3.75 (just because I expected the book to be completely about this darn tree & I feel like I was completely misled..) 
 "This is a battlefield, Faith! Women find themselves on battlefields, just as men do. We are given no weapons, and cannot be seen to fight. But fight we must, or perish." 
 I feel like this quote most accurately sums up the plot of this book. 
 But, what was I expecting? I don't really know. Something more modern, for sure (it's set around the 1800's). I expected the book to completely revolve around the tree & when I found myself at chapter 14 with still no reference to the tree, I was beginning to think the book cover had been switched with something else. I think it was between chapters 13-15 when the book finally grabbed my attention enough to where I didn't want to put the book down! 
 I would say after about chapter 15 the book finally starts to really come together & you (finally) realize why the 13 chapter-long backstory was so important. Although it may seem slow, it really does set the book up for a wonderful story! The book is beautifully written & the emphasis on women's rights was awesome! 
 I love the idea of the Lie Tree. I love the basis of the book. I love how everyone's true colors come out & how the lies are what brought them there. I love how the Lie Tree helped Faith to accept & realize her true self. I love how some suspicious characters at the beginning turned into perfect characters at the end. I love how the story shows women working together(!) and shows men- the so-called "intelligent character", as not so intelligent (for once!) 
 thoughts about the characters 
 Faith: Badass lead female character. She's 14 years old & struggles with the unfortunate realities of her time; women are definitely not looked at as intelligent & are expected to do nothing more than look pretty. Faith has a passion for science & reading, she knows just about as much about natural science as her father & has read many books about scientific endeavors. She's a beautiful character with determination & I love it! Around the middle of the book, she really lets her character break free & does what she wants. By the end of the book, you can tell she's going to continue being her badass self & probably take over the world.. 
 Myrtle: ......omg, Myrtle. I hated you throughout 
 MOST 
 of this book. It wasn't until maybe chapter 34 that I was finally like, "okay, I understand you & I actually feel kind of bad for you." Seriously. It was like she put everyone before her daughter, Faith & she acted as though she really didn't want anything to do with her, basically like she disowned her daughter, simply because she was a girl (HELLO, MYRTLE! Don't you remember what it was like being a young girl in that world????!). Her attitude, her lack of motherly instincts, her lack of care or acknowledgement towards her children... ugh. BUT, like I said, pretty damn near the very end of the book, I realized that she is the way she is, because that's the only way she knows to act in that world. She's a woman & women have always been treated as objects. Myrtle feels as though her looks are the only accomplishment she has working in her favour, so she plays it to a T. Her husband's lack of interest in her has probably caused her a big lack of self confidence & once he dies, she finally starts coming around to Faith as though she's her daughter & not just some servant. 
 Paul: Not as horrible a character as I originally thought. 
 Mrs. Lambent: Bitch. 
 Mr. Lambent: Fake. 
 Uncle Miles: I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Uncle Miles. A large part of me is pissed off, because (SPOILER REASON), but another part of me kind of feels bad for him, actually. 
 Rev. Erasmus: Didn't give his daughter near enough credit. Overall, a decent man. Dedicated more to his work than his family & let his philosophies & his work come between him & his family. 
 Miss Hunter: I'm really still quite unsure of my feelings for you. I'm still confused as to why you were so rude all throughout the book, but at the last chapter it seemed as though you were actually nice....? 
 Overall, I would recommend this book. If you're not too fond of lengthy character and plot build-ups, this probably won't be a book you'll care for. BUT, I suggest giving it a try & no matter how terribly badly you want to book this down around chapter 5, I urge you to just. keep. going!! ;) you'll be glad you did. 
 Also, I'd totally reread this book if I had the illustrated version.