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silver_ethereal 's review for:
The Hanging City
by Charlie N. Holmberg
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
It is worth reading this for the romance, which was done super well! The tension is perfect and I found it really impactful and emotional and sweet.
I also think the setting is really interesting, taking the idea that trolls live under bridges and really running with it in a very cool way. The city and caste system are fascinating.
Beyond that, however, the world building was really lacking. We get a tiny little taste of where Lark's power comes from, but this is never really used or expanded upon which seems like a missed opportunity. Also at times I felt so confused by Lark's decision making. Some choices she made just didn't make sense to me and I found myself just going... "What?! Why did she do that?". I think it was also a missed opportunity to have Lark train and get stronger... Instead she just gets beat up again and again and again and again. I think she is bruised and beaten for the entire book.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.
I also think the setting is really interesting, taking the idea that trolls live under bridges and really running with it in a very cool way. The city and caste system are fascinating.
Beyond that, however, the world building was really lacking. We get a tiny little taste of where Lark's power comes from, but this is never really used or expanded upon which seems like a missed opportunity. Also at times I felt so confused by Lark's decision making. Some choices she made just didn't make sense to me and I found myself just going... "What?! Why did she do that?". I think it was also a missed opportunity to have Lark train and get stronger... Instead she just gets beat up again and again and again and again. I think she is bruised and beaten for the entire book.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.