The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge - Restarting August 8th 2023

[Sarah Elizabeth]

The leaves were cold and slightly clammy. There was no mistaking them. She had seen their likeness painstakingly sketched in her father's journal. This was his greatest secret, his treasure and his undoing. The Tree of Lies. Now it was hers, and the journey he had never finished stretched out before her.

When Faith's father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, she is determined to untangle the truth from the lies. Searching through his belongings for clues, she discovers a strange tree. A tree that feeds off whispered lies and bears fruit that reveals hidden secrets.

But as Faith's untruths spiral out of control, she discovers that where lies seduce, truths shatter...

[Dannii]

I'm going to start this tomorrow evening :)

[Steffi]

Starting (view spoiler)[ I have read her book Cuckoo's Song a few year ago and I loved it so I have high hopes for this!
I started with the book yesterday evening and read till page 60. Very comfortable read so far. Very easy to get into and beautiful writing style.
The Victorian scientific setting is quite interesting although I'm usually not a big fan of historical fiction. I appreciate the intimate look at Faith's struggles and frustrations as a open-minded, science-interested girl in this time area. Faith somehow reminds me a bit of Jane Porter from Tarzan. Maybe because of her curiosity towards "non-ladylike" things. (hide spoiler)]

[Steffi]

Finished (view spoiler)[I finished it a couple of days ago. The historic setting as well as the creepy idea of the lie tree really made this book stand out for me. I thought the story was very well balanced between action, emotion, and a deeper insight on gender roles in society. I definitely want to read more Frances Hardinge! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting August 8th 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Helen 2.0]

Starting today if possible

[lj ♡]

i'll be starting tomorrow! looking forward to it :)

[Helen 2.0]

I'm about halfway in and loving it! It's a slow build but super worth it for the creeping atmospheric horror quality. (view spoiler)[I'm actually annoyed that I read the blurb beforehand because it totally spoiled the book! I knew the father would be murdered going in so I was surprised that the murder didn't even happen until like 40%. (hide spoiler)]

I'm loving the writing style, the descriptions are so vivid.

[lj ♡]

up to ch. 3
(view spoiler)[ Yes the writing is so vivid! I love the subtly-wrong atmosphere. vane island is spooky! And hoooo boy do we have some messed up family dynamics here. Myrtle makes me uncomfortable… (in a good well written way of course)
(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

I’m at Ch 32 today, have been making steady progress. It’s really good but I’ve just been a little busy lately.

(view spoiler)[ This story is so evocative, I was not expecting it to grip me like that!!! I love Faith’s character and I’m really enjoying the development of her relationships with her mom and Howard, and her new shaky alliance with Paul Clay. It’s all so nuanced and fascinating. What a cool book! (hide spoiler)]

[lj ♡]

up to ch. 10 - i've been busy as well!
(view spoiler)[
there is definitely something up with faith's dad. i feel so bad for her. and jeanne - poor girl! i'm so angry on both of their behalf. and something strange is happening in/with the folly i'm sure... although i don't know what exactly. maybe that's where the titular lie tree is? (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

lj ♡ wrote: "up to ch. 10 - i've been busy as well!"

(view spoiler)[I had so many mixed feelings about Jeanne... just like Faith did! The way the female characters are written is so nuanced. Jeanne seems like a bad person and an enemy to the family, but at the same time, she is in a lower class and is doing what she can to strike out against the people who are higher on the social ladder. I kind of respect that too. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

I finished this morning. I really loved it.

(view spoiler)[I was actually hoping that Paul Clay and Faith might get together someday... but this is really not a romance book so that's probably just me projecting my romance reader thoughts onto this story haha (hide spoiler)]

[lj ♡]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "lj ♡ wrote: "up to ch. 10 - i've been busy as well!"

[spoilers removed]"

exactly! the nuance is everything. up to ch. 15...
(view spoiler)[
aaaaah the suspense is cranking up. i can practically feel the tension! myrtle is frustrating but also interesting. curious to keep going! (hide spoiler)]

[lj ♡]

up to ch. 29
(view spoiler)[ I have no idea who to suspect. The lie tree is intriguing but I have a feeling it’s going to backfire on faith in a bad way. The suspense is tantalizing! (hide spoiler)]

[lj ♡]

I finished!
(view spoiler)[ I loved it!! The mix of feminism, flawed characters, nuance, exploration of truth, lies, and secrets, and the blend of fantasy, reality, and mystery were so well done. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

lj ♡ wrote: "I finished!
[spoilers removed]"

YAY I'm so glad you loved it too!! (view spoiler)[ I was so impressed with how the author managed to fit such complicated themes into a story that would still be digestible for a younger teen audience. So cool. I'll definitely be reading more by this author. (hide spoiler)]