing their servant, Chrissa Moore, of bewitching their religiously devout father. On arriving home at the farmhouse, there is the scary and intensely unsettling sight of dead livestock, with no apparent cause of death. With his father having suffered a stroke, and Chrissa having been taken to prison, charged with witchcraft, the rational and logical Thomas, who does not believe in witchcraft, decides to investigate, only to have his beliefs tested to their very limits and shattered.
This is a beautifully written novel of supernatural biblical horrors, with prose that evokes the historical period with ease, giving us a sense of the culture, philosophy and thinking of the time, the position of women, witch finders, and witch trials, and includes the presence of John Milton. We learn of Thomas's wartime experiences, his family, his terrified sister, Esther, his father, a shipwreck, and an ancient mythical beast that awakens. This is an atmospherically dark and gripping debut of twists annd turns, well researched with its details, and with an underlying eerie sense of menace. I found it a captivating read and I have no doubt that this is a book that is destined to do well on publication. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
This is a beautifully written novel of supernatural biblical horrors, with prose that evokes the historical period with ease, giving us a sense of the culture, philosophy and thinking of the time, the position of women, witch finders, and witch trials, and includes the presence of John Milton. We learn of Thomas's wartime experiences, his family, his terrified sister, Esther, his father, a shipwreck, and an ancient mythical beast that awakens. This is an atmospherically dark and gripping debut of twists annd turns, well researched with its details, and with an underlying eerie sense of menace. I found it a captivating read and I have no doubt that this is a book that is destined to do well on publication. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
February 14, 2022
A wicked 4 star novel where nothing is quite what it seems or what you would expect !!!
An intriguing tale of the supernatural and suspected witchcraft that is fascinating, spine chilling, and creepy, and set in a war-torn England in 1643 when the country is politically and religiously unstable and economically devastated. A story of witchcraft told with great pace against an atmosphere of prevailing unease and evil that is accretive and penetrating.
With twists and turns that just keep coming the reader is assured of a book that is utterly gripping and totally absorbing. Until it comes to that ending!!!, and we have what I consider a clash of horrors, as the creature from the black lagoon meets Hocus Pocus which just did not come together in my opinion.
The Plot
Thomas Treadwater is a soldier convalescing after an injury, when his receives word from his sister, Esther, to return home immediately because all is not well, and their father has succumbed to the spell of the new servant Chrissa Moore. Arriving at the family estate, he is presented with a field full of dead sheep, his father has had a stroke and unable to communicate while the new servant, who is denounced as a witch, is in jail pending an investigation.
Esther provides evidence to the witchfinders of Chrissa’s sorcery, while Chrissa herself offers little defence to the accusations levied at her and their friends. As for Thomas, well he is born sceptical and doubts the version of events presented to him, so starts his own investigation, as he learns more about the servant and his sister.
Review and Comments
First of all, the characterisation was perfect. Thomas is cast as the ‘doubting Thomas’, who doesn’t believe in religion, politics and witchcraft. However, it is his questioning nature that brings the story alive as he portrayed as a fair and sympathetic character who wants justice. Esther is the mild-mannered daughter, and a loyal sister who is held in high esteem within the community. Then we have Chrissa ‘the servant, and picklock’, who lived in a brothel which conjures up images of a woman seedy, without morals and capable of evil and witchcraft.
The writing style in the book is excellent, which is used to create the perfect atmosphere and historical backdrop, conjuring up vivid images in our minds of the 1643 England after the civil war. Even the hysteria around witchcraft and the insidious nature of the witch trials is perfectly captured while the duty of family is sympathetically nuanced and told with real sentiment.
The downside was ‘The Leviathan’, the sea serpent, it added nothing except the title. In my opinion it should have been left out of a perfectly good story and the book renamed. The timeline of 1703 was also the weaker of the two timelines and added very little extra to the overall story.
Nevertheless, the book was atmospheric, tense, chilling, and addictive with some interesting twists. Most of the book was a 5 star read, it was 'The Leviathan' ironically that reduced this to a 4 star.
An intriguing tale of the supernatural and suspected witchcraft that is fascinating, spine chilling, and creepy, and set in a war-torn England in 1643 when the country is politically and religiously unstable and economically devastated. A story of witchcraft told with great pace against an atmosphere of prevailing unease and evil that is accretive and penetrating.
With twists and turns that just keep coming the reader is assured of a book that is utterly gripping and totally absorbing. Until it comes to that ending!!!, and we have what I consider a clash of horrors, as the creature from the black lagoon meets Hocus Pocus which just did not come together in my opinion.
The Plot
Thomas Treadwater is a soldier convalescing after an injury, when his receives word from his sister, Esther, to return home immediately because all is not well, and their father has succumbed to the spell of the new servant Chrissa Moore. Arriving at the family estate, he is presented with a field full of dead sheep, his father has had a stroke and unable to communicate while the new servant, who is denounced as a witch, is in jail pending an investigation.
Esther provides evidence to the witchfinders of Chrissa’s sorcery, while Chrissa herself offers little defence to the accusations levied at her and their friends. As for Thomas, well he is born sceptical and doubts the version of events presented to him, so starts his own investigation, as he learns more about the servant and his sister.
Review and Comments
First of all, the characterisation was perfect. Thomas is cast as the ‘doubting Thomas’, who doesn’t believe in religion, politics and witchcraft. However, it is his questioning nature that brings the story alive as he portrayed as a fair and sympathetic character who wants justice. Esther is the mild-mannered daughter, and a loyal sister who is held in high esteem within the community. Then we have Chrissa ‘the servant, and picklock’, who lived in a brothel which conjures up images of a woman seedy, without morals and capable of evil and witchcraft.
The writing style in the book is excellent, which is used to create the perfect atmosphere and historical backdrop, conjuring up vivid images in our minds of the 1643 England after the civil war. Even the hysteria around witchcraft and the insidious nature of the witch trials is perfectly captured while the duty of family is sympathetically nuanced and told with real sentiment.
The downside was ‘The Leviathan’, the sea serpent, it added nothing except the title. In my opinion it should have been left out of a perfectly good story and the book renamed. The timeline of 1703 was also the weaker of the two timelines and added very little extra to the overall story.
Nevertheless, the book was atmospheric, tense, chilling, and addictive with some interesting twists. Most of the book was a 5 star read, it was 'The Leviathan' ironically that reduced this to a 4 star.
