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aspoonfuloflanguage's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
She was too stunned to speak.
I’ve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didn’t contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature. While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. I’m not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But I… can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyone’s head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because there’s a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle that’s guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? We’re the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. It’s infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? It’s an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and I’m mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But I’m also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
I’ve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didn’t contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature. While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. I’m not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But I… can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyone’s head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because there’s a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle that’s guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? We’re the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. It’s infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? It’s an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and I’m mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But I’m also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
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