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parchmentdreams's reviews
35 reviews
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Poster Girl by Veronica Roth
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Veronica Roth's Poster Girl is the first book I've read by the author, and what a book! Roth's adult dystopian novel is set in a post-surveillance society, featuring the literal "poster girl" of the previous regime - Sonya Kantor.
We follow Sonya as she lives in the Aperture, a specially designed prison for the remnants of the Delegation. Poster Girl is the story of one young woman as she struggles to find herself - her identity and her role in life - in a society that has moved on without her. The novel cleverly and gently discusses topics such as surveillance and digital identities, suicide, societal and economic disparities, and how it feels to live in a world which no longer makes sense.
Roth's writing lends itself very well to film adaptation, in the way the author build us a world and almost places us inside it right alongside the main character. The lead herself, Sonya, had the potential to be an incredible unlikeable character, and while she was certainly a naive teen, as a woman her character is strong yet sensitive. I loved that Sonya was able to look back on the mistakes she had made as a child (and even as an adult) and recognise and make an effort to grow from those errors. She wasn't whiny or self-absorbed as a lot of characters in this sort of setting end up coming across, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Alexander.
Overall, this was a very well written and engaging novel, about a young woman struggling to find and accept who she is in a post-surveillance world that has moved on without her. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dystopian or speculative fiction, with sci-fi elements and in depth characters.
"She's a speck of dust here, unobserved and unremarked upon. Everywhere, in every direction, is emptiness. Everywhere, in every direction, is freedom."
We follow Sonya as she lives in the Aperture, a specially designed prison for the remnants of the Delegation. Poster Girl is the story of one young woman as she struggles to find herself - her identity and her role in life - in a society that has moved on without her. The novel cleverly and gently discusses topics such as surveillance and digital identities, suicide, societal and economic disparities, and how it feels to live in a world which no longer makes sense.
Roth's writing lends itself very well to film adaptation, in the way the author build us a world and almost places us inside it right alongside the main character. The lead herself, Sonya, had the potential to be an incredible unlikeable character, and while she was certainly a naive teen, as a woman her character is strong yet sensitive. I loved that Sonya was able to look back on the mistakes she had made as a child (and even as an adult) and recognise and make an effort to grow from those errors. She wasn't whiny or self-absorbed as a lot of characters in this sort of setting end up coming across, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Alexander.
Overall, this was a very well written and engaging novel, about a young woman struggling to find and accept who she is in a post-surveillance world that has moved on without her. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dystopian or speculative fiction, with sci-fi elements and in depth characters.
"She's a speck of dust here, unobserved and unremarked upon. Everywhere, in every direction, is emptiness. Everywhere, in every direction, is freedom."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Ten Thousand Stitches had such an interesting premise, I was excited to pick it up to read. However it has pacing issues, was not engaging, and the main character was unlikeable. I got 37% of the way through before I completely lost interest, and as such will not be giving a full review.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Overview
Mika Moon is one of twenty-odd known witches in the UK, twenty-odd orphaned women who live solitary lives in accordance with the Rules - afterall, dangerous things happen when witches gather. But when Mika receives a message online requesting her help tutoring three young witches, Mika steps into a house unlike any other, and finds herself a home.
What I Liked
I loved all of the characters in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. From the three witch girls - Rosetta, Teracotta, and Altamira - to every odd member of the Nowhere House family; Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and especially Circe. Afterall, people really didn’t deserve dogs.
The plot was light enough to allow us to focus on the characters and their development, but not so light that you forgot it was there. It allowed for the progression of the story to feel natural, with the exception of the ending that felt a little rushed.
I adored the slowbuild between Jamie and Mika. Grumpy x Sunshine seems to be swiftly becoming one of my favourite romance tropes, and Mandanna executed it perfectly in this book! With Jamie very slowly losing all the reasons he told himself he couldn’t like Mika, and Mika slowly finding herself able to open up to this prickly yet kind man, their relationship felt as natural as magic.
What I Didn’t Like
The ending felt a little rushed, but more in that a lot of events happened in the last few chapters, rather than it was poorly crammed in together.
I also found myself disliking Primrose, though we learn throughout the book exactly why she is the way that she is. I also found myself comparing her to Dumbldore in her need to do things for the “Greater Good” and I disliked that. However, she was a necessary character for the plot and I enjoyed her role overall.
