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A review by yuna
Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Torn on this because there are parts I really like, and parts I'm meh on. I like how Mihalik blends action and romance with progressive, kickass women and a fun, lovable supporting cast. I liked Kee/Varro for the most part, though it took a while for Varro to feel like more than Male Love Interest. The fashion show scene was fun and I really liked the descriptions of the clothes and how they interacted. Really hoping we get more Liang in the next book.
I think this is the first of Mihalik's books that I've read where I thought the majority of the dialogue had a natural flow to it instead of randomly going stilted and formal.
Didn't think Kee's 'fall to pieces--now have character growth moment' hit with much impact because they happened and were resolved within a sentence or two each time. Also torn on how her sensitivity was represented. Nothing against someone who cries easily and feels strongly, I just wish her getting teary so often could've been described a bit differently. It was always, 'these damn tears' and tears pricking her eyes. She also reads rejection into everything, which tended to fly in the face of the complexity or nuance (such as it is. She saw rejection in pretty obviously *not* situations kind of a lot) of what was actually going on. Even when she knew that wasn't actually the case.
Another quirk of all of Mihalik's books I've read so far is how she goes too hard (for my taste) into making the main character tell you the reader that the MC is a Good Person. Same with the found/supportive family. I love respectful, supportive relationships! But omg, these tend to read more like what would make a therapist happy or be textbook-like, but the characters' actions/way of demonstrating said relationships doesn't read very organically.
I think this is the first of Mihalik's books that I've read where I thought the majority of the dialogue had a natural flow to it instead of randomly going stilted and formal.
Didn't think Kee's 'fall to pieces--now have character growth moment' hit with much impact because they happened and were resolved within a sentence or two each time. Also torn on how her sensitivity was represented. Nothing against someone who cries easily and feels strongly, I just wish her getting teary so often could've been described a bit differently. It was always, 'these damn tears' and tears pricking her eyes. She also reads rejection into everything, which tended to fly in the face of the complexity or nuance (such as it is. She saw rejection in pretty obviously *not* situations kind of a lot) of what was actually going on. Even when she knew that wasn't actually the case.
Another quirk of all of Mihalik's books I've read so far is how she goes too hard (for my taste) into making the main character tell you the reader that the MC is a Good Person. Same with the found/supportive family. I love respectful, supportive relationships! But omg, these tend to read more like what would make a therapist happy or be textbook-like, but the characters' actions/way of demonstrating said relationships doesn't read very organically.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Torture