Reviews

Finding Refuge by Victoria Janssen

tessisreading2's review

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

A short, low-on-plot science fiction romance that is mostly about recovering from trauma; Talia has been a prisoner for thirteen months and when she is unexpectedly reunited with her partner and a close friend, they do what they have to in order to achieve freedom - and then Talia has to figure out what it looks like to be free, and how to begin building a life for herself. The book basically ends at that point - like I said, short; I am reading as part of an omnibus and that's probably the best way to do it. 

ronniethereader's review

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hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

truetonywolf's review

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

A copy of the book was provided to <a href="https://sapphicbookclub.tumblr.com/">Sapphic Book Club</a> in exchange for an honest review. 

<img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/360649019070087188/661195730282610748/sapphic_Book_Club.png" width="520" height="120"/>

I read some reviews before reading this book and I was curious to see this recovery journey that was mentioned by many people.
When I actually started this book I got super worried I wouldn't like it because there were so many names mentioned and events I couldn't figure out at first what was going on.
 I'm glad that I kept reading and the initial fog dissipated, making me able to see the plot and characters clearly and love them.
Plot:
Talia is the main character with telepathic communication powers that was separated from her people's collective hive mind and her closest friends during a rebel mission against a totalitarian government.
The two people who save her are Miki who has a special place in Talia's heart and is also a tech genius and Faigin the enhanced government soldier who now fights for the rebellion and is also the pilot of their ship.
During Talia's imprisonment she was drugged to make her unable to use her telepathy and that weakened her body and spirit.
The guilt of not being able to fight, the ghosts of  lost lives of other rebels, with the silent emptiness of the deep telepathic contact with her people make Talia's recovery hard.
That's why they together decide to look for a safe planet hidden from the Government where they can find shelter, safety and refuge.
Talia has to fight not only for the cause but to  accept that the steps for recovery are slow and heavy and leave her unable to actively fight.
The purpose of their mission helps Talia to start this journey to find herself again and recover from her wounds both physical and emotional.

The author describes Talia's  feelings in a way you easily get in her shoes.
The book portrays the hardest part of recovery, the one where you have to accept to be deserving of good things, to think of a future and even dream of a better one.
What I enjoyed the most reading were the interactions between the characters. 
They are really entertaining especially since they all have such distinctive and different temperaments and to see their synergy it's amazing.
I would recommend this book also for the ease in which the author makes you imagine this futuristic universe, their inhabitants and the hopeful vibes that it inspires.
 



j00j's review

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adventurous hopeful fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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