A review by btwnprintedpgs
Duel by Jessixa Bagley

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really liked the way grief, sisterhood, and parenthood is treated in this one. I feel like Gigi was excessively mean even before their father's death, but I appreciated how they talked it out and understood each other a bit through the build up to their duel.

I do wish we got a bit more accountability for both sisters through the book as some things they do to each other really was just mean. Felt like they were never taught to respect each other which feels off from how they resolve things in the end.

I enjoyed the fencing though, as I have some knowledge of the sport. The chapter intro pages were fun and informative, and I liked how we saw the sport bring the family together.

TW: bullying, grief; mentions death of a parent

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

ARC gifted by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.
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