Bitterthorn: A sapphic Gothic romance inspired by classic fairytales

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I couldn't help but believe the kind of hopelessness, disillusion and desperation propelling our protagonist onto a journey she'd never have expected for herself (but which, I, for one, loved every minute of). Bitterthorn is beautiful and haunting - the type of story that seeps into your bones and stays with you long after reading. These sentiments underpin Kat Dunn’s fairy tale infused Bitterthorn, a brilliantly spun Sapphic love story that evokes elements of Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin and Sleeping Beauty to create an edge-of-your- seat, original story that throngs with longing. Like Mina seemed genuinely upset when the Witch got mad at her, even if it was a front, but then a couple pages later we are in love and stuff again?

Every once in a while, you cross paths with a book that engraves itself in your heart and bones and has you convinced that it was somehow written for you. I would recommend it though if you like overly dramatic yet slow gothic books, with a sapphic love story. With achingly atmospheric prose, Dunn has crafted characters I would die for and a love story as powerful and enduring as a fairytale.Though, if (like me) you enjoy emotionally intense, slow burn narratives then you should definitely consider adding this to your TBRs— I promise you won’t be disappointed! Mina is a rather unbearable character, but the real disappointment was the witch, the emblem of the misunderstood do-gooder. I should also probably note that this is more of a character driven story, so the pacing might not be for everyone. Lush and hauntingly atmospheric, Kat Dunn’s breathtakingly vivid portrayal of love, loneliness and loss was an absolute pleasure to read! Locked away in the castle with the Witch and surrounded by unspoken history, Mina soon begins to realise that there's a longer, darker story at play- and that she's falling in love with the Witch.

Bitterthorn is beautiful and haunting – the type of story that seeps into your bones and stays with you long after reading. Her longing for companionship (and a family that could actually love and care about her) had me absolutely livid on her behalf (especially when it came to her father) but her emotional journey was definitely worthwhile one and I’ll not be forgetting it anytime soon. I know so many sapphic readers who have been aching for a book like this one, and thank goodness it exists.Set in the imaginary German town of Blumwald and a mysterious castle hidden away in the depths of a mountainous forest, Bitterthorn was a truly mesmerizing and intimate story about love, companionship and how loneliness makes monsters out of all of us. Around the anniversary of her mother’s death, Mina volunteers herself when the Witch comes to stake her claim. I don't care about the characters, the plot is unclear, and some of the writing is a bit too over the top for my tastes.