#Julia Fine

[whilereadingandwalking]

Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine is a dark tale of deals with shadows and a teenage girl who will give anything to get what she wants. All Maddalena wants is to be recognized, and she finds that in the golden, quiet violinist at the Pietà, Luisa. As they fall into a close bond that may be more than friendship, Luisa's ambitions with the violin rise. But as her star rises, Maddalena finds she gets less of her heart. And Maddalena is determined to own all of Luisa—or none of her. What does Maddalena want the shadows to give her? And what will she give in return?

This vivid dark read is set in the twisting canals and masked revelries of Venice and is perfect for anyone who fell for VE Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, or other tales of lush, simmering tales of deals with the devil, oaths sworn, and promises betrayed. Well-written with short chapters, carried along by two girls who share a secret, stolen love affairs, and the unhinged glory of notes on a violin, this novel was hard to put down. The twists are predictable but never in a way that spoils the book—it's near-intentional, because it adds to the dark suspense and the inevitability of what happens when you trust the shadows to give you what you wanted, how you wanted it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Maddalena and the Dark is out as of June 23 from Flatiron Books.

Content warnings for violence, misogyny, sexual harassment

[heather--moors]

one of the more beautiful books I’ve read recently

personal

[the-final-sentence]

There might have been a better way, but if there was, she'd never know.

Julia Fine, from Maddalena and the Dark

[angelaanimates]

So recently I read Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine and if you like a dark, slow build, historical fiction with some magical realism then you should check this one out. I feel like I learned so many interesting things too! I had no idea about the Ospedale della pietà and how they had all women musical ensembles trained by composers like Vivaldi (who makes an appearance in the book). Sooooo cool 🎶 🎻 🩸

[cavehags]

rly gonna need some tumbrlinas to read the upstairs house by julia fine. it's this weird, timeline-bending, half-historical novel that's a little bit "the yellow wallpaper" and a little bit tully. it's about a very sharp, savvy and self-aware new mom who starts to get a bit haunted -- or go a bit mad -- when she starts seeing apparitions of minor characters from her unfinished dissertation. she can't tell anyone because who would understand being haunted? who would understand her complex relationship with her child? who would understand what putting her graduate studies aside to be a stay-at-home mother has done to her sense of self? postpartum depression has never seemed scarier or more vivid. god it's so good.

[qbdatabase]

The Upstairs House by Julia Fine There’s a madwoman upstairs, and only Megan Weiler can see her. Ravaged and sore from giving birth to her first child, Megan is mostly raising her newborn alone while her husband travels for work. Physically exhausted and mentally drained, she’s also wracked with guilt over her unfinished dissertation—a thesis on mid-century children’s literature. Enter a new upstairs neighbor: the ghost of quixotic children’s book writer Margaret Wise Brown—author of the beloved classic Goodnight Moon—whose existence no one else will acknowledge ...

[litandroses]

ARC Review: Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine

Rating: Unsure

Release date: June 13, 2023

The setting, the prose, they were all very enticing in the first half of the book. I read on hoping to be given more context, for things to be less vague but I ended the book with not much knowledge of the fantasy elements in this book. All that was clear was the need to give the thing in the water what it wants. It was intriguing, the bargain and seeing Maddalena slowly succumb to it, page by page. This was gradual, the relationships between characters on the other hand were not. There was not much interaction between them before they were just seemingly super close and intimate in the next. I didn’t care much for the relationships, though they did play a big part in the story, as well as a big part of my indifference.

I complain a lot but I didn’t think this was terrible. I actually liked the ending, no matter how vague. I interpret it in such a way that each girl got what they wanted, in whatever twisted manner. I just wished for more context or explanation.

An arc was granted in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for the arc!

[violettesbooks]

The writing it absolutely beautiful. I was in love with the story, the subtlety of how these young women learn to understand each other, their music and how it defines them. It was all breathtaking- until the end. I'm not sure how I feel about the conclusion at all.

Out: June 13 2023

Spoilers:

I just can't digest it, the twist - what happens is so incredibly cruel. It paints Maddalena as unaware and unable to contend with the possibility of failure when she's already spent her years being treated as one. Her actions are so unjust and the motivation is difficult to believe. Just jealousy? She was hearbroken yes, but it's as if she's an entirely different person. She was so poised in the beginning but it all suddenly dissapears and that turns Luisa into a kind of shining victim.

I also feel very conflicted about the undertones regarding her as a queer character. She was a complex young person but then she just shifts to a caricature. She's heartbroken as a queer woman so she's going to murder her only love? I don't mind queer characters behaving in all different ways but this story specifically makes her attraction to the other woman as the cause for her villainry. It's not great.

[cavehags]

The whole point of your parents, to my childhood understanding, was to be pillars that would hold you up, bedrock you could return to if you crumbled. The family was an object, and subject to object permanence. When my mother got flickery, I had total confidence she’d come back into focus.

The Upstairs House by Julia Fine

[kirbofoolinaround]

This is not smart.

[kth1]

gorgeous, gorgeous man for @taee

[b33tlejules]

ORTEGAAAAAAAAAAA

My hand was possessed and I couldn't stop smiling while drawing her.

[hugetitlover415]