March 6, 2022
I have been hoodwinked, bamboozled, lead astray, run amok and flat out deceived! What I thought witchy historical fiction turned into something else completely. What sorcery is this? No matter, I still enjoyed this tale immensely. Usually I would be mad at the sudden turn of events, but I was willing to go where the author took me. I was so caught up in the story, I had to know how it ended for my new character friends. Excellent read! Recommend.
May 16, 2022
What can I say about this beautiful book The Leviathan that has already been said by friends who have reviewed this, I am not going to give a long review as it’s already been said & wont do this justice.
SHE IS AWAKE!!
That is the first words in this novel if that doesn’t draw you in nothing will.
Thomas Treadaway returns from the Civil War to their fathers farm after receiving letter from his sister Esther, she tells him that a servant has been seeing their father & is with child ,Esther doesn’t approve & wants Thomas to stop it BUT Christie & her family The Gedge are accused of witchcraft Thomas doesn’t believe this at all & fights for Christie the townsfolk are against them & are all for their demise, Thomas takes in a simpleton child I loved the interaction between the two it gave me goosebumps.
This is a beautifully written dark compelling atmospheric novel dealing with good, evil & a the shades in between loved every minute it pulls at your heartstrings & doesn’t let go. 5 beautiful dark ⭐️
SHE IS AWAKE!!
That is the first words in this novel if that doesn’t draw you in nothing will.
Thomas Treadaway returns from the Civil War to their fathers farm after receiving letter from his sister Esther, she tells him that a servant has been seeing their father & is with child ,Esther doesn’t approve & wants Thomas to stop it BUT Christie & her family The Gedge are accused of witchcraft Thomas doesn’t believe this at all & fights for Christie the townsfolk are against them & are all for their demise, Thomas takes in a simpleton child I loved the interaction between the two it gave me goosebumps.
This is a beautifully written dark compelling atmospheric novel dealing with good, evil & a the shades in between loved every minute it pulls at your heartstrings & doesn’t let go. 5 beautiful dark ⭐️
September 25, 2021
For all that this is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, it was, for me, without emotional impact. I'm not even sure why. Rosie Andrews is a master of atmosphere. She draws her reader into 1643 with spectacular attention to detail and the perfect turn of phrase. The escalating tension of the witch hunt is exceptionally well crafted, the best part of the book by far, but the ongoing family drama, based upon a brother-sister relationship without solid foundation, left me wondering why certain choices were being made. As a result, the ending fell entirely flat, and I finished the last page with a shrug. I'm actually still annoyed that it didn't matter more to me.
In any case, I have no doubt this will be big and I'll certainly be reading anything she writes in the future. The writing alone makes Andrews one to watch.
ARC via Netgalley
In any case, I have no doubt this will be big and I'll certainly be reading anything she writes in the future. The writing alone makes Andrews one to watch.
ARC via Netgalley
February 26, 2023
“She is awake. And I must remind myself of how it began. The end of all things. It was a time of witches, it was a time of saints, a time when rabbits hunted foxes, when children came into the world without their heads, and kings lost theirs on the scaffold. The world was turned upside down, or so some said … now, less than a hundred years after men and magic began to drift apart, we walk a new earth. We have become reasonable, and cleave to our certainties as once we cleaved to our kings. Now, the buried stories are dismissed as old wives’ tales, exaggerations, falsehoods. But still they bubble through the cracks, clinging on, refusing to go down into the dark. They develop strange qualities, words stored for too long. In the dim light of my small study, never bright enough now, I lay them down in honest black ink, but they are past their bloom…”
This is certainly a mess of pottage with lots of elements within. Andrews seems to have thrown the kitchen sink at this. It is set in 1643, during the Civil War with jumps forward to 1703. It is certainly gothic with a touch of horror and the supernatural. The penchant for finding a witch around every corner is there. If you understand the title then you will guess another element. Throw in some Egyptian and Babylonian myth, a bit of the Book of Revelation, a bit of possession, some atheism and a certain John Milton (yes him!) and there you have it. Oh, I am forgetting the woman in the attic trope as well. It’s set in Norfolk. Unfortunately the author’s habit of periodically jumping forward sixty years gives most of the plot away. It fits quite neatly into the current trend for historical novels with a gothic edge.
It’s written in the first person as we follow Thomas Treadwater as he returns from fighting in the war and discovers all is not as it should be at home. It is well written, but I didn’t really get a strong sense of place, nor of the upheaval that the Civil War caused. There are significant holes in the plot, such as the disappearance of a major character without much comment. The inclusion of Milton seemed pointless. The Leviathan aspect doesn’t fit and feels like a bit of an add-on. The ending is confused. Some will love this. For me it was too disjointed and lacked a sense of place and time.
This is certainly a mess of pottage with lots of elements within. Andrews seems to have thrown the kitchen sink at this. It is set in 1643, during the Civil War with jumps forward to 1703. It is certainly gothic with a touch of horror and the supernatural. The penchant for finding a witch around every corner is there. If you understand the title then you will guess another element. Throw in some Egyptian and Babylonian myth, a bit of the Book of Revelation, a bit of possession, some atheism and a certain John Milton (yes him!) and there you have it. Oh, I am forgetting the woman in the attic trope as well. It’s set in Norfolk. Unfortunately the author’s habit of periodically jumping forward sixty years gives most of the plot away. It fits quite neatly into the current trend for historical novels with a gothic edge.
It’s written in the first person as we follow Thomas Treadwater as he returns from fighting in the war and discovers all is not as it should be at home. It is well written, but I didn’t really get a strong sense of place, nor of the upheaval that the Civil War caused. There are significant holes in the plot, such as the disappearance of a major character without much comment. The inclusion of Milton seemed pointless. The Leviathan aspect doesn’t fit and feels like a bit of an add-on. The ending is confused. Some will love this. For me it was too disjointed and lacked a sense of place and time.
Read
June 22, 2023you know, people are always on at romance for being formulaic, but I could pick out a surprising number of highbrow historical English-set novels with a fantastical twist that have snakey images on the cover. Just saying.
The premise of this (English Civil War, witch-finding, possession) is fab but it never really took flight for me. I felt like it couldn't pick a genre: there's a lot of elements reminiscent of Hammer movies but it never leans in to being horror/scary; we set up a lot of great conflicts regarding the operation of the law and the MC's position trying to get out of being a soldier but they never really come to a head; there's bits about strange gods that *also* don't come to a head; and there's a lot of research-heavy historical scene-setting which slows the pace considerably. I just felt everything needed turning up a few notches. On the other hand, if you like understated, this is for you.
