coldnightforalligators 's review for:

Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smith

3.0

dark mysterious reflective tense

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 Uneven and underdeveloped, but I really love Alexis M. Smith's writing style, and - unlike some reviewers - I found her protagonist (her paralysis, her unreliability, her odd unflapability and inscrutableness [even from inside her own pov]) compelling. The book moves back and forth between present day (post- Incident on Marrow Island) and past (Incident on Marrow Island). The post-incident chapters were much better developed and much more interesting. I understood Luce's character, understood her relationship with Carey, understood the setting of the Oregon forest, the inevitable seasonal fires and grim preparation for them. But everything that happened on Marrow Island felt vague, rushed, inchoate? In concept, it's interesting, but I just could not get a real grip on what was happening, who everyone was, what roles they played, and the relationships between our protagonist and the people on Marrow Island didn't feel explored and developed enough, organically, for me to care about the dissolution of those relationships.

Almost, but not quite, good. Could have been longer and better organized.