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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Good book, about an African American spy trying to find out what happened with her sister and trying to walk the line between duties being asked of her and the moral thing to do. Has a great opening chapter that draws you in to figure out who would attack them through the night.
2.5 stars/ Fiction
I thought it had potential, but it fell flat fast. No good narrative, became boring and a dud of an ending.
Cannot recommend.
I thought it had potential, but it fell flat fast. No good narrative, became boring and a dud of an ending.
Cannot recommend.
Interesting book that captures the roles of spies in the cold war era but also has the subtext of commentary on what it is to be a Black woman working for the goals of a country with a history of racism that is interfering in Africa, the place of her ancestry. By the end, the question of "who did I actually work for and what are the results?" is an important one. There are also questions about what is imperialism, what is democracy, and what is fascism as those lines can get blurred. But the most important question is "What is my personal power to do something about it?" The protagonist is courageous and mindful about, not only her future, but that of her family. I really liked this book and its uniqueness in its exploration of power, motives, loyalty, and the murky world of spycraft.
Listened to the audiobook on a solo road trip. Liked the characters a lot. The ending felt abrupt.
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this story, though I felt that certain aspects left me wanting more depth and clarity. I still want to know more about Marie’s relationship with Helene (and Helene’s husband), Marie’s shifting political views, and the relationship with Thomas. I had a difficult time believing that Marie loved Thomas after so few meaningful interactions. It seemed more like idealized infatuation.
I loved the descriptions of place, from the New York bars and restaurants to Martinique, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
I loved the descriptions of place, from the New York bars and restaurants to Martinique, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
I’d like to really rate it a 2.5. Such a good plot with a lot of potential but some things went off the deep end or had no resolve. The beginning started so fast-paced but then it became boring.
Wanted there to be more romance in the romance and more spy action in my action book.