Review by medhini - The World Cannot Give

medhini 's review for:

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There were so many things I liked about this dark academia novel. It features religious fanaticism, realistic depictions of teenage drama and obsession with celebrities (like Sebastian Webster), and so many queer characters. At times, the prose flowed beautifully, and reading this felt like a descent, perhaps from heaven to hell. I loved the comparison in ideology between Bonnie, Isobel, and Virginia, and even though there were a few references to modern pop culture, I don't think they dated the novel. Timelessness is one of my favorite aspects of so many dark academia stories, and these references didn't take that quality away at all.

I do have some criticisms of the novel. Although I did like the prose in some occasions, it was inconsistent and sometimes felt repetitive, with certain parts even seeming a bit too far-fetched (Laura's sudden success with running, parts of the ending, etc.). I also felt that some of the side characters were underdeveloped, and wish we could have learned about their backstories in order to better understand their motivations. Despite all this, I did really enjoy the read and would recommend to anyone who loves stories with dark academia, queer longing, and critiques of intense religious fanaticism. I am excited to see what Tara Isabella Burton writes next!

Content Warnings