If I'm honest, it lost me at the 'that John Milton will never amount to anything!' gag (not in those words) which authors of historical fiction really do need to retire.
Mph. If you want a leisurely period-detail-heavy book with plenty of atmosphere, there's a lot to like here, but it didn't compel me. Hey ho.
The premise of this (English Civil War, witch-finding, possession) is fab but it never really took flight for me. I felt like it couldn't pick a genre: there's a lot of elements reminiscent of Hammer movies but it never leans in to being horror/scary; we set up a lot of great conflicts regarding the operation of the law and the MC's position trying to get out of being a soldier but they never really come to a head; there's bits about strange gods that *also* don't come to a head; and there's a lot of research-heavy historical scene-setting which slows the pace considerably. I just felt everything needed turning up a few notches. On the other hand, if you like understated, this is for you.
If I'm honest, it lost me at the 'that John Milton will never amount to anything!' gag (not in those words) which authors of historical fiction really do need to retire.
Mph. If you want a leisurely period-detail-heavy book with plenty of atmosphere, there's a lot to like here, but it didn't compel me. Hey ho.
June 25, 2023
Tales of demons, of monsters that believed themselves gods, and spirits that could fly through air to possess a person's mind--they were just stories, the fruits of febrile imaginations, the natural children of the darkness before civilization.
They were not real....
Norfolk 1643.
With the Civil War raging on, soldier Thomas Treadwater receives a letter from his sister, Esther, saying she needs him to come home quickly. The first thing Thomas notices when he arrives at his family farm is that most of the sheep have been killed. He is greeted at the front door by his pale, thin sister, who tells him his father has had a stroke and their servant, Chrissa, has been arrested for witchcraft. Thomas prides himself on being a grounded, sensible man, but as he unravels this strange mystery, he is linked to something dark and deadly, in connection with a shipwreck over a decade ago.
**This book was not at all what I was expecting it to be. I picked it up because of the beautiful cover as well as the title, The Leviathan, which is a sea creature mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. I pictured going on a deep sea journey with a monster lurking in the waters, but this story is primarily set on a family farm in the middle of nowhere. The author did take the reference of the Leviathan from the book Leviticus, as she has biblical passages in the novel describing the Beast. However, she brings this creature to land, which makes for a strange journey the further I read. I don't feel like the ending was a resolution as it really didn't solve the main issue, but that's just my opinion. The reviews on this novel are really good. I will say that the author nailed the atmosphere in this book. It reminded me of the novel, Burial Rights by Hannah Kent. I felt very present throughout the whole journey.
They were not real....
Norfolk 1643.
With the Civil War raging on, soldier Thomas Treadwater receives a letter from his sister, Esther, saying she needs him to come home quickly. The first thing Thomas notices when he arrives at his family farm is that most of the sheep have been killed. He is greeted at the front door by his pale, thin sister, who tells him his father has had a stroke and their servant, Chrissa, has been arrested for witchcraft. Thomas prides himself on being a grounded, sensible man, but as he unravels this strange mystery, he is linked to something dark and deadly, in connection with a shipwreck over a decade ago.
**This book was not at all what I was expecting it to be. I picked it up because of the beautiful cover as well as the title, The Leviathan, which is a sea creature mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. I pictured going on a deep sea journey with a monster lurking in the waters, but this story is primarily set on a family farm in the middle of nowhere. The author did take the reference of the Leviathan from the book Leviticus, as she has biblical passages in the novel describing the Beast. However, she brings this creature to land, which makes for a strange journey the further I read. I don't feel like the ending was a resolution as it really didn't solve the main issue, but that's just my opinion. The reviews on this novel are really good. I will say that the author nailed the atmosphere in this book. It reminded me of the novel, Burial Rights by Hannah Kent. I felt very present throughout the whole journey.
July 15, 2022
Not a fan of fantasy or horror so though this was well written and plotted it just wasn't my cup of tea.
September 18, 2021
If this book doesn’t get a spot in your top 10 books of 2022 then I don’t know what will, it’s hard to believe that this is the debut novel from Rosie Andrews… anyways…
I’m not going to lie to you all, I only picked this book up because of it’s gorgeous cover and the fact that it had leviathan in the title… that’s all it takes for me to feel like I need to read this book right here and right now. Okay, I know you’re only here for the actual review and not my ramblings…
This book is set in the lovely county of Norfolk and is set in two time periods, 1643 (the past where most of this book is set) and 1703 (the present day for this book) and the heroic Thomas Treadwater returns home from war at the request of his sister and finds their father catatonic in bed, unable to communicate and completely paralysed. His sister, Esther, accuses the family’s servant Carissa of having a hand in the mysterious goings on around the family farm and the local witch hunter puts her in prison, but not only the new servant, he also sends the family’s loyal servant and Thomas and Esther’s mother to prison as well.
Thomas does not believe in witchcraft and he sets out to restore honour to his family and clear the good name of the family’s loyal servant. From there on in sh*t gets real, excuse my French, because what Thomas uncovers might actually break him, and at the very least, it disturbs him in such a profound way I don’t see him recovering from these events any time soon.
I won’t go into too many details because no one likes spoilers, but this book is absolutely fantastic. I can’t get this book, or the story, out of my head. It’s pacing was perfect, the switching of the timelines was clear and concise (sometimes timeline switching can be confusing if it’s not executed properly), and more importantly the story keeps your hooked from the very first page. Rosie’s world building is spectacular and I loved the absolute chaos that unfolded in the pages of this well crafted book. I can’t wait to see what Rosie gives us next, she is now an auto-buy author for me, and it takes a lot to get that status from me, I’m very particular.
Thank you so much to Net Galley for providing me with an arc of this masterpiece.
She is Awake. Coming February 2022.
I’m not going to lie to you all, I only picked this book up because of it’s gorgeous cover and the fact that it had leviathan in the title… that’s all it takes for me to feel like I need to read this book right here and right now. Okay, I know you’re only here for the actual review and not my ramblings…
This book is set in the lovely county of Norfolk and is set in two time periods, 1643 (the past where most of this book is set) and 1703 (the present day for this book) and the heroic Thomas Treadwater returns home from war at the request of his sister and finds their father catatonic in bed, unable to communicate and completely paralysed. His sister, Esther, accuses the family’s servant Carissa of having a hand in the mysterious goings on around the family farm and the local witch hunter puts her in prison, but not only the new servant, he also sends the family’s loyal servant and Thomas and Esther’s mother to prison as well.
