You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
julia_stark's Reviews (19)
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Katherine is kidnapped, her friends are gathered into safety by mysterious people who claim Katherine is not who they know her as. She's soon returned and suffers a fatal blow - but she's not lost to her friends. Unbeknownst to everyone, including Katherine, she wields godlike magic that she must awaken piece by piece. Her awakening has started the clock on an ancient prophecy and all life hangs in the balance. While those around her try to figure out who she will become, Katherine is focused on two questions: who set the prophecy wheels in motion and to what end?
The Awakening of a Princess is undoubtedly very well written, with plenty of thoughtful descriptives that really set out the visuals in the scenes. Princess Katherine turns out to be a total badass (always here for this theme) who has a tormented back story, involving a number of plot twists and boy drama that she deals with while ruling a kingdom and being in the fray of battle - can we say boss queen?
The narrative and period setting is a little tricky to keep up with, and at times I was reading a 'mortal's' POV wondering where this was going and why; on that note, it was an interesting method to use writing from a less important character's POV, especially when that character doesn't know the ins and outs and back story - does it make them an unreliable narrator that they don't have all the information, or are they learning along with the reader themselves to provide an affinity with the reader?
All in all, it was well written and the characters had a nice range of personalities, but it did start to feel drawn out and slightly anticlimactic at times; it did also get confusing to see modern day features in a setting I would have taken to be olden timey (though the time passed is mentioned briefly and character efforts to 'modernise' the surroundings)
The Awakening of a Princess is undoubtedly very well written, with plenty of thoughtful descriptives that really set out the visuals in the scenes. Princess Katherine turns out to be a total badass (always here for this theme) who has a tormented back story, involving a number of plot twists and boy drama that she deals with while ruling a kingdom and being in the fray of battle - can we say boss queen?
The narrative and period setting is a little tricky to keep up with, and at times I was reading a 'mortal's' POV wondering where this was going and why; on that note, it was an interesting method to use writing from a less important character's POV, especially when that character doesn't know the ins and outs and back story - does it make them an unreliable narrator that they don't have all the information, or are they learning along with the reader themselves to provide an affinity with the reader?
All in all, it was well written and the characters had a nice range of personalities, but it did start to feel drawn out and slightly anticlimactic at times; it did also get confusing to see modern day features in a setting I would have taken to be olden timey (though the time passed is mentioned briefly and character efforts to 'modernise' the surroundings)
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Protected by the great walls of the city, the people of Labyrinth City pay no mind to the outside world, struggling as it is to survive whilst the monarchy rules in an ever growing chaotic way. Theo Baros is young and ready to make a life for himself - until he's assigned to labour on the city's walls like his father before him. Crushed by the mundaneness of his new life, Theo begins to hear murmurs; the royals are not what they seem and something is stirring outside the walls.
Increasingly drawn to the outside world, Theo begins to feel an inescapable yearning for freedom of the wilderness, risking more and more visits to the forests. Here he discovers that not only have the people been lied to about their oldest enemy and history, but there's something in Theo's bloodline that calls to him. The question is will it call him to freedom or to ruin?
The Labyrinth City touches on a range of real-world issues in a fantasy setting, the message being clear that not everything you're told is the truth, and you should seek out your own path when instinct tells you to. It's an archetypical story that utilises a character from mythology not generally seen in modern text. It highlights minotaur as the peaceful ones and shines a light on humans being the aggressors (we are, let's not deny it).
Somewhat slow to start with and then suddenly ramping up to 11, The Labyrinth City did have a somewhat abrupt and anticlimactic ending, though it was a nice change to see an ending with words instead of fists. There's lore scattered throughout and the visual descriptions are heavy, helping transport you to the world. Some ambiguous characters with ambiguous parting words - will we see a sequel? Keep an eye on H R Leigh to find out.
Thanks to @thenichereader for ARC access!
Increasingly drawn to the outside world, Theo begins to feel an inescapable yearning for freedom of the wilderness, risking more and more visits to the forests. Here he discovers that not only have the people been lied to about their oldest enemy and history, but there's something in Theo's bloodline that calls to him. The question is will it call him to freedom or to ruin?
The Labyrinth City touches on a range of real-world issues in a fantasy setting, the message being clear that not everything you're told is the truth, and you should seek out your own path when instinct tells you to. It's an archetypical story that utilises a character from mythology not generally seen in modern text. It highlights minotaur as the peaceful ones and shines a light on humans being the aggressors (we are, let's not deny it).
Somewhat slow to start with and then suddenly ramping up to 11, The Labyrinth City did have a somewhat abrupt and anticlimactic ending, though it was a nice change to see an ending with words instead of fists. There's lore scattered throughout and the visual descriptions are heavy, helping transport you to the world. Some ambiguous characters with ambiguous parting words - will we see a sequel? Keep an eye on H R Leigh to find out.
Thanks to @thenichereader for ARC access!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Raw and entirely unapologetic, So People Know It's Me is a fictional short story inspired by real accounts of young adolescents who spent time in the juvenile correctional centre in Nisida, Naples. Zeno narrates his experience in the detention centre through letters encouraged by his teacher; being brutally honest about the trauma for the other teenage boys, the drastic things he had to do outside to keep his mother and him alive, and his hopes for the future that grow in the lead up to a festive day release.
The narrative weaves from Zeno's unstructured story telling, almost blase when talking about violence, to the chaotic inner turmoil of someone who's still a child but sentenced to an adult's punishment. Francesca Benvenuto portrays him as the juvenile he truly is against the hardened criminal he was forced to become, peppering childlike imagination and hopes throughout distressing adult themes.
So People Know It's Me is an authentic look into an imprisoned teenager's life, calling into question whether we truly have choices in life to do the right thing or if survival overrides our moral compass no matter what.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dragons! Need I say more? Well I'm going to anyway.
Alex's life is carved into an iron-clad regime by her overbearing mother: if she's not at school, she's kept busy with activities, told not to speak to anyone else, and to never return to the woods she and her dad used to adventure in. Alex is desperate to escape the grip of her mother and structure, to go back to the wildness and magical stories her dad taught her. It's not long before she's breaking the rules and screaming for freedom in the woods.
Screaming tends to wake things up. Alex hasn't just stirred the magic of the forest, she's awoken something within herself, something with claws and teeth, flame and shadow. She's faced with the unbelievable truth - Alex is a dragon. It's not long before the mighty Oliphos is guiding her to her true self on the hidden island of Skralla, where she meets other wild dragon children in training, learns about the elite team of dragon warriors - the Skarren-Har - and discovers the power she wields from the dragon she's reluctant to release.
But Alex must learn to free her dragon; the deadly Drak Midna has hidden in the shadows for 3,000 years old, but the dragons sense he's on the move. He'll stop at nothing to have control of all slumbering dragonborns, and only Alex has the power to stop him. Can she face her fears and let go of everything, or will the world burn around her?
Entertaining from the outset, Dragonborn is an electrifying story for young readers. Struan Murray delves into the world of Skralla and its lore without it getting complicated or drawing from the main plot, and brings a variety of characters and real-world thinking to it. Murray writes in a way that doesn't over-simplify the themes and respects young readers to handle the topics of grief, self-discovery, and resilience, with comedic and fantasy elements keeping the story from becoming too serious.
Dragonborn follows the archetypical plot of a young fantasy story, and yet I didn't see the plot twists coming at the end (there's a real red herring!). An exciting and refreshing take on dragons and their place in the modern world, Dragonborn is a fiery new series for young fiction and Struan Murray is just warming up...
Alex's life is carved into an iron-clad regime by her overbearing mother: if she's not at school, she's kept busy with activities, told not to speak to anyone else, and to never return to the woods she and her dad used to adventure in. Alex is desperate to escape the grip of her mother and structure, to go back to the wildness and magical stories her dad taught her. It's not long before she's breaking the rules and screaming for freedom in the woods.
Screaming tends to wake things up. Alex hasn't just stirred the magic of the forest, she's awoken something within herself, something with claws and teeth, flame and shadow. She's faced with the unbelievable truth - Alex is a dragon. It's not long before the mighty Oliphos is guiding her to her true self on the hidden island of Skralla, where she meets other wild dragon children in training, learns about the elite team of dragon warriors - the Skarren-Har - and discovers the power she wields from the dragon she's reluctant to release.
But Alex must learn to free her dragon; the deadly Drak Midna has hidden in the shadows for 3,000 years old, but the dragons sense he's on the move. He'll stop at nothing to have control of all slumbering dragonborns, and only Alex has the power to stop him. Can she face her fears and let go of everything, or will the world burn around her?
Entertaining from the outset, Dragonborn is an electrifying story for young readers. Struan Murray delves into the world of Skralla and its lore without it getting complicated or drawing from the main plot, and brings a variety of characters and real-world thinking to it. Murray writes in a way that doesn't over-simplify the themes and respects young readers to handle the topics of grief, self-discovery, and resilience, with comedic and fantasy elements keeping the story from becoming too serious.
