A review by katrod
Carmen and Grace by Melissa Coss Aquino

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Carmen and Grace follows 2 Puerto Rican cousins in the Bronx who have been abandoned by their families and taken in by a local drug cartel matriarch, Doña Durka.  The actions starts after Durka’s death with the two women dealing with the grief and the stress of their newfound positions in the drug ring, and their strained relationship with each other.  We go back in time and shift perspectives, but the pacing didn’t work for me. 

There was so much potential in this story, and I really did love some parts- but others felt much too dragged out and meandering.  An interesting story overall, and some beautiful passages and reflections.