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A review by lilacs_book_bower
Rosewater by Tade Thompson
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I struggled on the rating for this one. It has a non-linear structure, as we flash back and forth in the main protagonist Kaaro's life. I really liked that and how it slowly let the mystery and the world building unfold. I liked the setting in Nigeria, the city of Rosewater, the mysterious alien dome, and Kaaro's and the other sensitive's powers to see into people's minds. There are a lot of interesting plot threads at play here, Kaaro's powers, the xenosphere, Aminat's brother, the dome itself... However, Kaaro is not a likable character (tbf, everyone in the book, even Kaaro, seems to know this, but personally for me, I find that more challenging in a book); he is obsessed with sex and objectifies nearly every woman and wants to have sex with them. Kaaro's relationship with Aminat feels insta-lovey, and why would she even like him? The revelation that someone is killing the sensitives doesn't happen until halfway through the book, and I felt that is should have come sooner to amp up the urgency of the story. Lastly, I might be alone in this going by other reviews, but I thought the end was a let down, even knowing that this is a trilogy. I was surprised that was all there was to the book's climax; I was surprised the book was over, as it felt very abrupt. I was expecting more. Overall though, I really did enjoy the book and would recommend it. I hope to read the sequels.
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Cursing, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual harassment, Blood, Addiction, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Violence, Gore, and Misogyny