Dragonborn follows the archetypical plot of a young fantasy story, and yet I didn't see the plot twists coming at the end (there's a real red herring!). An exciting and refreshing take on dragons and their place in the modern world, Dragonborn is a fiery new series for young fiction and Struan Murray is just warming up...
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After surviving the Purging Trials and losing everything she loved, Paedyn Gray is forced to flee the kingdom of Ilya across the treacherous Scorch desert to the safe haven of Dor. But nowhere is truly safe. With a bounty on her head for murder and treason, Paedyn's days are numbered in the strange city. She resolves to survive Dor as she survived the slums of Ilya.
But a shadow looms over her, stalking her every footstep - relentlessly hunted by the vengeful King's Enforcer, Kai Azer, Paedyn may not be able to escape him or her conflicting feelings for him. Driven by duty, burning with desire, Kai won't stop until he finds her - whether he'll let her live or let his feelings consume him is still to be decided.
The second instalment of the Powerless series is quick from the off, finding Paedyn in her continual struggle to stay alive (seriously, the girl's been through enough, give her a day off). From an aloof, sharp-tongued fighter, the events of Powerless have left her a shell of her former self, enduring PTSD and questioning everything she ever knew. It's a turn for her character and brings a raw element to her, though she doesn't get enough time to address this - Reckless is set over a very short time frame, so we may see more healing in the third installment.
After an entire book of will they/won't theys (and yelling "just kiss!" at the pages), things ramped up to 11. Was I excited something had happened after all that slow burn? Hell yeah. Did it get a bit tiring how many threatening situations Paedyn and Kai were written into to move their love story along? A tad. The stakes were kept so high that the story waned, but I was still entertained enough to stay invested.
It may be full of romantasy tropes and more lingering stares than my cat looking at my dinner, but who doesn't love a cliched love story in the midst of an uprising or a bad boy turned good?
But a shadow looms over her, stalking her every footstep - relentlessly hunted by the vengeful King's Enforcer, Kai Azer, Paedyn may not be able to escape him or her conflicting feelings for him. Driven by duty, burning with desire, Kai won't stop until he finds her - whether he'll let her live or let his feelings consume him is still to be decided.
The second instalment of the Powerless series is quick from the off, finding Paedyn in her continual struggle to stay alive (seriously, the girl's been through enough, give her a day off). From an aloof, sharp-tongued fighter, the events of Powerless have left her a shell of her former self, enduring PTSD and questioning everything she ever knew. It's a turn for her character and brings a raw element to her, though she doesn't get enough time to address this - Reckless is set over a very short time frame, so we may see more healing in the third installment.
After an entire book of will they/won't theys (and yelling "just kiss!" at the pages), things ramped up to 11. Was I excited something had happened after all that slow burn? Hell yeah. Did it get a bit tiring how many threatening situations Paedyn and Kai were written into to move their love story along? A tad. The stakes were kept so high that the story waned, but I was still entertained enough to stay invested.
It may be full of romantasy tropes and more lingering stares than my cat looking at my dinner, but who doesn't love a cliched love story in the midst of an uprising or a bad boy turned good?
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The slowest slow burn that'll get hearts racing.
In the kingdom of Ilya, the people are separated not by class but by their special powers, granted to them after a plague swept through the nation. The Elites rule supreme while the Mundanes and Fatals live in the slums; as long as you have powers you're accepted in Ilya. But Ordinaries, those without powers, are a threat to the people of Ilya - those remaining in the kingdom are hunted down and put to death.
Paedyn Gray has survived the slums with pluck, her wits, thieving, and her childhood training from the father she lost five years ago, and with the help of her orphaned friend Adena. On the surface, she appears as a Mundane Psychic, seemingly able to read a person's mind. In truth, Paedyn is an Ordinary - if the secret of being powerless gets out it could spell death for her.
On what should have been a routine thievery, Paedyn finds herself face to face with a captivating stranger; when he's attacked, she unthinkingly steps in to save his life, unaware that she's defended Kai Azer, a prince of Ilya and the future Enforcer to the king, whose sole purpose is to hunt down Ordinaries and other criminals operating against the ruthless king.
This one moment of justice starts a chain reaction for Paedyn - from spending her life in the shadows to protect her Ordinary life, she's thrust into the limelight as part of the Purging Trials, a series of brutal trials designed to test the powers of its contestants for the chance of glory. Not only is she now under scrutiny from the kingdom, she's under the hypnotic gaze of Kai, his equally infatuated brother, Kitt, and the cruel King and his Elite guard. Can she keep up the facade of her Psychic powers and survive the trials, or will her bitter fight for justice and growing feelings for Kai jeopardise her entire existence?
