Minique

I just finished Minique By Anna Maxymiw and here's what I thought.

Minique is an unusual girl and that's a crime in 1680s Montreal. Not conforming will have her arrested just like Anne, the aubergiste. She has no real family to confide in and when a mysterious illness takes her best friend, Minique feels alone.

Years later, Minique has abandoned the town and made herself a desolate life on the outskirts. People come to her for her knowledge of plants but keep their eyes bent low.

Her life's turned upside down when a Frenchmanby the name of Cadillac turns up one day, looking to become the governor of montreal. Minique is drawn to him in such a way she does not understand and his need to use her gifts to get what he wants has them following a reckless and passionate path that has tongues wagging and if she doesn't do what he wants, a dangerous ending.

I found the writing to be absolutely beautiful. The author has a real gift for weaving a hypnotic tale of intrigue and magic. I loved the way we learn about Minique and what she can do but at the same time there is a certain level of intrigue which keeps you not exactly knowing what is real and what is not.

I have to be honest, I didn't like the parts with Cadillac. I found their dynamic to be rather odd and it didn't fit for me. He is the only character I didn't understand and it felt a little forced. I didn't feel their passion for each other the way I would have hoped but then it may have had something to do with Cadillac's character.

Loved how real and raw Minique was and how she didn't let the bad things in her life define who she was. Found the writing on the landscape and location was so artfully done and I would have devoured more of that.

I was really drawn into a beautiful world of magical possibilities. I would have liked a little more supernatural elements but all in all, this book checked most boxes for me.

4 stars! Solid, well written and engaging, loved the lucid writing and the charm that came off every page.

Thank you @maxymiw and @penguinrandomhouseca for my copy!

This was a slow and strange journey of a book, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. Minique is a fascinating character to follow. I think I would have liked to see more of her and Cadillac, since they had such an interesting tension. I thought the writing was quite good. Not exactly sure who I would recommend this to though.