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A review by mallorypen
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
AHHHHHH this was SO GOOD.
The politics - fascinating, well developed and understandable.
The cultural differences - gripping, relevant and dynamic.
The process of healing after trauma - told with kindness, honesty and hope.
The plot twists - OH MY GOD. I was along for the ride with only guesses about the perpetrators, and each twist surprised and delighted me.
The relationships - obviously I was THIRSTY for the connection between Cay and Vel, but the friendships with Markel, the family dynamics of the Idurials, the guards and soldiers, the librarian … everything felt believable and fully formed.
The romance - again, I was thirsty thirsty THIRSTY for this romance. I am a sucker for Yearning™️ and arranged marriages that lead to love (and lust) and when there is open and honest communication that builds to spine-melting UST … and then the resolution of said UST … god.
The treatment of gender identity - definitely a key pillar of the novel, and done in a way that felt a little in your face with Ralia’s differences to Keketai, but in the end I felt the representation was lovely. I also loved the way Markel’s disability was handled; the story didn’t shy away from his hardships, and it didn’t strip him of characteristics outside of his disability.
All in all, this was a fucking treat to enjoy just like one of the cook’s little suns. So much so I will forgive the death of Quip, though that was by far the absolute worst.
The politics - fascinating, well developed and understandable.
The cultural differences - gripping, relevant and dynamic.
The process of healing after trauma - told with kindness, honesty and hope.
The plot twists - OH MY GOD. I was along for the ride with only guesses about the perpetrators, and each twist surprised and delighted me.
The relationships - obviously I was THIRSTY for the connection between Cay and Vel, but the friendships with Markel, the family dynamics of the Idurials, the guards and soldiers, the librarian … everything felt believable and fully formed.
The romance - again, I was thirsty thirsty THIRSTY for this romance. I am a sucker for Yearning™️ and arranged marriages that lead to love (and lust) and when there is open and honest communication that builds to spine-melting UST … and then the resolution of said UST … god.
The treatment of gender identity - definitely a key pillar of the novel, and done in a way that felt a little in your face with Ralia’s differences to Keketai, but in the end I felt the representation was lovely. I also loved the way Markel’s disability was handled; the story didn’t shy away from his hardships, and it didn’t strip him of characteristics outside of his disability.
All in all, this was a fucking treat to enjoy just like one of the cook’s little suns. So much so I will forgive the death of Quip, though that was by far the absolute worst.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Death of parent, Animal death, and Child death