The cursed iron maiden is a macabre piece of medieval torture equipment that is said to bring doom and misfortune to anyone who comes into contact with it. The foremost example of this cursed object is the Iron Maiden of Nuremberg, which is believed to have been used during the 16th century. It is a tall, narrow cabinet made of iron with a hinged door. The main idea here is the belief in the curse associated with the iron maiden. The cursed iron maiden is said to bring doom and misfortune to anyone who comes into contact with it. This belief is particularly attached to the Iron Maiden of Nuremberg, a specific example of this torture device.
This book is so very cute! It’s set in a sort of fantasy version of the Netherlands, and a lot of the bad guy’s scheme is centred around control of tulips, to the detriment of the people he rules over (he’s a Wizard Regent, having usurped power from the young princess). Bee, our protagonist, teams up with the displaced princess and the blacksmith’s son, not to mention a feisty pirate queen and her crew, to save the day and also make some very tasty baked goods.
It s set in a sort of fantasy version of the Netherlands, and a lot of the bad guy s scheme is centred around control of tulips, to the detriment of the people he rules over he s a Wizard Regent, having usurped power from the young princess. The challenge was that so many things I wanted to have them do would require years of practice, and I had sometimes only a few minutes to teach a regular person to do them and do them for the biggest moment of their life.
This belief is particularly attached to the Iron Maiden of Nuremberg, a specific example of this torture device. The description of the physical appearance of the iron maiden is provided to give the reader a visual understanding. According to legend, the iron maiden is lined with spikes on the inside, and when a person is forced inside and the door is closed, the spikes impale the victim, causing a slow and agonizing death.
Review: Baker’s Magic
I read a fair amount of middle grade fantasy – I find it just as well-written as books for older audiences, but without the pressure to be ‘edgy’, which often makes it a gentler, more fun read. I particularly love MG books with a girl character discovering a magic talent, so when I spotted Baker’s Magic at the library, I grabbed it!
Stats
Book: Baker’s Magic by Diane Zahler
Read before: I attempted to get an ebook earlier this year, but couldn’t make it work!
Ownership: Library, but I will pick this up to keep at some point.
This book is so very cute! It’s set in a sort of fantasy version of the Netherlands, and a lot of the bad guy’s scheme is centred around control of tulips, to the detriment of the people he rules over (he’s a Wizard Regent, having usurped power from the young princess). Bee, our protagonist, teams up with the displaced princess and the blacksmith’s son, not to mention a feisty pirate queen and her crew, to save the day and also make some very tasty baked goods.
I’m a big fan of small magical talents – Bee’s is that she can bake her feelings into her food (sort of the opposite of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake). Her experiences in the bakery are wonderful, and I love what this book has to say about found family. Zahler has a real talent for describing tastes and scents vividly, which is great in a book this focused on food! I’ve also read her book A True Princess, which is a lovely retelling/reworking of the Princess and the Pea story, and while that doesn’t focus on food, it has incredibly evocative weather descriptions, so I think Zahler’s writing is just good!
I loved the quiet feminism in this – Bee is a great heroine, and there are plenty of excellent, well-rounded, active female characters. Just as importantly, however, the male characters are not ashamed of their feelings – the baker is a really wonderful loving father figure, which you rarely see in kid’s books, or indeed YA. The result is a story which feels incredibly warm and sweet. I don’t think it would fail to make anyone smile on a bad day.
I will definitely be seeking out the rest of Diane Zahler’s books! I’m five-starring a lot of things at the moment, but this definitely deserves five cats for being simultaneously the perfect book for my exhausted adult self, and something I know I would have read to pieces age 8.
Plus, there’s a recipe for the signature buns in the back. How wonderful!
It is said that the cursed iron maiden has supernatural powers that go beyond physical pain. It is believed that anyone who comes into contact with it will suffer from all manner of misfortune, including illness, financial ruin, and even death. Over the centuries, there have been numerous tales of individuals and families who have encountered the cursed iron maiden and met with tragic ends. Some believe that the curse is so powerful that it extends not only to those who come into direct contact with the iron maiden but also to their loved ones. This has resulted in a deep-rooted fear and superstition surrounding the iron maiden, with many people avoiding it at all costs. While there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of a curse, the belief in the cursed iron maiden persists to this day. It is seen as a symbol of torture and cruelty, as well as a cautionary tale about the dangers of dabbling in the supernatural. The cursed iron maiden is a relic of a dark and brutal past, a reminder of the suffering endured by countless individuals throughout history..
Reviews for "The Cursed Iron Maiden: An Artifact of Evil"
- Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed in "The cursed iron maiden". The plot was predictable and lacked any real suspense or tension. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to root for any of them. The writing style was also quite clunky, with awkward dialogue and stilted descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable and unenjoyable read.
- Michael - 1/5 stars - I can't believe I wasted my time reading "The cursed iron maiden". The story was not only boring, but also poorly executed. The pacing was incredibly slow and nothing of real importance seemed to happen until the last few chapters. The author also seemed to rely on shock value rather than actual substance, with unnecessary violence and gore that added nothing to the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The cursed iron maiden" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing felt amateurish and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were uninteresting and their motivations were poorly developed. The author also seemed to rely on clichés and tropes, making the plot predictable and unoriginal. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it.