balberry 's review for:

The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister

2.0

reflective slow-paced

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NetGalley gave me early access to this one, and I was ready for some female Great Gatsby vibes. Instead, what I got was a historical narrative intertwined with mysticism. The supernatural elements caught me off guard, and while they added an interesting twist, they never quite reached a fantastical level. The pacing was a significant drawback, the plot felt convoluted like a soap opera with numerous twists and turns, but I felt bored and tired of it. For me, the scene-setting fell flat, leaving me hoping for more depth and immersion. The lead, Amy, started strong but ended up feeling a bit one-dimensional, and her relationships lacked that spark that makes me root for the characters. I don’t think she has a single friend or real conversation on the page. Overall, it had its moments, but it didn't hit the mark for me. The mysticism was intriguing, but the pacing left me wanting more from this.