Thomas does not believe in witchcraft and he sets out to restore honour to his family and clear the good name of the family’s loyal servant. From there on in sh*t gets real, excuse my French, because what Thomas uncovers might actually break him, and at the very least, it disturbs him in such a profound way I don’t see him recovering from these events any time soon.
I won’t go into too many details because no one likes spoilers, but this book is absolutely fantastic. I can’t get this book, or the story, out of my head. It’s pacing was perfect, the switching of the timelines was clear and concise (sometimes timeline switching can be confusing if it’s not executed properly), and more importantly the story keeps your hooked from the very first page. Rosie’s world building is spectacular and I loved the absolute chaos that unfolded in the pages of this well crafted book. I can’t wait to see what Rosie gives us next, she is now an auto-buy author for me, and it takes a lot to get that status from me, I’m very particular.
Thank you so much to Net Galley for providing me with an arc of this masterpiece.
She is Awake. Coming February 2022.
March 12, 2022
3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book. The cover is gorgeous (yes I judge books on their covers) and it sounded like just my kind of story. Dark, mysterious, the suggestion of something other worldly and a little bit of evil.
And it started out so well. The writing is wonderful, with the descriptions of time and place so vivid you can imagine yourself there (not always a good thing). The first part of the story is incredibly atmospheric and filled with this sense of foreboding. I absolutely loved it. There are some truly chilling moments as main character Thomas Treadwell returns home from the war to discover things are very wrong and sets about investigating. I haven't read many books set in the 17th century so found the witch trial element to the story fascinating.
It was really at the second part that things went a little bit wrong for me. The story seemed to slow down, the characters actions didn't necessarily make sense and it all became a little bogged down in theology. There's lots of theorising on the nature of evil and a scholar brought in to advise on what course of action to take. I found my attention wandering frequently and started skimming over some passages as I just wanted to know how it would end by that point. I'm not entirely sure the end was worth persevering for.
I would definitely say I was disappointed with this book. It is incredibly well written and I would be interested in reading more from this author but despite a promising start this just wasn't for me
I really wanted to love this book. The cover is gorgeous (yes I judge books on their covers) and it sounded like just my kind of story. Dark, mysterious, the suggestion of something other worldly and a little bit of evil.
And it started out so well. The writing is wonderful, with the descriptions of time and place so vivid you can imagine yourself there (not always a good thing). The first part of the story is incredibly atmospheric and filled with this sense of foreboding. I absolutely loved it. There are some truly chilling moments as main character Thomas Treadwell returns home from the war to discover things are very wrong and sets about investigating. I haven't read many books set in the 17th century so found the witch trial element to the story fascinating.
It was really at the second part that things went a little bit wrong for me. The story seemed to slow down, the characters actions didn't necessarily make sense and it all became a little bogged down in theology. There's lots of theorising on the nature of evil and a scholar brought in to advise on what course of action to take. I found my attention wandering frequently and started skimming over some passages as I just wanted to know how it would end by that point. I'm not entirely sure the end was worth persevering for.
I would definitely say I was disappointed with this book. It is incredibly well written and I would be interested in reading more from this author but despite a promising start this just wasn't for me
February 17, 2022
My mum always told me that she has a theory when it comes to starting a new book. She says that the good stuff starts to happen half way through, but for me, this isn’t a good thing because that’s too far in to read nothing of relevance.
This book was a real slog and was full of waffle for me. The godly speeches were also way too much.
There were some interesting twists and realizations but honestly, it just wasn’t enough.
One minute it seemed like a book about witches, then it felt like a book about possession, but then it was about a snake-like monster?
It all felt a little bit confused and I’m sorry to say I’m glad it’s over.
It had all the potential but just didn’t follow through.
This book was a real slog and was full of waffle for me. The godly speeches were also way too much.
There were some interesting twists and realizations but honestly, it just wasn’t enough.
One minute it seemed like a book about witches, then it felt like a book about possession, but then it was about a snake-like monster?
It all felt a little bit confused and I’m sorry to say I’m glad it’s over.
It had all the potential but just didn’t follow through.
Read
June 21, 2022This novel exists on the edge of several genres: fantasy, horror, and historical. It takes place in Norfolk, England, in two periods of time: 1643 and 1703. The author has created one of the most vivid locations that I've encountered in a long time. The sense of place leaps off the page, making Norfolk of this period of time unforgettable. The book is a first person narration told by a youngish man who is just returning from doing his part in the English Civil War. He arrives at his father's farm only to find a paddock of very dead sheep, his father on his deathbed, and his sister beside herself with the knowledge that she and her father have been housing a witch. Or have they? In the author's confident hand, we find ourselves in a situation both terrifying and unbelievable. We have witch-hunters, those they hunt, the alleged victims of witches, trials by torture, and a sea creature wreaking havoc both in the North Sea and on the shore. I found the novel a terrific read, and I have to say that I won't forget it any time soon.
September 11, 2021
DEFINITELY one to watch in 2022 The Leviathan is simply superb. Rich in historical detail, finely tuned characters, a subtle, creepy plot that sneaks up on you all brought together by some excellent EXCELLENT writing.
Highly Recommended. One of my best reads this year. She is Awake. February 2022.
Highly Recommended. One of my best reads this year. She is Awake. February 2022.
February 6, 2022
A slow beginning to this and an uninvolving narrator didn't get me off to the best of starts but Andrews' writing is stylish and compelling so I kept going. Atmosphere and setting is good but the story wasn't really for me: more witch-hunts which seem to be the established go-to with any books set in the sixteenth-seventeenth century, morphing into a kind of biblical/horror. The real John Milton turning up to play investigator (is there any famous historical person who hasn't been made a detective now?!) was a step too far for my tastes. I think I expected something more 'literary' rather than then adventure yarn I got - but great writing from Andrews.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
March 26, 2023
I don’t know why I feel so invested in convincing myself I enjoyed The Leviathan more than I did. I may be judging a book by its cover and trying to make the contents match.
"Now, less than a hundred years after men and magic began to drift apart, we walk a new earth. We have become reasonable, and cleave to our certainties as once we cleaved to our king. Now, the buried stories are dismissed as old wives' tales, exaggerations, falsehoods. But still they bubble through the cracks, clinging on, refusing to go down into the dark."
