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A review by mimosaeyes
Sanctuary by Andi C. Buchanan
3.0
I'm always down to read about queer people, neurodivergent people, and ghosts. So this book is right up my alley! I appreciate the safe space the author has dreamt up in the big house of Casswell Park. The characters support and accommodate one another, trying to live in (though a little apart from) a world that tends to be unwelcoming of them. We love to see it.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The author is evidently committed to portraying life as a neurodivergent person. I think it's great to see autistic and socially anxious characters; casual representation can be a great way to normalise these experiences. On the other hand, I did find the exposition about various neurodivergent traits a bit didactic at times.
I was a little frustrated by how the main thrust of the plot is quite a self-inflicted problem. I felt like Morgan was quite genre-unsavvy. There's also a climactic fight sequence that is vaguely written and goes on longer than it needs to.
This novel has its flaws, for me at least, but above all I value its compassion. One minor way this manifests is in the short snippets about Isobel's story. I must say that those wrap up in a very satisfying way.
Of course, this is all subjective. Your mileage may vary. I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more is that the characters' relationships don't develop much on-page. They start off as a found family and they end off that way too, albeit after a trial that sees them growing a little closer. So there's a lot that the reader just has to accept being told about, rather than shown.
I received an advance review copy via BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.