Reviews - When We Were Birds

1.33k reviews for:

When We Were Birds

Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

3.82 AVERAGE

jobiewong's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

isabelreads's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A strong debut, with beautiful prose, but a bit uneven. I found the main romantic relationship between Yejide and Darwin to be somewhat unconvincing, and the fact they meet halfway through the book is basically the main crime of the pacing. The plots with both mothers are the highlights of the piece. As a whole, the book is back-heavy. The beginning, while good for establishing the characters, would have done well to have another edit or two to tighten it up.

Also, justice for Seema!

salmonthat's review against another edition

4.5

challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

emma_mcd1216's review against another edition

3.75

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

scienceworks's review against another edition

3.0

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kajh23's review against another edition

4.0

Great story with a unique voice.
This is a modern, urban love story paired with Trinbagonian folklore. A unique and vivid blend of folklore, ghosts, Rastafarianism, criminals, romance, and family ties.

ludivinev's review against another edition

2.5

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

I've just finished the book and I still don't know what the plot is. The writing is stunning, and I usually don't mind a slow book, but... nothing happens. The characters are not developed enough and the relationship between Yejide and Darwin is rushed. I don't know if I missed something (I listened to the audio version - excellent narration! - and maybe I got distracted at some point?) but I don't understand what is the 'gift' of the women in Yejide's family or what is does or what is its purpose. A bit disappointing, the blurb oversells it, but I'll keep an eye out for anything Ayanna Lloyd Banwo writes next because I absolutely love her writing style.