There is a deeply terrifying nugget at the heart of The Leviathan, but it’s muddled and difficult to find. I don’t know if it’s the writing style or the narrator, but it almost felt like someone at a party telling a story poorly. I wanted to shake him and tell him to ‘get to the point already’. But, alas, all I could do was keep reading and hope he would get there eventually. Maybe it’s that the core of this story is too simple, and Andrews felt the need to try to overcomplicate matters, but all of the bluster and extra information took the edge off of what should have been much more frightening.
Missing the suspense and mystery that I think Andrews was aiming for, I was sadly left more confused and even uninterested at times. A truly gorgeous cover may have me wishing I enjoyed The Leviathan more than I did, but you can only hide from the truth for so long.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
"Now, less than a hundred years after men and magic began to drift apart, we walk a new earth. We have become reasonable, and cleave to our certainties as once we cleaved to our king. Now, the buried stories are dismissed as old wives' tales, exaggerations, falsehoods. But still they bubble through the cracks, clinging on, refusing to go down into the dark."
There is a deeply terrifying nugget at the heart of The Leviathan, but it’s muddled and difficult to find. I don’t know if it’s the writing style or the narrator, but it almost felt like someone at a party telling a story poorly. I wanted to shake him and tell him to ‘get to the point already’. But, alas, all I could do was keep reading and hope he would get there eventually. Maybe it’s that the core of this story is too simple, and Andrews felt the need to try to overcomplicate matters, but all of the bluster and extra information took the edge off of what should have been much more frightening.
Missing the suspense and mystery that I think Andrews was aiming for, I was sadly left more confused and even uninterested at times. A truly gorgeous cover may have me wishing I enjoyed The Leviathan more than I did, but you can only hide from the truth for so long.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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August 12, 2025
1.5* - “Of course I fear what I do not know. What else is there to terrify us?”
I feel awful rating this book so low because I do believe the writing is pretty, but I’d be lying if I rated it any higher. After all, the characters lacked depth, the narrative felt very disconnected, the plot was nowhere to be found, and the pacing? Slower than the continental drift.
I just kept thinking about how much I didn’t care.
I feel awful rating this book so low because I do believe the writing is pretty, but I’d be lying if I rated it any higher. After all, the characters lacked depth, the narrative felt very disconnected, the plot was nowhere to be found, and the pacing? Slower than the continental drift.
I just kept thinking about how much I didn’t care.
February 3, 2022
The book begins in 1703 with the three ominous words…
She is awake.
But our story starts in Norfolk, 1643. Thomas Treadwater receives a letter from his sixteen year old sister. Imploring him to return home immediately.
‘…..our home is under attack by a great and ungodly evil.’
Thomas rides for home, injured but determined. But something is wrong. The sheep are dead, in one field alone over seventy with no sign of violence or struggle.
We are told a story in beautiful atmospheric detail. It switches between the past and present. This is generally not a favourite of mine but here it’s subtle and it works.
This is such a fabulously woven tale.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
She is awake.
But our story starts in Norfolk, 1643. Thomas Treadwater receives a letter from his sixteen year old sister. Imploring him to return home immediately.
‘…..our home is under attack by a great and ungodly evil.’
Thomas rides for home, injured but determined. But something is wrong. The sheep are dead, in one field alone over seventy with no sign of violence or struggle.
We are told a story in beautiful atmospheric detail. It switches between the past and present. This is generally not a favourite of mine but here it’s subtle and it works.
This is such a fabulously woven tale.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
June 10, 2022
I loved how well-written this book is. I had no struggle to feel what the characters were experiencing thanks to the beautiful writing of the author... BUT I didn't like the story... it was original and stunning but not my type of books... I had to finish it because I wanted to know what would happen and if I liked this genre, I would definitely have loved it... but it's not my cup of books... I guess if you like to have your stomach twisted of disconfort, you have to go for it! I give it a 3* thanks to the quality of the writing and only 3* because I personnaly didn't like it...
August 24, 2024
Romanzo molto intrigante e affascinante.
Narra una storia oscura e inquietante che trascina nel suo turbine di eventi terribili e disturbanti il lettore facendolo appassionare e angosciare .
Unica "pecca " avevo già capito subito dove sarebbe andata a parare la soria ma nonostante questo lo stile di scrittura e i personaggi mi hanno intrattenuta per tutta la lettura.
Consigliato, la trovo un ottima lettura estiva
Narra una storia oscura e inquietante che trascina nel suo turbine di eventi terribili e disturbanti il lettore facendolo appassionare e angosciare .
Unica "pecca " avevo già capito subito dove sarebbe andata a parare la soria ma nonostante questo lo stile di scrittura e i personaggi mi hanno intrattenuta per tutta la lettura.
Consigliato, la trovo un ottima lettura estiva
February 6, 2022
Rosie Andrews’ debut novel The Leviathan opens with a prologue set in 1703 – the work’s “present”, to which we will return at regular intervals in the novel. It then immediately takes us back six decades, to the final days of the year 1643, where the main storyline is set.
Narrator Thomas Treadwater, a soldier in the English Civil War, receives a barely credible letter from his younger sister Esther, alleging that their pious widower father is being seduced by one of the servants, “the harlot Chrissa Moore”, and urging him to come home without delay to the family farmstead in Norfolk. Thomas returns to find the farm animals dead, his father struck down with a debilitating stroke, and Chrissa and another servant jailed on suspicions of witchcraft. Thomas is a (relatively) learned man of his age, and is losing his faith in God, let alone his beliefs in witchcraft and old-fashioned superstition. But it will soon appear that truth is not a matter of black and white. Thomas’s beliefs – or lack thereof – will be sorely tested.
At this early stage in the novel, I was wondering where the narrative would lead. Would Andrews follow an Ann-Radcliffe-style “rational Gothic” and eventually show us how the charges of witchcraft were trumped up by a superstitious mob? Or would this turn out to be a work of supernatural fiction? I would not like to reveal much about the pleasurable twists and turns of the plot, but suffice it to say that The Leviathan turns out to be an unsettling piece of Gothic horror and that, yes, the evils it portrays are not (only) of this world.
The Leviathan is an exciting and gripping yarn which, despite its surprises, does not require much suspension of disbelief (naturally, within the parameters of a speculative novel). The narrative juggles ably between the “past” and “present” timelines until the satisfactory ending. The language used is archaic enough to give a sense of authenticity, without, however, making it any less flowing to the modern reader. That same sense of authenticity is reflected in details which, albeit not essential to the plot, serve to create atmosphere. In one scene, for instance, we witness the preparation of the evening meal of snipe; in others we get descriptions of an England ravaged by plague and civil war. This ability to provide “context” is surely the result of a good mix of research and imagination – the sights, smells and sounds of a distant era are well conveyed. The novel also raises interesting themes, such as faith, belief and doubt – although this is done with a much lighter touch than the “theological Gothic” of, say, Sarah Perry’s Melmoth.
