Blood Water Paint

Not a fan of novels in verse but my weakness for historical fiction won out. It is well-done, the verses echoing the cadence of the story. However, the lack of detail (which would have been offered in standard prose) left me unable to get into the story or learn the sorts of things I normally do via historical fiction.

“And listen to me love, when a woman risks her place, her very life to speak a truth the world despises? Believe her. Always.”

TRIGGER WARNINGS

sexual assault, misogyny, physical torture, victim blaming, slut shaming, murder, betrayal, and suicidal thoughts.

I don't even know where to begin with this because wow. This book was such a surprise for me. I was expecting to not like it as much as i did. I was expecting to rate it 3 to 4 stars just because I'm really picky with the books i give the big 5 to, you feel me. And even when I finished it i fist gave is 4 stars. But then after thinking about it non stop and wanting to reread it i knew.... this was it.

Artemisia's story was so hard to read but oh so powerful. This is a story about what is like in the 1600s where being a woman was a crime in itself. Women couldn't do what they wanted just do what men wanted them to do. And men could do or take whatever they pleased. This book tells the realities of an era where women were raped and were put to death or were shamed if they spoke out about it. Yes it was infuriating to read, but when a book can bring out so many different emotions out of me at the same time. That's when I know it will be a book that sticks with me for a long time.

I don't really want to write a long review for this right now because i want to reread it and annotate my copy of it. But y'all if you aren't triggered by any of the topics that I mentioned and haven't yet read it, please read it!

“I will show you what a woman can do.”

This was a beautiful and engaging read! I read it all in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. (And it's mostly in verse so it makes for a relatively quick read.) It's such a powerful story especially for this current moment in time. Speaking of, content warning for rape, and for the depressing fact that a 17th century rape trial isn't that different from a 21st century rape trial in a lot of ways.

I DID wish this had some more endnotes/backmatter because there are so many extraordinary details that I went on Wikipedia to be like “IS THIS TRUE?” like 20 times. (apparently yes!) also wish it had some reproductions of Artemisia Gentileschi's paintings but I do understand that having them in color would be cost prohibitive and having them in black and white would be underwhelming. so...hooray for the internet.