For fans of The Hunger Games, Fourth Wing, and Divergent, Powerless was entertaining and adventurous from the first page, immersing you in a world of power and magic whilst also conveying the claustrophobic isolation of the kingdom and its slums from the rest of the land Powerless is set in. The dialogue is easy and quick-witted between all the characters, showing everyone's level of confidence and snark - Paedyn and Kai in particular are quick with everyone they come across due to their circumstances, both learning from young ages to wear masks over their emotions in order to survive.
It may be full of romantasy tropes, but Roberts writes them in a way that feels entertaining and not one big cliche. The characters are each unique in their characters, back stories, and motivations for how they live - there are characters to like with minimal page time and other characters to dislike because they're a***holes for the sake of it (personally, I love a character that's evil for funsies).
I'm more inclined to slow burn romances than spicy flings, and Powerless did not disappoint. Stolen glances, sparring and dancing, daggers held to throats while they gaze into each others eyes, and still not a single kiss throughout - and yes, I was yelling "for the love of god, when?!" I've never been so invested in an enemies-to-lovers slow burn in the midst of a gameshow battle and toppling of a regime. Powerless really had power over me and could not make me put it down!
In the kingdom of Ilya, the people are separated not by class but by their special powers, granted to them after a plague swept through the nation. The Elites rule supreme while the Mundanes and Fatals live in the slums; as long as you have powers you're accepted in Ilya. But Ordinaries, those without powers, are a threat to the people of Ilya - those remaining in the kingdom are hunted down and put to death.
Paedyn Gray has survived the slums with pluck, her wits, thieving, and her childhood training from the father she lost five years ago, and with the help of her orphaned friend Adena. On the surface, she appears as a Mundane Psychic, seemingly able to read a person's mind. In truth, Paedyn is an Ordinary - if the secret of being powerless gets out it could spell death for her.
On what should have been a routine thievery, Paedyn finds herself face to face with a captivating stranger; when he's attacked, she unthinkingly steps in to save his life, unaware that she's defended Kai Azer, a prince of Ilya and the future Enforcer to the king, whose sole purpose is to hunt down Ordinaries and other criminals operating against the ruthless king.
This one moment of justice starts a chain reaction for Paedyn - from spending her life in the shadows to protect her Ordinary life, she's thrust into the limelight as part of the Purging Trials, a series of brutal trials designed to test the powers of its contestants for the chance of glory. Not only is she now under scrutiny from the kingdom, she's under the hypnotic gaze of Kai, his equally infatuated brother, Kitt, and the cruel King and his Elite guard. Can she keep up the facade of her Psychic powers and survive the trials, or will her bitter fight for justice and growing feelings for Kai jeopardise her entire existence?
For fans of The Hunger Games, Fourth Wing, and Divergent, Powerless was entertaining and adventurous from the first page, immersing you in a world of power and magic whilst also conveying the claustrophobic isolation of the kingdom and its slums from the rest of the land Powerless is set in. The dialogue is easy and quick-witted between all the characters, showing everyone's level of confidence and snark - Paedyn and Kai in particular are quick with everyone they come across due to their circumstances, both learning from young ages to wear masks over their emotions in order to survive.
It may be full of romantasy tropes, but Roberts writes them in a way that feels entertaining and not one big cliche. The characters are each unique in their characters, back stories, and motivations for how they live - there are characters to like with minimal page time and other characters to dislike because they're a***holes for the sake of it (personally, I love a character that's evil for funsies).
I'm more inclined to slow burn romances than spicy flings, and Powerless did not disappoint. Stolen glances, sparring and dancing, daggers held to throats while they gaze into each others eyes, and still not a single kiss throughout - and yes, I was yelling "for the love of god, when?!" I've never been so invested in an enemies-to-lovers slow burn in the midst of a gameshow battle and toppling of a regime. Powerless really had power over me and could not make me put it down!
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ellena has hit rock bottom with her jailed ex-husband, her job as an EMT, and is foreclosing on her family home. When she reluctantly agrees to a camping trip with her pampered step-sister "Button", it's a last-ditch effort to find herself again and be at one with nature. Heading into the wilderness, Ellena holds onto a shred of hope that things can't get worse - that is until nuclear war breaks out, atomic bombs strike the Georgian wilderness, and Ellena suddenly finds herself in a desperate struggle to keep herself, Button, and other survivors alive as long as possible with almost no survival tools.
As the fallout settles in the outside wasteland, the mismatched group deal with their own emotional and personal fallouts, unable to leave the safety of an RV lest they risk radiation or the aggressive wildlife. Can everyone band together to survive the fallout, and can Ellena prove to herself that may be down but not out?
A fast-paced, punchy read where everything that could go wrong does exactly that, leaving you wondering what would you do in the same situation. Ellena evokes sympathy as she tries to do her best by everyone whilst continuously being too hard on herself, proving herself useful time and time again. The characters all have contrasting personalities that make their rag-tag team more interesting, though it would have been more enjoyable to see some substantial character development and see everyone step up in various scenarios, rather than leaving it to Ellena to save the day repeatedly.
The scenes are dramatic and full of action, however they do become layered on top of each other and become a little desensitizing, leaving you wondering what more can these survivors go through before they throw in the towel - though you could argue this is a shrewd perspective on how survivor's instinct keeps humans moving forward, even at the end of the world.
It's enjoyable as a quick read for fans of action, and the author puts a lot of emphasis on the scenery making it easier to visualise the Georgian landscape and aftermath of the nuclear fallout - Fallout in Georgia has great potential as a stand-alone story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Cork Place Press for giving access to Fallout in Georgia!
As the fallout settles in the outside wasteland, the mismatched group deal with their own emotional and personal fallouts, unable to leave the safety of an RV lest they risk radiation or the aggressive wildlife. Can everyone band together to survive the fallout, and can Ellena prove to herself that may be down but not out?
A fast-paced, punchy read where everything that could go wrong does exactly that, leaving you wondering what would you do in the same situation. Ellena evokes sympathy as she tries to do her best by everyone whilst continuously being too hard on herself, proving herself useful time and time again. The characters all have contrasting personalities that make their rag-tag team more interesting, though it would have been more enjoyable to see some substantial character development and see everyone step up in various scenarios, rather than leaving it to Ellena to save the day repeatedly.
The scenes are dramatic and full of action, however they do become layered on top of each other and become a little desensitizing, leaving you wondering what more can these survivors go through before they throw in the towel - though you could argue this is a shrewd perspective on how survivor's instinct keeps humans moving forward, even at the end of the world.
It's enjoyable as a quick read for fans of action, and the author puts a lot of emphasis on the scenery making it easier to visualise the Georgian landscape and aftermath of the nuclear fallout - Fallout in Georgia has great potential as a stand-alone story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Cork Place Press for giving access to Fallout in Georgia!
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
TW: domestic abuse
Murder may be wrong, but sometimes it's necessary...
With a narrative focus on absurdity and humour in a story about committing murder (or not) and getting away with it, The Bandit Queens has a diverse range of characters with individual motives and a final message of women supporting women.
After her abusive husband 'disappeared' 5 years ago, Geeta has been ostracized by her rural village in India, who are convinced she murdered him and will come for the villagers next as a folklore 'churel'. Geeta welcomes the isolation and focuses on her goal of saving for a fridge, a sign of luxury in her village, and tells herself she's happy being left alone - that is until her neighbour Farah asks for her help to get rid of her abusive husband too. After all, it's not the first time Geeta's murdered someone...right?
Before she can think twice, Geeta has been drawn into the murders of several husbands, resulting in the freedom of their wives (Farah and Preity), and suddenly finds herself socialising more than she'd like, with a childhood friend-to enemy-to tentative friend again, Saloni, a soft tempered man who makes her laugh, Karem, and surprisingly a dog, Bandit.
With each new wife's request that they get rid of their husbands, Geeta must play up to the other women's expectations that she is an experienced murderess - except she didn't kill her husband, and she waits in fear for his return.
While slow to get into the real plot-drive and a few detours that seemed unnecessary at first, the diversity of characters and how their histories link together made each person interesting and fun to read, showing they have ambitions in their lives that aren't wrapped solely around them being parents, a topic very prevalent in the book of parenthood being the ultimate goal in life and to be childless is to be unfulfilled.
The book also creates conversation around the caste system and how even the nicest, most hard-working and generous people won't be welcomed by the village simply because of their religion, upbringing, or occupation - a sentiment echoed in every culture around the world, but with different treatment of those 'lower' than.
The different characterisations of each woman was fascinating and really hit home that just because women believe they should support each other in a patriarchal society it doesn't mean they won't throw each under a bus to protect themselves first. Ultimately, they're all girl's girls, albeit some more reluctantly than others.
