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A review by derek_hudgin
Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Slow-paced Sci-Fi political drama.
Loved the setting & premise of the book: city within a dome of Antarctica. Reliant on mainland money and power to keep it going, and power starts failing in the dead of winter months while those who strive for more independence are growing more anxious and powerful.
I didn’t love the execution though. I felt like a lot and nothing happened most of the time. The character focused chapters worked well for the most part, but some of the main events or information came from a passing mention rather than reading it happen. It wasn’t a big deal until the party scene roughly 1/2 or 2/3 of the way through the book.
Elaina is essentially the protagonist of the story, maybe Marinella. Either way, the Midwinter Ball scene was told from Diego’s perspective, a minor player in the grand scheme of things. Elaina learning that he was more than a mob errand boy was a huge moment for her character and decisions. We should have seen that revelation from her perspective
Overall, the array of characters who all had different agendas were mishmashed together in a way that wasn’t satisfying. I think taking away the forced perspectives and leaving the story as a general 3rd person telling would have helped more.
Loved the setting & premise of the book: city within a dome of Antarctica. Reliant on mainland money and power to keep it going, and power starts failing in the dead of winter months while those who strive for more independence are growing more anxious and powerful.
I didn’t love the execution though. I felt like a lot and nothing happened most of the time. The character focused chapters worked well for the most part, but some of the main events or information came from a passing mention rather than reading it happen. It wasn’t a big deal until the party scene roughly 1/2 or 2/3 of the way through the book.
Overall, the array of characters who all had different agendas were mishmashed together in a way that wasn’t satisfying. I think taking away the forced perspectives and leaving the story as a general 3rd person telling would have helped more.