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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Parts of this was really intriguing other parts not so much. Didn't know this was a series but it is interesting enough that I would be down to read the next one if I can get the audio from my library.
There are A LOT of characters and their own back stories along with the current roles in the main plot. It can get kind of confusing trying to remember who is who /what their life has been so far.
There are some content/trigger warnings so make sure to check them all if you are sensitive to a variety of topics.
There are A LOT of characters and their own back stories along with the current roles in the main plot. It can get kind of confusing trying to remember who is who /what their life has been so far.
There are some content/trigger warnings so make sure to check them all if you are sensitive to a variety of topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity
dark
emotional
mysterious
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'm not currently in the right mindset for alternating POVs and slowly revealed connections. The characters are fun though.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
There’s some interesting stuff here but none of it is used in a way that hit for me. During the emotional climax at the book I was just kind of wondering why the events were even happening and the goals of the characters and the entities within the story aren’t clear. The characters are likable enough but we didn’t spend enough time with them for me to really care what happened to them. The players in the story having such vague goals really hurts the plot. I think Turnbull’s intent was to keep things mysterious but in the end I felt like there was just nothing to chew on.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting and the writing was reminiscent of the fifth season.
I think we followed too many characters for a book this length.
I found myself not caring about many of them. My interest is piqued regarding the magic and paranormal system in this book, however, I don't like on the nose social parallels andthe white monster character saying "monsters lives matter" to the black character was highly irritating.i k ow this is a simplified take but I'd want more nuance from a black author who lives in the South.... ... I dont know if I'll continue the series but I'll keep an eye out for what else the author writes as there was a lot I did enjoy about the writing.
I think we followed too many characters for a book this length.
I found myself not caring about many of them. My interest is piqued regarding the magic and paranormal system in this book, however, I don't like on the nose social parallels and
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Processing this book feels like frantically trying to connect newspaper clippings on a corkboard with red string. Just when you think you're starting to maybe put it together, the author throws you for a loop again. In his not-review of his book, Turnbull says "...it is about trying to capture the feeling of helplessness when hitting up against the incomprehensible." I can see where other readers might have been put off by the ambiguity, but I think it perfectly captures the sense of utter powerlessness and even fear that can creep up when you realize that you have no way of understanding something that is impacting the world around you.
The multiple viewpoints reinforced this connect between power and mystery - all the characters had small bits and pieces of information, but only a select few had the full picture. This narrative style also served to demonstrate the ways in which people contain both immense strengths and deep vulnerabilities, and how this dichotomy can give us total control in some contexts while robbing of all power in others.
Despite the fantastical premise, the author did a beautiful job of portraying realistic relationships and the emotions that can come with them. The grief that never really goes away after losing a loved one, the guilt that simmers in the back of your mind long after you've wronged someone close to you, the pain that comes with watching a family member continue to do themselves harm. I especially enjoyed his portrayal of marriage, and the way that love for a partner can be unwavering, even if you go through a period of feeling miles away from one another (I never thought I would be so emotionally affected by reading about characters making bread, but here we are).
And of course, to echo several other reviews: the representation!!! Lots of interesting characters, and none of them felt like caricatures. I think the author struck the tricky balance of showing how someone's identity can impact their experiences without turning that identity into their entire personality trait. Certain characters' gender, sexuality, or ethnicity were brought up in ways that felt natural and not shoehorned in for the sake of appearing to be diverse.
I can definitely see why some people didn't like the way the story was told, but I personally enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy!
The multiple viewpoints reinforced this connect between power and mystery - all the characters had small bits and pieces of information, but only a select few had the full picture. This narrative style also served to demonstrate the ways in which people contain both immense strengths and deep vulnerabilities, and how this dichotomy can give us total control in some contexts while robbing of all power in others.
Despite the fantastical premise, the author did a beautiful job of portraying realistic relationships and the emotions that can come with them. The grief that never really goes away after losing a loved one, the guilt that simmers in the back of your mind long after you've wronged someone close to you, the pain that comes with watching a family member continue to do themselves harm. I especially enjoyed his portrayal of marriage, and the way that love for a partner can be unwavering, even if you go through a period of feeling miles away from one another (I never thought I would be so emotionally affected by reading about characters making bread, but here we are).
And of course, to echo several other reviews: the representation!!! Lots of interesting characters, and none of them felt like caricatures. I think the author struck the tricky balance of showing how someone's identity can impact their experiences without turning that identity into their entire personality trait. Certain characters' gender, sexuality, or ethnicity were brought up in ways that felt natural and not shoehorned in for the sake of appearing to be diverse.
I can definitely see why some people didn't like the way the story was told, but I personally enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy!