A review by yourbookishbff
Caroline's Heart by Austin Chant

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Darkly magical and deeply introspective, this was unsettling in a way I really enjoy. I was impressed by the world-building Chant accomplishes in this novella and enjoyed the loosely defined magic system. I wish the central romance had a tiny bit more breathing room outside the grief-driven spellwork to resurrect the FMC's deceased lover, but despite that focus, the love story was heartwarming and gentle with lots of quiet caretaking, and the affirmation of identity was beautiful. This line, in particular, was just stunning: "But the idea of Cecily being placed on the earth in such a damned confusion, just like him, and finding her way to be as extraordinary as she is - and him finding his way to her table, getting to sit across from her, quietly adoring her - the wonder of it all fills him with a swell of emotion that's the closest thing to holy he's ever felt."
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