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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
challenging
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This felt like a fever dream, and not a good one.
I dislike how the ace character's relationship is portrayed. I think this is sexuality is often one of the harder ones to understand, and I don't think this helps.
I dislike how the ace character's relationship is portrayed. I think this is sexuality is often one of the harder ones to understand, and I don't think this helps.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Yeah, this is probably the most interesting take on "people with magical powers are oppressed" and "hidden urban fantasy parts of the world is exposed" that I've read so far. As far as the "people with magical powers are oppressed", it was nice that the author didn't just make them a blatant metaphor for real marginalized groups—mostly because many characters were already queer or POC. Instead, the question is more about what forces might have caused the monsters to be hidden for so long and how would people react to learning about monsters existing among them (especially considering how monsters have the real potential to put them in danger). That being said, I do think that these ideas weren't necessarily fully explored here (this book is very much an incomplete thought by itself), which does make sense considering this is the first book in a series. I am interested in reading more in this series though.
Format wise—I knew going in it would be a bit more on the experimental side. It actually was more normal than I thought it would be/more on the tame side. There's a lot of POV characters (I think Cadwell wanted to present more of an idea of how a web of characters are impacted by each other), but they weren't that difficult to keep track of. It's also not really going for super conventional pacing, it's more almost anthology like, although it doesn't really commit as far as something like Rakesfall does.
As far as other stuff goes, it's cool to see that part of the book is set in the US Virgin Islands (where the author was raised), that's a part of the world I haven't read about before.
Format wise—I knew going in it would be a bit more on the experimental side. It actually was more normal than I thought it would be/more on the tame side. There's a lot of POV characters (I think Cadwell wanted to present more of an idea of how a web of characters are impacted by each other), but they weren't that difficult to keep track of. It's also not really going for super conventional pacing, it's more almost anthology like, although it doesn't really commit as far as something like Rakesfall does.
As far as other stuff goes, it's cool to see that part of the book is set in the US Virgin Islands (where the author was raised), that's a part of the world I haven't read about before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol
It's a mass shooting not a school shooting.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first 2/3 of this book was interesting but slow, but it was the last 1/3 when it got to cooking. I enjoyed the characters and was intrigued, I just think that this was a less is more situation. Less characters, less meandering description about people and places that didn’t really push anything forward at the end would have left more room for plot and action; for things to happen in the book that is as exciting as that last 1/3. I will probably read the second book as I feel like it’s likely to pay off for the first book and itself, but this should be an easier decision for me to make given that the book had everything I wanted to see but just not put together into a well balanced stew.
Structurally, I was a bit lost at first. But once I learned that Turnbull loves and thrives in the short story form, I began to see the sections of the book as short stories or novellas and that helped me to enjoy them more in their own and also see connections in a more organic way.
Also, after finished the book, I reread the description at the back of the book and, if this book was only what that description said it would be perfect and enough. Instead, I think 1/3 of this book is that description and the rest — especially the why around monsters coming forward now - is something I’m still waiting to learn. That could have been better set out in this book, and should have since it was promised. I get that it was a trilogy, but the book you describe is the book we should get to read.
Overall, a solid 4 out of 5 for me. I would read more work by Cadwell Turnbull.
Structurally, I was a bit lost at first. But once I learned that Turnbull loves and thrives in the short story form, I began to see the sections of the book as short stories or novellas and that helped me to enjoy them more in their own and also see connections in a more organic way.
Also, after finished the book, I reread the description at the back of the book and, if this book was only what that description said it would be perfect and enough. Instead, I think 1/3 of this book is that description and the rest — especially the why around monsters coming forward now - is something I’m still waiting to learn. That could have been better set out in this book, and should have since it was promised. I get that it was a trilogy, but the book you describe is the book we should get to read.
Overall, a solid 4 out of 5 for me. I would read more work by Cadwell Turnbull.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
I read about 65% of this and finally gave up. It just didn't seem to about anything or be going anywhere. It ended up somewhere between irritating and boring. Too many characters, too poorly defined. There doesn't feel like there's actually a plot or story that the book is working too.
The little POV chapters for the dragon are cute, but do not add up to a novel.
The little POV chapters for the dragon are cute, but do not add up to a novel.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced