amy_reads_stuff 's review for:

The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley

3.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Won this in a giveaway, and was really pumped to read it as the title and cover art were intriguing. However, I definitely should have read the description, as instead of being a fantasy story about magical beasts on an island like I'd hoped, it is about real animals in the last zoo situated in Alcatraz, while the rest of the world burns/starves/dies I guess? Hence, this cli-sci book was a real bummer. I think it is successful in describing the microenvironment of the island; however, what is going on beyond that is unclear and I wish we had more world build up outside of the zoos. I really didn't like either of the characters and felt they were underdeveloped. Sailor was harsh and manipulative and Camille is naive and gullible. The end does somewhat save this book, but it just did not feel fully developed beyond the zoo and in that sense fell flat to me. I didn't hate it, it was just sad and quite slow paced. Really hope I'm not around for whatever level of the climate wars this is.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Death