A review by anna4
A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

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

3.25

This is one of those books where I’m not sure if everyone around me read one version of the book (and loved it) and I read another one and don't seem to “get it”.

Fia and Rogan didn’t make any sense to me. Their whole relationship is based on their teenage past and every time they have a moment, I felt like the author was forcing them on me. Especially for like the whole first half of the book. It was just a bold attempt to make me believe they have any chemistry. Which they didn’t. 
Yet at the same time, Fia and Irian were somewhat having a vibe. I too would melt if someone were to say I look exquisite. Ignoring the sort of love triangle situation (which: ew), I’m not sure if Fia and Irian made more sense to me, because they just genuinely made more sense and Irian really grew on me (considering who and what they are, I guess they did) or because I couldn’t stand Rogan. Either way, I was happy when Rogan finally was more of a subplot situation.

Fia was surely something. She wasn’t really annoying, but definitely naive to the point of annoyance. Especially when it comes to her sister. And Rogan for that matter. 
The fact that this book was written in first person and as a reader you know everything that goes on in Fia’s head, Fia herself seemed very oblivious to her own thoughts and suspicious. She could very clearly see through everything Eala said and yet she still decided to believe her sister’s words over her own instincts. Mind Blowing, really.

The last 15%-20% of the book dragged on for what felt like forever. Not sure why. 

The writing reminded me at times of storytelling. A lot of the descriptions were a mouthful/over the top/too much. Whatever you want to call it. There was really no need to describe that one thing for like five or six (short) sentences, even though I understand the intent behind it. It was fitting for the world and the Folk. Someone might want to call it poetic, which I would agree with to a certain extent.
But then again the world confused me so much, especially during the beginning (and this might be my own fault for not paying 100% attention) that I’m not sure if the writing added to the confusion or not. 

In regards to the Folk, if you enjoyed Emily Wilde, you might enjoy this too. Though this is Emily Wilde in a not so Emily Wilde way.

I might also have enjoyed this more, if it weren’t written in first person. I don’t know, there was potential but somehow missed the point of getting me really invested. 

Thank you to Orbit UK for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.