A review by itsolliebygollie
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.75

For the first 100 pages, the language of this book tested the dead part of my Gifted and Talented Childhood brain. I wondered over and over again if the MC, Vel, was just showing off he was smart by sounding like a thesaurus or if the author didn't know how to write for a general audience. But as the book went on, I realized that it was for the character. The author changes POVs and the language changes with it. It's fascinating to read the very clear differences in the language used.

This book also contains heavy topics like assault and suicide attempts. I feared I would be upset by this, maybe even have to DNF the book, but Fox Meadows knows when to put in detail and when to make a character react in a way that "blurring" the scene makes sense, ie going numb and dissociating. I'm very excited to read the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Classism, Deportation