Unfortunately this was a did not finish for me. I got about halfway through the book and it was just not sticking. I am going to give it a 3 star rating due to it just being personal preference

The descriptions, the tone, the characters - I couldn’t get enough of this book and thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.

Seeing Bea and Ulrika’s relationship change as they grow up and observing them navigate the joys and losses of adulthood sucked me into the wild world of Berggrund Island and their little village. I also didn’t foresee the main plot twists, which is always exciting!

It was clear that Bea was the main narrator, but the line blurred between the two sisters at times in the beginning. This narration style reflected to me what it is like to grow up and develop an identity, so I enjoyed the ambivalence.

At first I expected an atmospheric, sweep-out-of-my-feet setting-centered tale that would transport my body into another place and time. It did, wonderfully. The details are immaculate, like I could breathe the same salty, mossy air of Berggrund island as the characters. Even if the color palette is kind of bleak (or especially when?), I took delight on the colored garments, food, plants, and scenery of the rural Sweden setting. The way those details are delivered is also smooth and charming in its Gothic-creepy way.

The story opens with a 1600s witch trial that accused women to be allied with the Devil. After that it jumps to 1800s, carrying the same patriarchy theme except it's in more modern setting when the Blue Maiden has become a mere myth. I had a slow, hard time in the beginning since the plot has little development. It kicked off halfway through, and although this is not the first book that has such structure (inciting incident in the middle) I would prefer it for short stories instead of a full novel. I felt I have invested since the beginning, hoping to find the answer of 'what The Blue Maiden has to do with Ulrika and Bea's story' but then nothing really happened. In short stories, the length is shorter so I can put two-and-two together faster.

Speaking of short stories, the subtlety and deep POV are dominating and masterfully done. But again, I think it would work best on short stories. I craved exposition, clear links between this event with that event, like what the true nature of the character is or how much time actually passed. I hope it's a 'it's me not you' case but the characterization felt thin. Maybe because it took too long to the heart of the story? I could truly grasp who Bea and Ulrika are after Augustus came back to the island.

But the twist after twist after twist? Chef's kiss.

I liked little things woven into the story, things that people may not find important but here are surely embedded with love, and how subtlety shows the mastery of the craft. I wish the plot would take off sooner and more engaging from the start. 3.5 stars for Blå Jungfrun.

This book was…interesting. I very much enjoyed the characters and the mysterious lore, but this book as a whole felt very disjointed at times, especially in the beginning. The author seems to switch between two narrators but it is done in a way that is hard to follow, but in the second half of the book she stuck with Bea, which made the book more enjoyable and accessible. Overall, I feel like this book has a lot of potential that is lost due to a desire to be lofty and aloof. I hope more books that come from this author aim for clarity and conciseness in writing, because truly I think the idea was just lost in translation.

Growing-up on the small Scandinavian island of Berggrund in the early 1800s, local widower and Pastor Silas’s two daughters, Ulrika and Beata, are nothing alike in height, size, features or nature—except for their haunting beliefs in the supernatural realm that has existed there for generations in Anna Noyes debut Gothic noir fiction, “The Blue Maiden.”

For this area is known for its history of witchcraft and the burning days associated with these atrocities and horrors that took place across the harbor on a uninhabited island called, the Blue Maiden, by locals and sailors. This lovely name, in contrast to what occurred there in past years is due to the prevailing mists that shroud the islet shores and reflect the colors of the sky and ocean upon its atmosphere.

The sisters, who are raised by their stern parochial father, are fascinated by fairytales and legends of the areas dark history, and learn that they are linked to it through their deceased mother, and generations of females, in their mother’s line, when they discover an ancient red grimoire filled with botanical recipes for healing, as well as darker remedies that foreshadow ill intentions.

Both daughters long for the love and affection that they have never received from their father nor from friendships of other children as they grew. When a prominent and promising suitor for the elder sister, Ulrika, arrives on Berggrund the outcome is not as Pastor Silas or Ulrika hopes. However, this stranger brings with him dark secrets from decades past that will haunt all of their present and future.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Anna Noyes, and Publisher Grove Atlantic / Grove Press for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This was such a beautiful and enjoyable read. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Molly Aitken's Island Child!

I thought this book was very gripping. From the first page, I was hooked. It really reminded me of Molly Aitken's "The Island Child." The presence of the island, its past, and her past weaving together as this almost tangible being, peaking into windows and carrying you away at night. It touches on grief, secrets, sisterhood, memory, cycles, and what it means to be a woman, in all stages of life. These topics are bracketed with cruelty, religiosity, and spirituality. I found the ideas the author wrestled with interesting, but I wasn't tonally satisfied with the result. This feels very debut. Not a bad debut, but a debut none the less. I would recommend this book if you like morally gray main characters, small atmospheric communities and landscapes, and explorations of grief and sisterhood.

I have to warn others that this book does contain an off-screen sexual assault. It happens to the main character's sister. After this, she is clearly changed. This assault, her change of behavior, and vengeful actions leads to the main character othering her sister and becoming close friends with her sister's attackers. Her assault is never mentioned again beyond this plot point. There is also an bullying scene with off-screen violence. If that bothers you, do not read this book. The way Ulrika's assault was handled was actually super disappointing for me.

I'm sure it would be done anyways, but please, please, have another copy editor read through this book. There's no reason for there to be a 2 sentence long paragraph in which both sentences make mention of a couple's 60-year marriage. It just isn't necessary. Please pick one. I'm casting my vote for the second sentence as it was much more impactful. There were a few other little things that felt almost... anachronistic. I don't know how much of that is due to how untethered life on the island seems. Besides the witch hunt, both time periods feel identical-- but also as if they could have happened on a similarly isolated island less than 50 years ago? but maybe that was the point? I don't know.

The biggest issue to me were Bea's visions. She was lost-- and so was I! I don't expect them to be crystal clear, but they felt messy and confusing enough that they just became blurs-- which sucks. I think the author was making a connection there as the original priest had visions, her father has visions, and her son has visions; but they are so fuzzy to me that mere hours later I can barely remember them.

I kinda feel like the author left herself too little time to satisfactorily tie together enough of the loose ends. After spending so long cataloguing her decaying relationship with August, we are left with no resolution after the climax and he is only tangentially mentioned afterwards. Instead we see Elias again??? Then we're treated to more millisecond time jumps through the seasons until the end. It felt rushed, messy, and unsatisfactory. The last page on the Blue Maiden was very strong. It was the kind of ambiguous ending you sink your teeth into and ponder for days-- so what came before it pales even more in comparison.

Also, the cover is a little deceptive. The book is light on the herbalism. It's vey much a background element in Bea's story. It's just the prop that artificially connects Bea's (mainlander) mother to the island women burned for witch craft and a wise woman "godmother-esque" figure named Bruna. It's really about a book that divides the sisters, and in some ways, defines their paths. I actually think the cover might lead to some disappointment. That's a pretty big promise not to deliver on.

Thank you for the arc provided kindly by Netgalley. This story was so atmospheric, full of nostalgia and pain. The sisterly bond was tender and very well written. It is a perfect read for the fall season.