A review by julia_rose
The Promise by Damon Galgut

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The most 5 star book I’ve ever 5-starred. This is a very special book. Exquisite prose without being pretentious. Complex characters you love and hate (except Amor and Salome who are angels) who evolve masterfully. Extremely visual, it’s rare that a book transports me to another world. Emotional but not corny and still has the odd light-hearted moment which is hard to inject into such a dark story.
I appreciated how Lukas still scolded Amor at the end so it didn’t become just another “white saviour book.
Seamlessly floated between all the characters’ heads, expert narration. Just beautiful. A beautiful beautiful book.
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