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A review by wordsareworlds
Where Peace Is Lost by Valerie Valdes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Outside of the premise, every aspect of this book was a disappointment.
I adored the Chilling Effect trilogy, for its writing style, depth of characterization, relationships, and nuanced takes on difficult choices and the fallout from them. Absolutely none of that skill was on display in this book, and it might have been better served as a prequel novella to a series set later in the timeline of the characters, where the plot didn't have to be stretched quite so thin and the setting actually mattered.
As it is, I won't be reading anything else set in this universe without strong recs from people I trust.
I adored the Chilling Effect trilogy, for its writing style, depth of characterization, relationships, and nuanced takes on difficult choices and the fallout from them. Absolutely none of that skill was on display in this book, and it might have been better served as a prequel novella to a series set later in the timeline of the characters, where the plot didn't have to be stretched quite so thin and the setting actually mattered.
As it is, I won't be reading anything else set in this universe without strong recs from people I trust.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Genocide, and Panic attacks/disorders