rachaeljs 's review for:

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

3.25

dark hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was fun in the end but had a jarring tone shift from serious and intense tragedy to wacky black comedy. I liked that it ultimately was about female friendship and can even get behind the corny ending, but the expository last few pages and centering of on an abusive man ruined some of the vibes. Also sometimes the absurdism of a scene felt so out of no where that I was confused. 

I went into it knowing very little about Indian culture and I'm interested to read more stories set there from other perspectives.