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wisecraic 's review for:
We Can Never Leave
by H.E. Edgmon
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
HE Edgmon presents their newest YA fantasy We Can Never Leave. Marketed as a contemporary fantasy at the intersection of Sweet Tooth and The Raven Boys, readers follow five teens who are residents of the Caravan. The Caravan is a safe haven to non humans, particularly those who wake with no memory of life before. When all the adults of the Caravan disappear and leave the five teenagers behind, it is up to them to find out what is happening and what has happened to them.
I was pre-approved for this title due to my enjoyment of Don't Let the Forest In. I kind of get the correlation? But I think it is a huge disservice to this book to market it as "contemporary fantasy" and not "fantasy horror". Sweet Tooth is fair for vibes, but The Raven Boys not so much. Perhaps the publisher was going for found family, but this is more forced family in the way of a zombie apocalypse book than in the feel-good way. These kids, quite frankly, don't even really like each other that much. Except when they love each other.
Every single person in this story is unlikeable. Every relationship, regardless of type of relationship, is at least a bit toxic. The pace is incredibly slow and circuitous, which makes sense given the nature of the story, but nevertheless does impact the experience. And at least half of your questions are not going to be answered. This novel lives firmly in uncanny valley and is told in five points of view with an intrusive narrator and a fractured timeline.
If all of those things sound like they will work for you, then rock on with this book. Unfortunately, those features, while executed perfectly fine, are simply not things I tend to like.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have read this early. I have enjoyed HE Edgmon's books in the past and look forward to their future works.
HE Edgmon presents their newest YA fantasy We Can Never Leave. Marketed as a contemporary fantasy at the intersection of Sweet Tooth and The Raven Boys, readers follow five teens who are residents of the Caravan. The Caravan is a safe haven to non humans, particularly those who wake with no memory of life before. When all the adults of the Caravan disappear and leave the five teenagers behind, it is up to them to find out what is happening and what has happened to them.
I was pre-approved for this title due to my enjoyment of Don't Let the Forest In. I kind of get the correlation? But I think it is a huge disservice to this book to market it as "contemporary fantasy" and not "fantasy horror". Sweet Tooth is fair for vibes, but The Raven Boys not so much. Perhaps the publisher was going for found family, but this is more forced family in the way of a zombie apocalypse book than in the feel-good way. These kids, quite frankly, don't even really like each other that much. Except when they love each other.
Every single person in this story is unlikeable. Every relationship, regardless of type of relationship, is at least a bit toxic. The pace is incredibly slow and circuitous, which makes sense given the nature of the story, but nevertheless does impact the experience. And at least half of your questions are not going to be answered. This novel lives firmly in uncanny valley and is told in five points of view with an intrusive narrator and a fractured timeline.
If all of those things sound like they will work for you, then rock on with this book. Unfortunately, those features, while executed perfectly fine, are simply not things I tend to like.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have read this early. I have enjoyed HE Edgmon's books in the past and look forward to their future works.