Poet John Milton appears as a character in the novel, in the unlikely role of paranormal investigator. At one point he observes:
It has always been my weakness: a novel story, well constructed. I must congratulate you on the telling.
This could well sum up my reaction to this engaging debut.
For the full review go to: https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
4.5*
Narrator Thomas Treadwater, a soldier in the English Civil War, receives a barely credible letter from his younger sister Esther, alleging that their pious widower father is being seduced by one of the servants, “the harlot Chrissa Moore”, and urging him to come home without delay to the family farmstead in Norfolk. Thomas returns to find the farm animals dead, his father struck down with a debilitating stroke, and Chrissa and another servant jailed on suspicions of witchcraft. Thomas is a (relatively) learned man of his age, and is losing his faith in God, let alone his beliefs in witchcraft and old-fashioned superstition. But it will soon appear that truth is not a matter of black and white. Thomas’s beliefs – or lack thereof – will be sorely tested.
At this early stage in the novel, I was wondering where the narrative would lead. Would Andrews follow an Ann-Radcliffe-style “rational Gothic” and eventually show us how the charges of witchcraft were trumped up by a superstitious mob? Or would this turn out to be a work of supernatural fiction? I would not like to reveal much about the pleasurable twists and turns of the plot, but suffice it to say that The Leviathan turns out to be an unsettling piece of Gothic horror and that, yes, the evils it portrays are not (only) of this world.
The Leviathan is an exciting and gripping yarn which, despite its surprises, does not require much suspension of disbelief (naturally, within the parameters of a speculative novel). The narrative juggles ably between the “past” and “present” timelines until the satisfactory ending. The language used is archaic enough to give a sense of authenticity, without, however, making it any less flowing to the modern reader. That same sense of authenticity is reflected in details which, albeit not essential to the plot, serve to create atmosphere. In one scene, for instance, we witness the preparation of the evening meal of snipe; in others we get descriptions of an England ravaged by plague and civil war. This ability to provide “context” is surely the result of a good mix of research and imagination – the sights, smells and sounds of a distant era are well conveyed. The novel also raises interesting themes, such as faith, belief and doubt – although this is done with a much lighter touch than the “theological Gothic” of, say, Sarah Perry’s Melmoth.
Poet John Milton appears as a character in the novel, in the unlikely role of paranormal investigator. At one point he observes:
It has always been my weakness: a novel story, well constructed. I must congratulate you on the telling.
This could well sum up my reaction to this engaging debut.
For the full review go to: https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
4.5*
January 6, 2025
How unfortunate that my first book of the year is also my first DNF of the year on page 17.
So to truly set the scene please know I was high for at least one of the times I tired reading this. I reread that first chapter at least 6 times and I just wasn’t understanding it. The following chapter did show progress but I can’t underscore how little I wanted to read this.
I had moved this book around my apartment for days in an attempt to read it and why? Why when my brain constantly rejects it? So off to the land of DNF’s it goes.
So to truly set the scene please know I was high for at least one of the times I tired reading this. I reread that first chapter at least 6 times and I just wasn’t understanding it. The following chapter did show progress but I can’t underscore how little I wanted to read this.
I had moved this book around my apartment for days in an attempt to read it and why? Why when my brain constantly rejects it? So off to the land of DNF’s it goes.
June 5, 2023
i couldn’t get into this properly for the life of me and it makes me so sad because the writing style was absolutely IMPECCABLE!!!!!!!!! so atmospheric, so haunting, so lyrical - ill definitely be reading more from this author but in terms of this book, just wasn’t for me
June 9, 2022
Reads like a Fodor's for 17th and 18th century England. Not being the type to read travel guides I was quickly bored by what many have lauded as "atmospheric, detailed writing". What's the fucking point of all this description? Sure, setting matters, but enough already! The book is supposed to be about witches AND a sea monster?!? So how is it so dull and scattered and not creepy, eerie, or unsettling? I now have another item, or two?, to add to my list of "Book Subjects That Have Worn Out Their Welcome": Witches and Witch Finding. Yeah, we get it peeps. People were unnaturally afraid of witchcraft and all that grim, Satanic, pagan, unscientific/non-religious stuff back in the day. Hell, some people - White Supremacist Republicans and self-labeled "christians", groups that inevitably have a lot of overlap - still get all weak-kneed when they see a pointy hat - unless it's white with two eye holes, of course! - and a book of teachings that doesn't have a guy - born of a virgin! - at its core. Anyway. I have tired of these tales of stupid White Males and their sexist assessments of The Female. If you are going to write about witches and the like, with the mass of fiction already published you are going to have to bring something pretty special or different, or both, to rise above those crowded shelves. As to the Leviathan... Back to "that book" again. I wonder how many people have actually read the christian bible. There is some crazy shit in there! Including this beasty! Still, Andrews makes even that drab and lifeless. Ultimately I couldn't figure out what the book was presenting as a narrative and so I couldn't care much at all about the characters or what happens to them. I do think Andrews might have a future in travel guide writing if the fiction angle doesn't pan out.
March 10, 2022
⭐️ 3 ⭐️
The Leviathan is a beautifully written, atmospheric debut by Rosie Andrews, filled with a sense of foreboding from start to finish.
I did find it slow-paced in parts and unfortunately the mythology/fantasy aspect didn’t really capture my interest.
Although it wasn’t particularly the book for me, I can quite easily see how some people will absolutely love it.
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The Leviathan is a beautifully written, atmospheric debut by Rosie Andrews, filled with a sense of foreboding from start to finish.
I did find it slow-paced in parts and unfortunately the mythology/fantasy aspect didn’t really capture my interest.
Although it wasn’t particularly the book for me, I can quite easily see how some people will absolutely love it.
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
January 24, 2022
Discover the locations in The Leviathan
This book is gooooooooooood. very good. Excellent in fact
Starts off slow about families trying to survive, tails of monsters,witches and legends
Ends up as a horror novel to be fair. That journey to that point though - brilliantly done.
Evocative, immersive and down right addictive.
Get this book on your radar, TBR pile, favourite book shelf.
