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A review by the_rabble
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
BIRD NERDS IN FANTASY VICTORIAN ENGLAND
This shit slaps. You have magic birds. You have a deeply apologetic lady professor dealing with academia-level misogyny ca. 1890 and the dude who wants her to take up as much space as she can and talk birdy to him. (But also, he's going to beat her to those birds... or is he?)
Fantasy naturalism is rad as hell and this book is a great time. Very fun, very swoony.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, light to medium spice, protagonists are in their 20s-ish, first book in a new series (stoked we're getting a Gabe/geographers book, but you can read this as a one-off)
India Holton spices up every setting and this is no different. The fantasy elements are excellent. The descriptions are great and the prose is interesting. She handles all the "I am a very smart character" traps authors fall into very well and balanced her protagonists beautifully.
Holton's prose has more room to play in this book and it gives some of the emotional beats a lot of added heft without deterring from the madcap rush to the finishline driving the plot. The developing intimacy between the characters and the main plot both get their due. Often flawlessly at the same time.
Narrator - Elizabeth Knowelden kills it. Her voices are fun. The use of "ummm..." gets a million bonus points.
And her rapid fire delivery of Holton's prose and some the jargon-laden dialogue elevates everything. Excellent delivery.
This shit slaps. You have magic birds. You have a deeply apologetic lady professor dealing with academia-level misogyny ca. 1890 and the dude who wants her to take up as much space as she can and talk birdy to him. (But also, he's going to beat her to those birds... or is he?)
Fantasy naturalism is rad as hell and this book is a great time. Very fun, very swoony.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, light to medium spice, protagonists are in their 20s-ish, first book in a new series (stoked we're getting a Gabe/geographers book, but you can read this as a one-off)
India Holton spices up every setting and this is no different. The fantasy elements are excellent. The descriptions are great and the prose is interesting. She handles all the "I am a very smart character" traps authors fall into very well and balanced her protagonists beautifully.
Holton's prose has more room to play in this book and it gives some of the emotional beats a lot of added heft without deterring from the madcap rush to the finishline driving the plot. The developing intimacy between the characters and the main plot both get their due. Often flawlessly at the same time.
Narrator - Elizabeth Knowelden kills it. Her voices are fun. The use of "ummm..." gets a million bonus points.
And her rapid fire delivery of Holton's prose and some the jargon-laden dialogue elevates everything. Excellent delivery.