A review by rain_tea_and_books
Graphite and Turbulence by Jami Fairleigh

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It was so nice to dive back into the story of Matthew and his search to find his home. Especially now that he is travelling with Akiko, his adopted daughter. This sequel read quite similarly to it’s predecessor – in that it is a cosy, travel story which allows for the focus to be on the characters and their relationships. This is why I loved this so much – I find the novel to be more focused on character than plot (while the plot does hold it’s own).

This was an emotional rollercoaster of a read, I am so invested in these characters that this novel had me on edge – stressing about what would happen next. I love the false sense of security I get from the early chapters as I sit down to read about Matthew’s travels and then get hit with fear, chaos and confusion. This is all evened out though with the beautiful characters and the friendships they make. There are some wonderful additions to Matthew’s found family this novel, as well as some side characters I am going to miss. Jami Fairleigh has a knack for creating these really vibrant characters, which are some of my favourite parts of this novel.

As I said before, plot-wise, things got intense! I loved how the story continued on from the events of Oil and Dust (Book 1), and while it answered some questions, it also asked so many more. There is so much on the line for these characters, and I found that the story had a nice mix of stressful scenes as well as light hearted. Fairleigh writes beautifully, and really has created such an interesting and complex world for this story to unfold in.

I think one of my favourite things about this novel is the found family aspects. Found family makes me melt emotionally. Here, I am so invested it's not funny! I recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a cosy read with wonderful characters and an exciting plot. Though it goes without saying, read Oil and Dust first! You'll love it!

Thank you to BookSirens, the author, and the publisher for sending me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 1st March 2022.