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A review by mallorypen
The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an unexpected delight. I found this book as a free download on audible, and wasn’t expecting much. The first few chapters were a little on the slow side, but the narration was really well done and the story just intriguing enough that I kept going. Boy, am I glad that I did!
The wave this book told the story from the perspective of a teenager was incredibly well done. Violet is such a relatable character, even though our life experiences are wildly different. The author was able to encapsulate the feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, self hatred, defensiveness, young love, queerness, self-discovery, confusion, and pain in such a way that was beautifully and lyrically done. The story made me remember my teenage years, and all of the emotions, change, and overwhelming feelings that came during that time period of life.
The story itself is complex, but told in such a way that feels very straightforward until you get deeper into the story and realize all the different layers coming together. The way the author structures the story lets you learn along with violets friends all the things that have gone on in her life. Violet is showing us her life story, through her lived experiences and her thoughts about what’s going on in the present but taking the reader backwards in time in such a way where I don’t feel like I was being info-dumped upon but rather things were coming to light as they related to the experiences she was having in the moment.
The cast of characters in the story was also incredibly three-dimensional and well flushed out. The love triangle was handled in such a way where I honestly did not know where the story was going to go until we were almost at its conclusion. The romance was so heartbreakingly teenager, but also so much bigger and deeper in a way that felt really special.
I also felt like the author treated the suicide attempt in such an understanding and kind way. Violet struggled to know how to even talk to her brother let alone what to say felt so real and when she got to the point where she could talk to her brother about it and share how she felt about him and his life, it was such a triumph for the reader and for the character.
The overarching story plot of finding the Lyric was such an interesting device. I also really liked the idea of the shipwreck gene; were some members of Violet‘s family saw their heritage as a source of strength, Violet saw it almost like a curse. And then, in the end, when she was able to come to terms with the idea of a curse not necessarily being a bad thing, but a promise … that was just very cool from a storytelling perspective.
There is this triumphant moment when they think they found the Lyric; it’s very contemplative where it almost doesn’t matter whether or not the ship is actually there. I thought that was going to be a climax in and of itself, but the way that the author was able to up the tension with the kayak and going out to sea was unexpected but thrilling. It also made a lot of sense for Sam‘s character to do something reckless but also so very alive; and the hint of mysticism with the voice that urged them to swim up and not really understanding whether or not the wreck was there beneath them was a satisfying conclusion will still leaving things open ended and not neatly tied up in a narrative bow.
Over all this was such an unexpectedly poetic, beautiful and intriguing plot with a lovable cast of characters you wanted to root for. What a surprise and delight!
The wave this book told the story from the perspective of a teenager was incredibly well done. Violet is such a relatable character, even though our life experiences are wildly different. The author was able to encapsulate the feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, self hatred, defensiveness, young love, queerness, self-discovery, confusion, and pain in such a way that was beautifully and lyrically done. The story made me remember my teenage years, and all of the emotions, change, and overwhelming feelings that came during that time period of life.
The story itself is complex, but told in such a way that feels very straightforward until you get deeper into the story and realize all the different layers coming together. The way the author structures the story lets you learn along with violets friends all the things that have gone on in her life. Violet is showing us her life story, through her lived experiences and her thoughts about what’s going on in the present but taking the reader backwards in time in such a way where I don’t feel like I was being info-dumped upon but rather things were coming to light as they related to the experiences she was having in the moment.
The cast of characters in the story was also incredibly three-dimensional and well flushed out. The love triangle was handled in such a way where I honestly did not know where the story was going to go until we were almost at its conclusion. The romance was so heartbreakingly teenager, but also so much bigger and deeper in a way that felt really special.
The overarching story plot of finding the Lyric was such an interesting device. I also really liked the idea of the shipwreck gene; were some members of Violet‘s family saw their heritage as a source of strength, Violet saw it almost like a curse. And then, in the end, when she was able to come to terms with the idea of a curse not necessarily being a bad thing, but a promise … that was just very cool from a storytelling perspective.
There is this triumphant moment when they think they found the Lyric; it’s very contemplative where it almost doesn’t matter whether or not the ship is actually there. I thought that was going to be a climax in and of itself, but the way that the author was able to up the tension with the kayak and going out to sea was unexpected but thrilling. It also made a lot of sense for Sam‘s character to do something reckless but also so very alive; and the hint of mysticism with the voice that urged them to swim up and not really understanding whether or not the wreck was there beneath them was a satisfying conclusion will still leaving things open ended and not neatly tied up in a narrative bow.
Over all this was such an unexpectedly poetic, beautiful and intriguing plot with a lovable cast of characters you wanted to root for. What a surprise and delight!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death