Scan barcode
A review by rg9400
No Safe Haven by James Lloyd Dulin
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
"Anger can be selfish, or it can be righteous...it cannot be both".
"My grandmother used to say that anger was like driving a nail through wood with your thumb...the nail still needs to be pounded into the wood. I'd just rather not use my thumb."
This book and series are a fascinating meditation on anger, anger that you understand is fully justifiable, anger born from some truly horrific and traumatic acts of colonial violence. Yet throughout, the characters are challenged to examine their anger specifically from the perspective of how it impacts themselves and those around them. It's a complex and challenging approach, and one that I found myself constantly reflecting on.
No Safe Haven continues from where the first book left off, showcasing Kaylo's growth into the person he is today, and how the girl he happened to save is following his earlier journey, but with subtle changes as she learns from his story. This book also introduces some other POV characters, though they do not get nearly as much limelight. I had mentioned in my review of the first book that the past and present storylines weren't exactly balanced, but I found this book to balance the two different time periods pretty well.
If I had one criticism, it would be that a lot of the side characters felt very flat to me. I think Kaylo and Tayen are layered and nuanced, but most of the other ones fill specific plot requirements more than being their own characters.
Regardless, I think this is a moving, intimate series exploring a very specific emotion (anger) in a variety of different lights.
"My grandmother used to say that anger was like driving a nail through wood with your thumb...the nail still needs to be pounded into the wood. I'd just rather not use my thumb."
This book and series are a fascinating meditation on anger, anger that you understand is fully justifiable, anger born from some truly horrific and traumatic acts of colonial violence. Yet throughout, the characters are challenged to examine their anger specifically from the perspective of how it impacts themselves and those around them. It's a complex and challenging approach, and one that I found myself constantly reflecting on.
No Safe Haven continues from where the first book left off, showcasing Kaylo's growth into the person he is today, and how the girl he happened to save is following his earlier journey, but with subtle changes as she learns from his story. This book also introduces some other POV characters, though they do not get nearly as much limelight. I had mentioned in my review of the first book that the past and present storylines weren't exactly balanced, but I found this book to balance the two different time periods pretty well.
If I had one criticism, it would be that a lot of the side characters felt very flat to me. I think Kaylo and Tayen are layered and nuanced, but most of the other ones fill specific plot requirements more than being their own characters.
Regardless, I think this is a moving, intimate series exploring a very specific emotion (anger) in a variety of different lights.