This book was difficult to read. The subject matter was a blend of high fantasy and grotesque violence. I will loudly place a billion trigger warnings here: rape, mutilation, sexual abuse, violence, kidnapping..... you get the picture. It's rough, but if you are ok with reading about real life issues in a high fantasy story, it's worth the read!
White Stag
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Authors: Kara Barbieri
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format/Source: Netgalley ARC
From GoodReads:
As the last child in a family of daughters, seventeen-year-old Janneke was raised to be the male heir. While her sisters were becoming wives and mothers, she was taught to hunt, track, and fight. On the day her village was burned to the ground, Janneke—as the only survivor—was taken captive by the malicious Lydian and eventually sent to work for his nephew Soren.
Janneke’s survival in the court of merciless monsters has come at the cost of her connection to the human world. And when the Goblin King’s death ignites an ancient hunt for the next king, Soren senses an opportunity for her to finally fully accept the ways of the brutal Permafrost. But every action he takes to bring her deeper into his world only shows him that a little humanity isn’t bad—especially when it comes to those you care about.
Through every battle they survive, Janneke’s loyalty to Soren deepens. After dangerous truths are revealed, Janneke must choose between holding on or letting go of her last connections to a world she no longer belongs to. She must make the right choice to save the only thing keeping both worlds from crumbling.
The Break Down
While the violence in the book did not phase me beyond the initial "WTF?" I really couldn't get into this novel initially. It took me almost a month to get past the first 5 chapters, but an even in chapter 5 sucked me into the story with a force that I was quite surprised with. It was as if I could feel the power from Janneke's change seeping into my own veins as I continued to devour the book.
The entire story centers around Janneke and Soren, but it moved through the array of side characters at a pace that was quick enough for the book not to be too consuming in it being about THEM. There were definitely some things that I knew were coming (spoiler alert: romance -insert eye roll-) that the story could have completely survived without, possibly even been better for it.
Truly though, I LOVED getting to know Barbairi's version of the goblin world. I've never read a goblin book before, only seen them in the movies or casually mentioned, so in that sense this was a completely new experience for me. The world building in this story is on an epic level, from the barren frozen lands, to the animals that roam - strange magical Stags, rabbits that survive in the cold. It's a world that I am dying to visit, even if I will be eaten by wild beasts and enslaved by Goblins.
The further I progressed into the novel, the more invested and in love with the story I became. Janneke's journey from human to the strong she-goblin she becomes is both utterly terrifying and incredibly endearing. I found myself cheering her on, even when I shouldn't have. I felt like Janneke was the epitome of an antihero, but still everything I wanted to be: strong, loyal, ferocious and determined.
I was not able to give this book the full 5 stars, partly because the trauma and violence that is continuously mentioned and shown throughout the book was a bit much for my taste - and because it really did take a while to really get into the book. Push past the first few chapters, and you are in for a wild ride!!
TLDR;
This novel is filled with triggers, but over all is amazing. Barbieri crafts a world that completely immerses you instantly, whether you want it to or not. Goblins are vicious, Janneke is a badass. If you love high fantasy, goblins and females that kick ass and take names, this is for you!
About the Author:
Kara Barbieri twenty-two year old author with a love for the weird and mystic. She enjoys weaving an ancient mythology into her stories and writing characters who are strong yet vulnerable at the same time. In her free time she trains with the same weapons her characters use, studies as a linguistic major, and generally tries her hardest not to be normal.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
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