Other Impressions
This story was very whimsical, yet down to earth and exactly what I would imagine a modern day witch to be like if magic was real. The magic in the world felt natural, and having a main character that lived and breathed magic really helped bring that to life. Overall I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good slowbuild romance, found family, and the magic of life.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking”
Overview
“Don’t get soppy yet, Ian Kubo-Hawthorn… This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it’s going to be a absolute fucking disaster.”
Mika Moon is one of twenty-odd known witches in the UK, twenty-odd orphaned women who live solitary lives in accordance with the Rules - afterall, dangerous things happen when witches gather. But when Mika receives a message online requesting her help tutoring three young witches, Mika steps into a house unlike any other, and finds herself a home.
What I Liked
“…when someone leaves, all you can do is leave a window open for them so that one day, if they choose, they can come back.”
I loved all of the characters in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. From the three witch girls - Rosetta, Teracotta, and Altamira - to every odd member of the Nowhere House family; Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and especially Circe. Afterall, people really didn’t deserve dogs.
The plot was light enough to allow us to focus on the characters and their development, but not so light that you forgot it was there. It allowed for the progression of the story to feel natural, with the exception of the ending that felt a little rushed.
I adored the slowbuild between Jamie and Mika. Grumpy x Sunshine seems to be swiftly becoming one of my favourite romance tropes, and Mandanna executed it perfectly in this book! With Jamie very slowly losing all the reasons he told himself he couldn’t like Mika, and Mika slowly finding herself able to open up to this prickly yet kind man, their relationship felt as natural as magic.
What I Didn’t Like
“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong… sometimes we need to make that place.”
The ending felt a little rushed, but more in that a lot of events happened in the last few chapters, rather than it was poorly crammed in together.
I also found myself disliking Primrose, though we learn throughout the book exactly why she is the way that she is. I also found myself comparing her to Dumbldore in her need to do things for the “Greater Good” and I disliked that. However, she was a necessary character for the plot and I enjoyed her role overall.
Other Impressions
“Alone is how-” “-is how we survive, yes… I can’t say whether that’s true or not, but one thing I do know, Primrose, is that alone is not how we live.”
This story was very whimsical, yet down to earth and exactly what I would imagine a modern day witch to be like if magic was real. The magic in the world felt natural, and having a main character that lived and breathed magic really helped bring that to life. Overall I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good slowbuild romance, found family, and the magic of life.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
Lonely Castle In The Mirror is a character driven story of 7 junior high students that have chosen - for their own reasons - not to attend regular school. Some still attend classes, others barely leave their rooms. Our main character Kokoro, is one such student. After some traumatising clashes with her classmates soon after starting junior high, Kokoro barely leaves her room except to eat. When her mirror starts glowing one day, she touches it and is dragged into a castle ruled over by the Wolf Queen.
Kokoro and her 6 fellow students are given the opportunity to have one wish granted if they can find the Key to the Wishing Room, however they are only allowed to visit the castle between 9am and 5pm… and only one wish will be granted.
I really enjoyed the premise of Lonely Castle In The Mirror, and the development of the characters throughout the novel. Kokoro was a relatable and likeable character, and the group of “Little Red Riding Hoods” all had their own unique personalities and stories. I loved watching them all grow to trust and befriend each other, even though they struggled to find friends in their own realities.
The pacing of the novel was a bit off, it was slow for the first 60% then rushed through the end. This worked well with the plot and allowed for a large amount of character development, however it did tend to drag a bit over the first half.
While I did guess some of the twists, the main one that I didn’t get was the identity of the Wolf Queen, and I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn’t expecting for us to actually see the Wolf Queen’s identity, and the girl behind the mask was surprising yet believable.
Overall I really enjoyed reading Lonely Castle In The Mirror and would rate it a 3.5/5. If you love reading about fairytales, friendships, and finding the courage to be yourself, then you’ll enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
bullying, physical assault, sexual assault (mentioned), mental health, depression, anxiety, suicide (mentioned), violence, friendship, found family, mystery, absent parents, character death, hospitals
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The day was fast approaching, the key was still not found, and no wish had been granted. But Kokoro was fine about it. Memories were not the only thing she’d take away from here.