Full review:
had no idea what a Leviathan was before going into this novel. I do now! It is a symbol of chaos, a demonic sea serpent and is mentioned in many religious texts.
With that in mind, we follow the story of Thomas Treadwater who returns from the civil war, as he has received a letter from his sister, asking for help. She has accused a servant of bewitching their father and when he gets to see him, the father is dying and the so-called witch has been banished to prison.
What follows is a story of legend, family, loyalty and betrayal. The time and setting in the novel is Norfolk and this was when the religious fervour was at its height. More importantly, there was something else which controlled people’s lives at that time. I couldn’t believe how horrific the witch hunts were. If a man decided a woman was a witch, they accused her of anything to get her committed.
Luckily, Thomas is not one of these men as he goes out of his way to try and find the truth of what happened to their father. When all is said and done, what did the servant do to their father? He seems to be the only one who wants to discover the truth to help this poor woman. However, what he finds out may well break him…
All in all, a wonderfully compelling read. I thought the novel was fresh and invigorating. The supernatural, gothic overtones were deliciously chilling!
June 16, 2023
1643., England. Thomas Treadwater comes home from the battlefield to his sister's aid. Their father is gravely ill, and one of their maids, Chrissa Moore, could be at fault. Thomas's sister, Esther, claims Chrissa is a witch who seduced their father and cast a spell on him, which caused his ailment. Four days later, Thomas wakes up from a coma, having fallen from the stairs. The physician tending to his father explains his father, unfortunately, succumbed to his illness, leaving Thomas in charge of the household, his sister, and the allegations against Chrissa Moore. The arrival of the witchfinder Rutherford sets off a chain of events deeply shaking Thomas's world. Esther firmly believes that Chrissa, and her accomplice, their other maid Joan, should be reprimanded for their crimes. Chrissa, Joan, and Joan's mother Goodwife Gedge, face imprisonment. Joined by Rutherford, Esther, and Thomas go to the courthouse to give their statements about the Chrissa Moore case.
17th-century England was characterized by sociopolitical turmoil, which resulted in a civil war. The man at fault was Charles I. Coronated in 1625., Charles did his best to anger the Parliament with his actions. Four years and many mistakes later, Charles dismissed the Parliament. After 11 years of poor financial choices, Charles convenes a new Parliament, whose members were openly hostile towards him. Members of the Parliament went after the King's key ministers, while the King attempted to have certain Parliament members arrested. The Civil War began in 1642. (Source: Matthew White; The turbulent 17th century: Civil War, regicide, the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution).
Puritanism as a religious movement rose in the late 16th century, and its goal was to cleanse the Church of England from all the Catholic elements. Puritans were radical Protestants who mostly followed the Old Testament. They believed people were naturally sinful, and everyone was obligated to have a strong relationship with God as a way of redemption and a free pass to Heaven. The Leviathan masterfully shows us the widespread intensity of the Puritan religious experience. Esther and Thomas's father was a Puritan. Father is described as a humble and god-fearing man with enthusiastic interpretations of God's word. Thomas is the exact opposite of his father; he does not have the fear of God instilled in him and is very much suspicious of his sister's accusations.
There is a subtle clash of worlds when Esther and Thomas meet Justice Manyon at the courthouse. Esther is a timid, fearful young woman who would not dare stir the shackles of her Puritan upbringing. She is determined to avenge her father and have Chrissa sentenced to death by hanging. She provides Manyon with evidence of Chrissa's alleged witchcraft and her spellbinding influence over her father's behavior. Manyon, on the other hand, is a man devoid of religious influence, not entirely convinced by Esther's speech, yet he is willing to allow her to determine Chrissa's destiny. At one point, Manyon says it is rare for juries to convict in cases of witchcraft, and adds: “Perhaps we are moving into more enlightened times, or perhaps people are becoming wiser to the many reasons such accusations are made.“ This interaction perfectly encompasses the changing tides in the religious history of 17th-century England. King Charles abandoned Protestantism in favor of Catholicism by marrying Henrietta Maria, a French Catholic noblewoman. People were not satisfied. Intolerance towards Catholicism was most obvious in Scotland, where the majority „had rejected Charles's prayer book and drafted a National Covenant in defiance of the king, resisting his religious reforms in favor of a simpler form of Protestant worship".
Since her incarceration, Chrissa has not spoken a single word to anyone. Thomas was losing patience, and after forcing Chrissa to tell him where she was from, he decided to visit that place and learn more about her. Thomas discovered Chrissa had lived in a brothel with her younger brother Henry. She was not employed as a courtesan but found her work elsewhere. Thomas brings Henry back to his house, hoping Esther would not mind a new servant since they had lost all previous ones. Esther's angry outburst showed that she did mind it. When Henry faced Esther, he paled and ran away to the stables. He told Thomas there was a snake in the house, and that is where we see the first encounter with the monster from the title – the leviathan.
The Leviathan is a mythical creature from the Bible. It is mentioned in the Book of Job and has an entire chapter (41st) dedicated to it. Besides that, it appears three more times: Psalm 74:14, Psalm 104:26, and Isaiah 27:1. In the Bible, the Leviathan has impenetrable armor, has a mouth of deadly teeth, breathes fire and smoke, and has multiple heads. Rosie Andrews imagines the Leviathan as a green giant with patches of mulberry, a rattlesnake's head, covered in clingfish and urchins. It is lacking in that department for a book that carries the title of a magnificent magical creature, as we see only two encounters with it. However, an unknown deity possesses Esther. The deity speaks prophecies with Esther's voice.
The chapters set in 1703. chronicle Thomas and Mary's (Mary being Chrissa's real name) intimate battle with the deity trapped inside Esther's body. Thomas found a letter his father wrote, describing someone's encounter with the Leviathan. During that encounter, they found a baby on a ship filled with the dead bodies of sailors. They managed to save the baby before the Leviathan destroyed the ship. Thomas's father adopted that baby and named her Esther. It seems that Esther's history and the Leviathan's existence are deeply tied together. I am assuming the Leviathan used Esther as a vessel to achieve his goal, the death of men. I struggle to find symbolism in the writer using the Leviathan as a literary device. What is its greater purpose? According to some Bible interpreters, the monster symbolizes God's power. No one can harm or kill it. With that in mind, is Thomas being trialed by God the same way Job was? Is he being forced to face his lack of faith?
