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allyexa 's review for:

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
4.0
hopeful reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

I was looking forward to this book so much, just by reading the blurb, and then to hear from other reviewers that it has Howl’s Moving Castle vibes? I could not wait to dig in.

I’m happy to report that the plot was intricate and the world-building luscious, the two main characters were far from perfect, and grew so much with the story, and the overall message was sorely needed and timely.  Still, it took me forever to read. I think the writing was a bit repetitive, not trusting the reader to get the point the first time around, and a lot of the side characters were barely fleshed out, so it was hard to keep them straight, or care too much about them. Honestly, the gecko had more personality a lot of the time.

But the overall themes of finding power and dismantling authoritarian systems, and the glorious worker collective ending won me over after all. A grand tale, full of whimsical workers and gods who need to be told off now and then.

4/23/25