Scan barcode
A review by emmirosereads
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is definitely not a book for everyone. With the heavy topics dealt with (check trigger warnings for sure), and the fact this is so heavy with world building and political intrigue but personally I was left in awe and thought this was an absolutely stunning fantasy novel! I felt like Foz Meadows wrote these characters and their traumas and development with such care and beauty. This ultimately is a story of healing and I could really feel that through out.
The world building is so in depth, and while some might say it's info dumpy I feel like we learn this world at a perfect pace, right along with one of our main characters. It's so intricate and vast, with culture, religion, and politics. It felt so very real which I love in a fantasy novel. It was such an absolute joy to read about a fantasy world where being queer is not just accepted but cherished and celebrated. It was honestly really healing for me to read and see how Vel really overcomes and deals with coming from a place that shamed him for who he was and caused him to hide that.
While this book takes place over a course of a week, somehow Foz makes it not feel like that. So much is happening but it also feels like things are developing with our characters and their relationship at a good and normal pace. This so easily could have felt like insta love but it really didn't feel like it even though some might consider it so. While I loved the plot and mystery they were trying to solve I was really here for the soft moments between Vel and Cae and to see their relationship blossom into something beautiful. It made me warm and fuzzy all over.
Overall so highly recommend if you think it's a book you can handle reading. I'm personally so excited to read the sequel after diving into an excerpt that was in this book.
Literally my only real problem with this book (which I didn't even end up minding after awhile) was the fact that one POV was written in first and then the second character is written in third? Like they each have chunks of chapters together so it didn't end up bothering me too much but I'm still confused by this choice?
The world building is so in depth, and while some might say it's info dumpy I feel like we learn this world at a perfect pace, right along with one of our main characters. It's so intricate and vast, with culture, religion, and politics. It felt so very real which I love in a fantasy novel. It was such an absolute joy to read about a fantasy world where being queer is not just accepted but cherished and celebrated. It was honestly really healing for me to read and see how Vel really overcomes and deals with coming from a place that shamed him for who he was and caused him to hide that.
While this book takes place over a course of a week, somehow Foz makes it not feel like that. So much is happening but it also feels like things are developing with our characters and their relationship at a good and normal pace. This so easily could have felt like insta love but it really didn't feel like it even though some might consider it so. While I loved the plot and mystery they were trying to solve I was really here for the soft moments between Vel and Cae and to see their relationship blossom into something beautiful. It made me warm and fuzzy all over.
Overall so highly recommend if you think it's a book you can handle reading. I'm personally so excited to read the sequel after diving into an excerpt that was in this book.
Literally my only real problem with this book (which I didn't even end up minding after awhile) was the fact that one POV was written in first and then the second character is written in third? Like they each have chunks of chapters together so it didn't end up bothering me too much but I'm still confused by this choice?