A review by vincci
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I couldn't put down this book! Nguyễn Phan is such a gifted storyteller and hops through different time periods and perspectives throughout the book with ease. As a reader I could feel the emotional highs and lows of the characters and it was fun anticipating when their stories would intersect.

My only criticism is that I felt that the book could have ended without the last two chapters.
While she did use those chapters to add a few final twists, from reading her first novel, The Mountains Sing, I get that she is someone who likes to tie up loose ends and it felt like she was almost forcing it a bit here, particularly near the end.
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