Scan barcode
A review by lattelibrarian
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
5.0
SOBS. Historical fiction isn't normally my go-to, but it has love, it has death, and it absolutely decimated my heart. So, it's a pretty good book in my opinion. This book flickers between various perspectives--from Henry to Flora to Death to Love. Each are trying to win and survive and stay strong in a society that is complicated and nuanced.
Also, the PAGES, the design work of this novel is absolutely incredible. Each chapter begins with a black page and white text, then reverts back to a white page with black text. Which is phenomenal, lovely, and probably really costly. But honestly? It's how you know this book is the real deal.
What I also really loved about this book is that it takes place in Seattle, my good ol' almost home. It's so rare that I read books about the west coast that isn't LA or San Francisco! So this reminded me a little bit of home, and a little not, too, considering how much I learned about Hoovervilles and how overlooked they were on the westcoast.
Also. Okay. Can we talk about how like, a) there's an interracial main character couple, and b) there's a gay character who c) falls in love with Love?? UGH. My heart. I want to shove this book at every person who says they like historical fiction and yell at them to read it. It's fun, lively, intricate, intriguing, and overall, heartwrenching. We're constantly pulled back and forth over deciding who's going to win in the end all the while we learn about Death and Love's own relationship, the ethics of their job, and what it means to be the embodiment of two of the major components of human existence.
The Game of Love and Death is ultimately beautiful, meaningful, and all around fantastic.
Review cross-listed here!
Also, the PAGES, the design work of this novel is absolutely incredible. Each chapter begins with a black page and white text, then reverts back to a white page with black text. Which is phenomenal, lovely, and probably really costly. But honestly? It's how you know this book is the real deal.
What I also really loved about this book is that it takes place in Seattle, my good ol' almost home. It's so rare that I read books about the west coast that isn't LA or San Francisco! So this reminded me a little bit of home, and a little not, too, considering how much I learned about Hoovervilles and how overlooked they were on the westcoast.
Also. Okay. Can we talk about how like, a) there's an interracial main character couple, and b) there's a gay character who c) falls in love with Love?? UGH. My heart. I want to shove this book at every person who says they like historical fiction and yell at them to read it. It's fun, lively, intricate, intriguing, and overall, heartwrenching. We're constantly pulled back and forth over deciding who's going to win in the end all the while we learn about Death and Love's own relationship, the ethics of their job, and what it means to be the embodiment of two of the major components of human existence.
The Game of Love and Death is ultimately beautiful, meaningful, and all around fantastic.
Review cross-listed here!