Overview
Lonely Castle In The Mirror is a character driven story of 7 junior high students that have chosen - for their own reasons - not to attend regular school. Some still attend classes, others barely leave their rooms. Our main character Kokoro, is one such student. After some traumatising clashes with her classmates soon after starting junior high, Kokoro barely leaves her room except to eat. When her mirror starts glowing one day, she touches it and is dragged into a castle ruled over by the Wolf Queen.
Kokoro and her 6 fellow students are given the opportunity to have one wish granted if they can find the Key to the Wishing Room, however they are only allowed to visit the castle between 9am and 5pm… and only one wish will be granted.
What I Liked
I really enjoyed the premise of Lonely Castle In The Mirror, and the development of the characters throughout the novel. Kokoro was a relatable and likeable character, and the group of “Little Red Riding Hoods” all had their own unique personalities and stories. I loved watching them all grow to trust and befriend each other, even though they struggled to find friends in their own realities.
What I Didn’t Like
The pacing of the novel was a bit off, it was slow for the first 60% then rushed through the end. This worked well with the plot and allowed for a large amount of character development, however it did tend to drag a bit over the first half.
Other Impressions
While I did guess some of the twists, the main one that I didn’t get was the identity of the Wolf Queen, and I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn’t expecting for us to actually see the Wolf Queen’s identity, and the girl behind the mask was surprising yet believable.
Overall I really enjoyed reading Lonely Castle In The Mirror and would rate it a 3.5/5. If you love reading about fairytales, friendships, and finding the courage to be yourself, then you’ll enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Tags
bullying, physical assault, sexual assault (mentioned), mental health, depression, anxiety, suicide (mentioned), violence, friendship, found family, mystery, absent parents, character death, hospitals
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Overview
Hart and Mercy live in a world where trapped souls come back to life by inhabiting the deceased, and can only be removed by destroying the appendix of the person or creature it is inhabiting. Hart is a Marshal, one who patrols the misty world of Tanria where wandering souls are trapped. Mercy is the eldest daughter of one of the border town undertakers, and inheritor of the family business. But ever since their first meeting, Hart and Mercy have been trapped in a mutual hate-hate relationship - with the exception of Mercy’s dog Leonard.
After a mysterious letter - penned but not signed by Hart himself - gets delivered to Mercy, a friendship is struck. But can the budding romance survive the hardest hurdle of any distance relationship - meeting face-to-face?
What I Liked
I absolutely loved both Hart and Mercy! Their characters are fun and relatable, though their actions can be frustrating at times. I loved the dynamic between Mercy and her family, and Hart and Duckers, not to mention Leonard! And the banter, so much banter!
I also really liked the world they were in. I really like Megan’s fantasy worlds and how there is always an element of religion and philosophy. It was really interesting how there were demigod characters (Hart and Alma) but the story focused more on their mortality and human traits while using the concept of immortality as a character development device.
In regards to the sex scenes (yes, there were multiple!), can we please take a moment to appreciate the lack of cruingey euphemisms (Maas I’m looking at you)! Not a single velvet-wrapped steel in sight, thank goodness! Also the face that all throughout the book, both Hart and Mercy were ogling the other. We love equal ogling here!
What I Didn’t Like
The worldbuilding was a bit confusing at the start, with a lot of terminology that was never really explained properly. It wasn’t until there was a description of an “autoduck” driving on an actual road that I realised it was supposed to be a car like vehicle not a boat! And how an equimaris differed from a regular horse wasn’t really clarified until much later in the book.
There were also a few moments as mentioned earlier that I found myself frustrated with both Hart and Mercy. I find the miscommunication trope incredibly irksome and as our protagonists were both prone to jumping to conclusions, I found myself getting a bit frustrated at them. On the whole though, it worked well to help develop their relationship and was used well as a device, so I’m not too bothered by it.
Other Impressions
Overall I loved this fun, heartbreaking tale of love, lonliness, friendship and family. Of how hard it can be to do the right thing, and how easy it is to get caught up in our misconceptions of others. I loved that the characters were fully grown adults, showing that it’s okay not to have your life all sorted out by your 30s. But with friends, family, and furbabies, everything will turn out alright.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Most people start with hello.”
