A review by leksikality
Burrowed by Mary Baader Kaley

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

3.0

The first half is done well, but it gets murky around the midpoint, picking up a burst of speed for the last 3-4 chapters for an ultimately unsatisfying ending. Generally, I'm a fan of ambiguous endings but this feels more like "missing chapters" than simply ambiguous.

All in all, it's a unique take on the Chosen One trope. Zuzan is a bit overly self-righteous, which wears thing, particularly as the novel progresses. With some additional polish to bring the second half up to par, this could be a pretty decent novel in the genre.