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A review by samchaffin
The Broken Lands by Kate Milford
5.0
I bought THE BROKEN LANDS on a gut feeling. I found it alone on a shelf in my indie bookstore, saw the cover, and knew that I would like it. Bridges and card sharps and Coney Island and magic? Sold.
I couldn't have imagined that this book would remind me what it feels like to fall in love with a story. I mean, the way I used to when I was a kid reading every library book she could get her hands on. That's what this felt like. Remembering.
Milford's writing is magic. It's luxurious and rich, and she writes about Brooklyn the way I would write about Los Angeles - like she's in love with the city. The world-building is just gorgeous. Honestly, every time I picked this book up, I felt like I was dreaming. It was that vivid. I loved the characters, too (and can I just say THANK YOU to Milford for writing a Chinese American girl in historical fiction without making her a damsel. Actually, just thank you for writing ethnic diversity without making it all about how ETHNICALLY DIVERSE !!!! they are).
This book is one of the best purchases I've made this year. I will say that it's not one to speed read, but... who the hell cares. I didn't. You won't.
I couldn't have imagined that this book would remind me what it feels like to fall in love with a story. I mean, the way I used to when I was a kid reading every library book she could get her hands on. That's what this felt like. Remembering.
Milford's writing is magic. It's luxurious and rich, and she writes about Brooklyn the way I would write about Los Angeles - like she's in love with the city. The world-building is just gorgeous. Honestly, every time I picked this book up, I felt like I was dreaming. It was that vivid. I loved the characters, too (and can I just say THANK YOU to Milford for writing a Chinese American girl in historical fiction without making her a damsel. Actually, just thank you for writing ethnic diversity without making it all about how ETHNICALLY DIVERSE !!!! they are).
This book is one of the best purchases I've made this year. I will say that it's not one to speed read, but... who the hell cares. I didn't. You won't.