A review by reading_ali
Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I came into this book with very different expectations of what the world building would look like. But was not disappointed with what the actual story is about. This is historical with a touch of creepy/fantastical creatures. Not a fantasy world with some historical setting. 
The characters were fine, but there was absolutely no diversity, and quite a lot of patriarchal ideas that were supposedly being challenged. But again, I came in thinking this would be a very different world, not an actually somewhat accurate depiction of 1800s americana life. So beware some misogyny
There were also aspects that frustrated me, simply because clues about the 
romantic interest being one of the forest creatures  were quite obvious. I understand that a love struck teenage girl wouldnt want to think of the worst, but still it was weird to me she wouldnt see certain obvious clues as to Whitaker not being all that he claims to be. Specially form day number 1, he would refuse to tell his name, which quite frankly is such an obvious clue to something being wrong. Also the fact that she trusted a stranger so easily felt unrealistic. And the ending was simply flat and :-/ like ok… too fast, too good to be true.
Also still don't see how she knew that Lyra was the Queen’s name, because  Whitaker never hinted that that was her name….just wish thr author wouldve dived in a bit deeper into that and developed the name bit so it wouldnt seem so out of nowhere

Overall I enjoyed having so many characters and things happening. Read the book in two sittings and it was creepy and wonderfully rural and atmospheric. Super fun.Just wish the romance was also developed a bit more, it also felt :/ flat and a tad too normal.







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