Reviews tagging 'Grief'

An Echo in the City by K.X. Song

1 review

natashaleighton_'s review

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

K.X. Song’s coming of age debut was a beautifully compelling, lyrical and nuanced exploration of class, identity, freedom and belonging. Which sees student protester Phoenix and trainee police officer Kai fall in love despite being on opposing sides of the 2019 Hong Kong Protests.

I honestly really enjoyed this and loved the poignancy and level of depth we explore in soo many of the characters we encounter. Particularly Phoenix and Kai, our MCs (and sole POVs throughout the story) who both struggle with the pressures of family expectations, their disconnected sense of identity and not feeling like they truly belong, in the city they call home. 

Phoenix is by far the most outspoken of the two. However, having grown up between Hong Kong and America, Phoenix struggles to find connection with her cultural identity which leaves her feeling like an imposter. 

It’s not until she attends a student protest with her brother (and his new girlfriend) that she begins to finally feel like she belongs. Her emotional journey to self-discovery and her privileged upbringing provided a unique and refreshing perspective that, when juxtaposed with Kai’s less fortunate background (and cautious, introverted personality) highlights just how different this star-crossed couple is.

And yet, it’s those same differences that allow them both to finally see past their own biases and learn to fight for the things they believe in. The romance was actually rather sweet too, if a little miscommunication-y, but the chemistry and slow burn tension between them was incredibly swoon-worthy. 

There are also soo many immersive, detailed and evocative scenes that manage to lovingly capture the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s history, culture and people. By giving readers a glimpse into the vast and varied personal experiences, perspectives and opinions that made up the collective zeitgeist of the 2019 movement. 

And with a list of further material (both books and videos) to check out, this is definitely perfectly placed to kick start important conversations around Hong Kong’s ongoing fight that we don’t get to see in all the clickbaity, international headlines. 

Definitely a must read for contemporary YA or star crossed romance fans. 

Also, a huge thank you to Rock The Boat for the (absolutely stunning) finished copy.
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