A review by adrianasturalvarez
Aerth by Deborah Tompkins

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Aerth is an interesting little read. It flies by in the suit of a genre tale, calling back to classic pieces by Heinlein or Asimov, but has more contemporary concerns. Yes, the environment, but more than that, a contemporary take on diasporic life after youth, which feels cogent today as one of the largest generations in recent history passes away in masse and the fleeting normalcy of world order condemns the rest of us with uncertainty. The book's interest in Magnus' vulnerability is where Tompkins shines. The plot is... well, there isn't much we haven't already seen so it feels more like a prop to hold up the other stuff. As for the depth of the other stuff, well I would have liked more digging but within the scope of the story she tells it felt adequate. Tompkins writes beautifully and her choice to pace each chapter in small bites along with her disciplined lyricism make reading this enjoyable. Any criticism I have came after finishing, in my moments of reading I was delighted.