The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

Format: 336 pages, Paperback

Published: October 1, 2024 by Titan Books

Fiction/borrowed

I did not really know what to expect from this one. 5 siblings living in a big house that is falling apart. In a bog. And they are told that they are in a compact with the bog, and because of that the bog delivers a wife for the oldest son.

Which had me all, is this real or not? Their mum is dead but they all remember her as otherworldly. Their dad has died so the eldest should get his wife, but there was an accident and he is broken. Is the bog turning on them?

Because things are bad. A tree fell on the house. The house is sinking. The bog is dying. And these weird siblings that are adults now but only one venture into town. And one who got away. They are just stuck there, in the bog.

So what is real or not? There is this eerie feeling to it, this slow madness to it. A race against a clock they do not know. I was quite fascinated by it

Since time immemorial, the Haddesley family has tended the cranberry bog. In exchange, the bog sustains them. The staunch seasons of their lives are governed by a strict covenant that is renewed each generation with the ritual sacrifice of their patriarch, and in return, the bog produces a “bog-wife.” Brought to life from vegetation, this woman is meant to carry on the family line. But when the bog fails—or refuses—to honor the bargain, the Haddesleys, a group of discordant siblings still grieving the mother who mysteriously disappeared years earlier, face an unknown future.

Middle child Wenna, summoned back to the dilapidated family manor just as her marriage is collapsing, believes the Haddesleys must abandon their patrimony. Her siblings are not so easily persuaded. Eldest daughter Eda, de facto head of the household, seeks to salvage the compact by desecrating it. Younger son Percy retreats into the wilderness in a dangerous bid to summon his own bog-wife. And as youngest daughter Nora takes desperate measures to keep her warring siblings together, fledgling patriarch Charlie uncovers a disturbing secret that casts doubt over everything the family has ever believed about itself.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating,

1/6/2026 What are your blogging/reading goals for the new year?

I am doing the Bingo Challenge and it took me ages to get Bingo last year, I would also like to get all 25 squares.

I am doing the audiobook challenge and going for 50 audiobooks. 

And my goodreads goal is 70 for some reason, dunno why, no real reason there.

Lastly, read for fun! Enjoy blogging.

1/13/2026 What's a food you're obsessed with?

1/20/2026 What are your favorite snow/winter-themed books?

1/27/2026 What's your favorite decade and why? (You do not need to have lived through it!)

2/3/2026 If you could invent a holiday, what would you celebrate?

2/10/2026 Share some Romance Book recommendations

2/17/2026 Are there any books you've read that changed your perspective on a subject?

2/24/2026 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Spring? (March-May)

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

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Carole´s Monday: Marmee

Author: Sarah Miller

Title: Marmee

Genre: Historical Fiction, Retelling

Format: paperback

Pages: 423

Published: October 4, 2022

Where I got It: My shelf (An Xmas gift)

Summary: 

In 1861, war is raging in the South, but in Concord, Massachusetts, Margaret March has her own battles to fight. With her husband serving as an army chaplain, the comfort and security of Margaret's four daughters-- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy--now rest on her shoulders alone. Money is tight and every month, her husband sends less and less of his salary with no explanation. Worst of all, Margaret harbors the secret that these financial hardships are largely her fault, thanks to a disastrous mistake made over a decade ago which wiped out her family's fortune and snatched away her daughters' chances for the education they deserve.

Yet even with all that weighs upon her, Margaret longs to do more--for the war effort, for the poor, for the cause of abolition, and most of all, for her daughters. Living by her watchwords, "Hope and keep busy," she fills her days with humdrum charity work to keep her worries at bay. All of that is interrupted when Margaret receives a telegram from the War Department, summoning her to her husband's bedside in Washington, D.C. While she is away, her daughter Beth falls dangerously ill, forcing Margaret to confront the possibility that the price of her own generosity toward others may be her daughter's life.

A stunning portrait of the paragon of virtue known as Marmee, a wife left behind, a mother pushed to the brink, a woman with secrets.

Review:

I started this book in December but I had to put it on the backburner. It was just so sad and I didn't need sad during the holidays. Buuuut I picked it back up and it is the first book of 2026.

I hate being lazy, but I'm feeling super meh today, so we'll divide and conquer this review. 

The Good

- I loved reading Marmee's POV. It was nice reading her feelings. 

- It was sad, but still enjoyable. 

- The author did a great job capturing the vibe of the original book and bringing it to her version. I think the author would approve. 

- Such a beautiful tale. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- You will need a Kleenex because you will cry. Not necessarily a bad thing, but just a nice word of warning. 

- The ending....you can't leave us like this. Will there be a book 2???????

Conclusion

Overall, I did enjoy this a lot. The ending...ugh. You can't just leave us like this. We need another book!!!!

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

DNFs of 2025

 

I read some posts about how evil people are who posts DNFs, so I decided to do just that ;) What does not work for me, might work for you. But woe is me when I realised I did not post ANYTHING last year.

No One Is Talking About This by Lockwood, Patricia * I remember nothing

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Broadbent, Carissa * Nope, I just can not. She is so kick-ass, cool and angry, like we have neeeeever heard that before. She is just a tiny weak human, but sure put her in a Death Arena against vampires. But obvi she will win anyway even though vamps are supposed to be so strong and whatever...like how do they even rule then?

And obvi she will fall for tall dark and handsome. And he will prob be toxic.

And everyone on booktok loves it so NO THANK YOU. They always fail me.

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Jennings, Alex * Not feeling it

Creation Lake by Kushner, Rachel *Not vibing at all

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Arden, Katherine * I just gave up

Godkiller by Kaner, Hannah * I was not in the mood for some teen going around killing gods

Dark Earth by Stott, Rebecca * It had promise...but I had go return it and dunno if I will try it again

The Duchess Hunt by Valerie Bowman * The narrator is not working

Collide by Khabra, Bal * Her hate of icehockey annoys me. She ditches a fun friend cos omg he plays hockey...then later I learn that her bestie from old does the same. But i guess her icehockey hate has flaws

Incidents Around the House by Malerman, Josh *No notes, but I remember the writing was weird

All Gowned Up by Haymore, Jennifer * So sad, but this narration is not working for me. The woman is ok, but I sped the guy up to 2.3 and still he felt too slow. And the back and forth, nah. I would rather read it

Hell Bent by Monk, Devon * This one had promise, but, I listened without listening so I gave up. Is it the narrator?

Night Watch by Phillips, Jayne Anne * no notes

When Women Were Dragons by Barnhill, Kelly * no notes again?!

A Wager at Midnight by Riley, Vanessa *I tried a few times, but it is not catching my interest

Wrong for Him by Barth, Christi *I need to give up. Something is not pulling me in

The Three-Body Problem by liu, Cixin *Everyone is like yay, and I was all...no, boring