Overview
Hart and Mercy live in a world where trapped souls come back to life by inhabiting the deceased, and can only be removed by destroying the appendix of the person or creature it is inhabiting. Hart is a Marshal, one who patrols the misty world of Tanria where wandering souls are trapped. Mercy is the eldest daughter of one of the border town undertakers, and inheritor of the family business. But ever since their first meeting, Hart and Mercy have been trapped in a mutual hate-hate relationship - with the exception of Mercy’s dog Leonard.
After a mysterious letter - penned but not signed by Hart himself - gets delivered to Mercy, a friendship is struck. But can the budding romance survive the hardest hurdle of any distance relationship - meeting face-to-face?
What I Liked
I absolutely loved both Hart and Mercy! Their characters are fun and relatable, though their actions can be frustrating at times. I loved the dynamic between Mercy and her family, and Hart and Duckers, not to mention Leonard! And the banter, so much banter!
I also really liked the world they were in. I really like Megan’s fantasy worlds and how there is always an element of religion and philosophy. It was really interesting how there were demigod characters (Hart and Alma) but the story focused more on their mortality and human traits while using the concept of immortality as a character development device.
In regards to the sex scenes (yes, there were multiple!), can we please take a moment to appreciate the lack of cruingey euphemisms (Maas I’m looking at you)! Not a single velvet-wrapped steel in sight, thank goodness! Also the face that all throughout the book, both Hart and Mercy were ogling the other. We love equal ogling here!
“I notice all boobs, regardless of their owners.”
What I Didn’t Like
The worldbuilding was a bit confusing at the start, with a lot of terminology that was never really explained properly. It wasn’t until there was a description of an “autoduck” driving on an actual road that I realised it was supposed to be a car like vehicle not a boat! And how an equimaris differed from a regular horse wasn’t really clarified until much later in the book.
There were also a few moments as mentioned earlier that I found myself frustrated with both Hart and Mercy. I find the miscommunication trope incredibly irksome and as our protagonists were both prone to jumping to conclusions, I found myself getting a bit frustrated at them. On the whole though, it worked well to help develop their relationship and was used well as a device, so I’m not too bothered by it.
“If people can’t remember gods, think how easily forgotten any of us are.”
Other Impressions
Overall I loved this fun, heartbreaking tale of love, lonliness, friendship and family. Of how hard it can be to do the right thing, and how easy it is to get caught up in our misconceptions of others. I loved that the characters were fully grown adults, showing that it’s okay not to have your life all sorted out by your 30s. But with friends, family, and furbabies, everything will turn out alright.
“For the first time in a long, long while, he wasn’t alone.”
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
Overview
When Ning’s mother is killed and her sister is gravely ill from poisoned tea, Ning decides to enter the competition to become the court shennong-shi and use the favour the Emperor will grant to save her sister. However when she gets to the capital Ning is embroiled in rumours of rebellion, and struggles against the discrimination she faces.
What I Liked
I love Ning and the strength of her character! I loved seeing her develop and make friendships throughout the competition, and her dynamic with Kang is fantastic.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the world-building. The magic system is fascinating, and I love how it is all linked to tea - as a tea drinker myself, it was really interesting to find just how many plants and brews I recognised! The writing style is very descriptive and lyrical without being overly flowery or verbose. It reads like a fairytale, and reminds me a lot of Daughter of the Moon Goddess but with a faster pace.
The main characters were all well developed, and the plot flowed well. The pacing was consistent and I never found myself getting bored or lost.
What I Didn’t Like
Nothing of the plot or writing, but the characters… lets just say that Kang’s father needs to be stopped… permanently!
Oh, and the ending. What a brutal cliffhanger! Great ending, but I don’t want to wait months until I can read the sequel haha
Other Impressions
Overall, I absolutely loved A Magic Steeped In Poison! It swept me away into this world brimming with mystery and magic, and I felt like I was immersed the whole time. It also made me want tea, so if you’re a tea lover, I highly recommend! Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Axie Oh.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“The more you ask of the magic, the more it takes, either from the one who casts or the one receives.”
Overview
When Ning’s mother is killed and her sister is gravely ill from poisoned tea, Ning decides to enter the competition to become the court shennong-shi and use the favour the Emperor will grant to save her sister. However when she gets to the capital Ning is embroiled in rumours of rebellion, and struggles against the discrimination she faces.