With all that in mind, I struggled to see the true message of this book. The writing is wonderful and tonally appropriate for the late 17th, and early 18th centuries. The setting and the atmosphere are incredible, but the plot and the characters did not appeal to me. The pacing was excruciatingly slow, and the ending was not particularly satisfying. I think it would have been better if the book was from Chrissa's POV. Since this is Rosie Andrews' debut novel, I do not want to give it less than three stars.
17th-century England was characterized by sociopolitical turmoil, which resulted in a civil war. The man at fault was Charles I. Coronated in 1625., Charles did his best to anger the Parliament with his actions. Four years and many mistakes later, Charles dismissed the Parliament. After 11 years of poor financial choices, Charles convenes a new Parliament, whose members were openly hostile towards him. Members of the Parliament went after the King's key ministers, while the King attempted to have certain Parliament members arrested. The Civil War began in 1642. (Source: Matthew White; The turbulent 17th century: Civil War, regicide, the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution).
Puritanism as a religious movement rose in the late 16th century, and its goal was to cleanse the Church of England from all the Catholic elements. Puritans were radical Protestants who mostly followed the Old Testament. They believed people were naturally sinful, and everyone was obligated to have a strong relationship with God as a way of redemption and a free pass to Heaven. The Leviathan masterfully shows us the widespread intensity of the Puritan religious experience. Esther and Thomas's father was a Puritan. Father is described as a humble and god-fearing man with enthusiastic interpretations of God's word. Thomas is the exact opposite of his father; he does not have the fear of God instilled in him and is very much suspicious of his sister's accusations.
There is a subtle clash of worlds when Esther and Thomas meet Justice Manyon at the courthouse. Esther is a timid, fearful young woman who would not dare stir the shackles of her Puritan upbringing. She is determined to avenge her father and have Chrissa sentenced to death by hanging. She provides Manyon with evidence of Chrissa's alleged witchcraft and her spellbinding influence over her father's behavior. Manyon, on the other hand, is a man devoid of religious influence, not entirely convinced by Esther's speech, yet he is willing to allow her to determine Chrissa's destiny. At one point, Manyon says it is rare for juries to convict in cases of witchcraft, and adds: “Perhaps we are moving into more enlightened times, or perhaps people are becoming wiser to the many reasons such accusations are made.“ This interaction perfectly encompasses the changing tides in the religious history of 17th-century England. King Charles abandoned Protestantism in favor of Catholicism by marrying Henrietta Maria, a French Catholic noblewoman. People were not satisfied. Intolerance towards Catholicism was most obvious in Scotland, where the majority „had rejected Charles's prayer book and drafted a National Covenant in defiance of the king, resisting his religious reforms in favor of a simpler form of Protestant worship".
Since her incarceration, Chrissa has not spoken a single word to anyone. Thomas was losing patience, and after forcing Chrissa to tell him where she was from, he decided to visit that place and learn more about her. Thomas discovered Chrissa had lived in a brothel with her younger brother Henry. She was not employed as a courtesan but found her work elsewhere. Thomas brings Henry back to his house, hoping Esther would not mind a new servant since they had lost all previous ones. Esther's angry outburst showed that she did mind it. When Henry faced Esther, he paled and ran away to the stables. He told Thomas there was a snake in the house, and that is where we see the first encounter with the monster from the title – the leviathan.
The Leviathan is a mythical creature from the Bible. It is mentioned in the Book of Job and has an entire chapter (41st) dedicated to it. Besides that, it appears three more times: Psalm 74:14, Psalm 104:26, and Isaiah 27:1. In the Bible, the Leviathan has impenetrable armor, has a mouth of deadly teeth, breathes fire and smoke, and has multiple heads. Rosie Andrews imagines the Leviathan as a green giant with patches of mulberry, a rattlesnake's head, covered in clingfish and urchins. It is lacking in that department for a book that carries the title of a magnificent magical creature, as we see only two encounters with it. However, an unknown deity possesses Esther. The deity speaks prophecies with Esther's voice.
The chapters set in 1703. chronicle Thomas and Mary's (Mary being Chrissa's real name) intimate battle with the deity trapped inside Esther's body. Thomas found a letter his father wrote, describing someone's encounter with the Leviathan. During that encounter, they found a baby on a ship filled with the dead bodies of sailors. They managed to save the baby before the Leviathan destroyed the ship. Thomas's father adopted that baby and named her Esther. It seems that Esther's history and the Leviathan's existence are deeply tied together. I am assuming the Leviathan used Esther as a vessel to achieve his goal, the death of men. I struggle to find symbolism in the writer using the Leviathan as a literary device. What is its greater purpose? According to some Bible interpreters, the monster symbolizes God's power. No one can harm or kill it. With that in mind, is Thomas being trialed by God the same way Job was? Is he being forced to face his lack of faith?
With all that in mind, I struggled to see the true message of this book. The writing is wonderful and tonally appropriate for the late 17th, and early 18th centuries. The setting and the atmosphere are incredible, but the plot and the characters did not appeal to me. The pacing was excruciatingly slow, and the ending was not particularly satisfying. I think it would have been better if the book was from Chrissa's POV. Since this is Rosie Andrews' debut novel, I do not want to give it less than three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2023
The only things good about this book were the cover and the way Andrews wrote the first few chapters in terms of the description only. I am likelier to read a book if the cover is beautiful, and this book has definitely taught me to do otherwise. While it had a promising start with some very unnerving words,"She is awake."I found myself struggling to continue, especially by part 2. The story starts with a soldier who comes home to absolute chaos in his peaceful household. What follows is a hodge podge of ideas; witchcraft, witch hunting, small town politics, wars, religious fanaticism, demonic possession, Egyptian mythology, and a very poorly developed romance. It felt like Andrews had an idea at the beginning of the book but changed the ending halfway through and then decided to fit everything under the sun in parts 2 and 3. There were things mentioned that were never followed through with, characters unnecessarily introduced and left without any development and a very montonous first-person narration throughout all of this.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I found myself skipping paragraphs and counting down the pages to the end. The reviews I read here raised my expectations, and I am highly disappointed. The ending was abrupt and sudden, and the big revelation that came after the whole "twist" was weak and hardly did anything to explain it. All in all, maybe the worst book I have ever read. I want my money and time back.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I found myself skipping paragraphs and counting down the pages to the end. The reviews I read here raised my expectations, and I am highly disappointed. The ending was abrupt and sudden, and the big revelation that came after the whole "twist" was weak and hardly did anything to explain it. All in all, maybe the worst book I have ever read. I want my money and time back.
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