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A review by kelamity_reads
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book...I'm so conflicted over whether I liked it or not.
I thought the story was well-written, interesting, and I liked how it seemlessly merged average life with the supernatural.
However, I absolutely detested the male protagonist. I loathed his abusive, gaslighting, controlling behaviour and his absolute arrogance. There was literally nothing redeemable about him, and yet I kept feeling like the story wanted me to find him sympathetic? Tragic? Idk what, but I wasn't buying it.
I liked the subtle way a major aspect of the ending (the biggest twist) was alluded to, and I thought it was the right choice for the story. I did, however, feel like a major aspect of the story was just suddenly dropped in a very anticlimactic and unsatisfying way, but perhaps that is explained in the sequel?
One thing I didn't like was how the main female protagonist was this strong, intuit character one moment and then scripted to be clueless and/or unable to connect obvious dots the next moment. It made her character feel disjointed.
An aspect that I quite liked was the extended family and how willing they were to accept and go with things. That felt really genuine to me.
Also, Teacake is a great name for a cat!
I thought the story was well-written, interesting, and I liked how it seemlessly merged average life with the supernatural.
However, I absolutely detested the male protagonist. I loathed his abusive, gaslighting, controlling behaviour and his absolute arrogance. There was literally nothing redeemable about him, and yet I kept feeling like the story wanted me to find him sympathetic? Tragic? Idk what, but I wasn't buying it.
I liked the subtle way a major aspect of the ending (the biggest twist) was alluded to, and I thought it was the right choice for the story. I did, however, feel like a major aspect of the story was just suddenly dropped in a very anticlimactic and unsatisfying way, but perhaps that is explained in the sequel?
One thing I didn't like was how the main female protagonist was this strong, intuit character one moment and then scripted to be clueless and/or unable to connect obvious dots the next moment. It made her character feel disjointed.
An aspect that I quite liked was the extended family and how willing they were to accept and go with things. That felt really genuine to me.
Also, Teacake is a great name for a cat!