A fun read with lots of character development (including a devastating chapter of regression until they see the truth), The Bandit Queens is definitely worth reading.
Murder may be wrong, but sometimes it's necessary...
With a narrative focus on absurdity and humour in a story about committing murder (or not) and getting away with it, The Bandit Queens has a diverse range of characters with individual motives and a final message of women supporting women.
After her abusive husband 'disappeared' 5 years ago, Geeta has been ostracized by her rural village in India, who are convinced she murdered him and will come for the villagers next as a folklore 'churel'. Geeta welcomes the isolation and focuses on her goal of saving for a fridge, a sign of luxury in her village, and tells herself she's happy being left alone - that is until her neighbour Farah asks for her help to get rid of her abusive husband too. After all, it's not the first time Geeta's murdered someone...right?
Before she can think twice, Geeta has been drawn into the murders of several husbands, resulting in the freedom of their wives (Farah and Preity), and suddenly finds herself socialising more than she'd like, with a childhood friend-to enemy-to tentative friend again, Saloni, a soft tempered man who makes her laugh, Karem, and surprisingly a dog, Bandit.
With each new wife's request that they get rid of their husbands, Geeta must play up to the other women's expectations that she is an experienced murderess - except she didn't kill her husband, and she waits in fear for his return.
While slow to get into the real plot-drive and a few detours that seemed unnecessary at first, the diversity of characters and how their histories link together made each person interesting and fun to read, showing they have ambitions in their lives that aren't wrapped solely around them being parents, a topic very prevalent in the book of parenthood being the ultimate goal in life and to be childless is to be unfulfilled.
The book also creates conversation around the caste system and how even the nicest, most hard-working and generous people won't be welcomed by the village simply because of their religion, upbringing, or occupation - a sentiment echoed in every culture around the world, but with different treatment of those 'lower' than.
The different characterisations of each woman was fascinating and really hit home that just because women believe they should support each other in a patriarchal society it doesn't mean they won't throw each under a bus to protect themselves first. Ultimately, they're all girl's girls, albeit some more reluctantly than others.
A fun read with lots of character development (including a devastating chapter of regression until they see the truth), The Bandit Queens is definitely worth reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who would have thought a fig tree's perspective of history would be such an emotional rollercoaster?
This is set primarily over several decades (1970s-2010s), but the harrowing history of the Cypriot people weaves throughout the tale to signify that our pasts forge our present and future selves.
The young protagonist Ada has been sheltered from the tragic events her parents survived during the Cyprus arpetheid and managed to escape from; she feels disconnected from her past whilst struggling to know who she is now, coping with the death of her Turkish mother a year prior and her Greek father's grief since.
After an incident at school, her estranged aunt introduces a reluctant Ada to her mother's culture and slowly feeds Ada stories of her parents and life in Cyprus at a time of great upheaval. By the end, Ada has more respect for both her parents histories and the sorrows they were forced to share, and more respect for herself and who she will become.
This isn't a typical boy-meets-girl story, but an account that spans generations of war, grief, sorrow, love, courage, and how nature is always silently watching man's downfall. Unable to prevent the worst acts or protect themselves, nature instead passes snippets of stories to each other and on to their descendants, from kaleidescopes of butterflies doomed to only live a year to proud fig and carob trees telling seedlings.
The fig tree remembers everything because history must be remembered, and it can only hope that one day humans will understand this too.
This is set primarily over several decades (1970s-2010s), but the harrowing history of the Cypriot people weaves throughout the tale to signify that our pasts forge our present and future selves.
The young protagonist Ada has been sheltered from the tragic events her parents survived during the Cyprus arpetheid and managed to escape from; she feels disconnected from her past whilst struggling to know who she is now, coping with the death of her Turkish mother a year prior and her Greek father's grief since.
After an incident at school, her estranged aunt introduces a reluctant Ada to her mother's culture and slowly feeds Ada stories of her parents and life in Cyprus at a time of great upheaval. By the end, Ada has more respect for both her parents histories and the sorrows they were forced to share, and more respect for herself and who she will become.
This isn't a typical boy-meets-girl story, but an account that spans generations of war, grief, sorrow, love, courage, and how nature is always silently watching man's downfall. Unable to prevent the worst acts or protect themselves, nature instead passes snippets of stories to each other and on to their descendants, from kaleidescopes of butterflies doomed to only live a year to proud fig and carob trees telling seedlings.
The fig tree remembers everything because history must be remembered, and it can only hope that one day humans will understand this too.