A review by killerwhalie
Weak Heart by Ban Gilmartin

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

picked this up as someone once told me it reminded them of TRC. I think that came through the most in the way that Gilmartin describes the setting; Mab is as much of a character in this story as Henrietta is in TRC. you can really feel the environment around you in this, the frigid air, the drab skies, the sea crashing into the cliffs. I find I often struggle to truly feel the setting in novels, but here, Gilmartin had me chilled to the bone. the emotional core of the story was a bit lacking for me, though. I enjoyed the way that the mystery was crafted, but the payoff felt lacklustre, and because of that I didn't find the resolution of the character arcs fully satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed the world that was presented here and would gladly return if Gilmartin ever decides to expand the story. at the same time, I thought this was a good, contained standalone, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in freezing isles, mystery mindfuckery, and friends that you might hate at first but whom you'll grow to appreciate, if not love.