What I Liked
I love Ning and the strength of her character! I loved seeing her develop and make friendships throughout the competition, and her dynamic with Kang is fantastic.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the world-building. The magic system is fascinating, and I love how it is all linked to tea - as a tea drinker myself, it was really interesting to find just how many plants and brews I recognised! The writing style is very descriptive and lyrical without being overly flowery or verbose. It reads like a fairytale, and reminds me a lot of Daughter of the Moon Goddess but with a faster pace.
The main characters were all well developed, and the plot flowed well. The pacing was consistent and I never found myself getting bored or lost.
What I Didn’t Like
Nothing of the plot or writing, but the characters… lets just say that Kang’s father needs to be stopped… permanently!
Oh, and the ending. What a brutal cliffhanger! Great ending, but I don’t want to wait months until I can read the sequel haha
Other Impressions
Overall, I absolutely loved A Magic Steeped In Poison! It swept me away into this world brimming with mystery and magic, and I felt like I was immersed the whole time. It also made me want tea, so if you’re a tea lover, I highly recommend! Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Axie Oh.
The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed The Drowned Woods. I absolutely devoured it in about 3 hours, and it was non-stop from start to finish. The pacing was excellent, the characters likeable, and the plot was interesting. The author integrated world building into the story very well, it never felt like there was information being dumped or things done for the sake of world building.
I enjoyed the short storytelling sections at the start of each part. It gave the whole book a fairytale vibe, as if we were being told the story around a campfire. It didn’t feel out of place at all, and flowed into the narrative very smoothly.
There were enough twists and turns and reveals to keep the reader engaged, and evoked emotions on behalf of the characters - pity for Fane as he was trapped by his own unwitting bargain, anger and pride on behalf of Mer, sadness near the end for the loss the characters went through. I almost cried when Mer faced the waves near the end. When she stood up and chose her path.
If you are looking for a novel that is part heist, part fairytale, and fully enrapturing, then The Drowned Woods is the book for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm going to preface this review with the fact that this is the first Susan Dennard book I've read, though the Witchlands series has been on my radar for a while now. I dove into The Luminaries not knowing what to expect, and came out of it NEEDING the sequel... it's terrible knowing I'll be waiting for quite a while, as The Luminaries doesn't release until November 8th!
The main character, Winnie, along with her mother and older brother, are outcasts from The Luminaries. We first meet Winnie as she is on corpse duty - a task given to the teenage members of the Luminary clans before they attempt the Hunter trials. The story is told through her eyes as she navigates being rejected by her extended family and friends, all because of her father's betrayal.
Winnie is a very lovable and relatable character, and I especially appreciate her anger towards the other clan members, and her reluctance to open herself to some of the girls who don't care that she is an outcast. I enjoyed seeing Winnie's character develop over the week or so that the novel covers, and I can't wait to see more of her interactions with Jay!
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed The Luminaries! It had a bit of a slow start and I do have some questions about the world building, but I'm looking forward to the sequel and hopefully having some of my theories proven (or disproved!).
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
"You either trust the forest or you dont, Winnie."
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm going to preface this review with the fact that this is the first Susan Dennard book I've read, though the Witchlands series has been on my radar for a while now. I dove into The Luminaries not knowing what to expect, and came out of it NEEDING the sequel... it's terrible knowing I'll be waiting for quite a while, as The Luminaries doesn't release until November 8th!
The main character, Winnie, along with her mother and older brother, are outcasts from The Luminaries. We first meet Winnie as she is on corpse duty - a task given to the teenage members of the Luminary clans before they attempt the Hunter trials. The story is told through her eyes as she navigates being rejected by her extended family and friends, all because of her father's betrayal.
Winnie is a very lovable and relatable character, and I especially appreciate her anger towards the other clan members, and her reluctance to open herself to some of the girls who don't care that she is an outcast. I enjoyed seeing Winnie's character develop over the week or so that the novel covers, and I can't wait to see more of her interactions with Jay!
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed The Luminaries! It had a bit of a slow start and I do have some questions about the world building, but I'm looking forward to the sequel and hopefully having some of my theories proven (or disproved!).
"Never surprise a nightmare..."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence