A review by pleasantboat
The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley

emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, from the beginning you are flung in the deep end and you are pulled into Valery's life. It was interesting seeing how he compartmentalised different aspects of his life, and how that unfolded over the course of the story. The science involved was also immersive - it was interesting figuring out character motivations along with Valery, and seeing how his limited POV influenced me. I particularly enjoyed the sympathetic way that most characters were portrayed - their situations were all difficult, and the author didn't shy away from that. My only gripe, and it's a small one, is that the ending felt

quite abrupt, and that some characters didn't seem to have the reaction to their circumstances as I might have thought.