I really enjoyed this historical fiction read with a few hints of the fantastical. Shelly Parker Chan created such a unique character with the main character (whose name, as usual, I have forgotten.) I also really appreciated the complex relationships and their dynamics that she explored. I hope that the sequel and conclusion to the duology will buck the trend of my recent experiences with duology conclusions.
Broome created quite a unique dynamic with this memoir that I wish I could have enjoyed more. Unfortunately, Broome included so many people, many of them with multiple names, that made it rather difficult to follow the through-line. I do not regret my read but wish that I had had a better experience.
Full transparency: On top of the length of time between reading this book and writing the review, I read the book in a highly distracted head space for nearly the entire time. I remember enjoying the read primarily for the time period as well as some of the quirky characters that make up the cast. As far as the murder mystery goes, I remember none of the details. Thankfully, I have an ALC of book 2 which I plan to read with far more intention to give the author and the series a fair chance.
I discovered after completing this read that this author also wrote Goddess of the River and Kaikayi, two Indian myth retellings that I have read to middling success. (I mildly enjoyed her debut novel and tolerated her sophomore work.) I’m glad that I did not make that connection until afterwards. In this book, Patel created a fully immersive alternate history of India wherein the independence movements that succeeded in the “real” world
failed in this alternate world, prolonging India’s subjugation to British colonial power. The main character finds herself gradually moving into the role of a freedom fighter while grappling with the ramifications of past decisions – both hers and her father’s – as well as grappling with her current motivations and how they affect the world around her. This book is hands down my favorite from Patel. I hope she continues in this vein in her future works.
I never would have picked this up if it had not come in the first book box I ever subscribed to (and long since cancelled.) This dual POV, dual timeline story chronicles the lives of a mother and daughter. The mother, originally from Hong Kong, finds herself in England with her plans having fallen apart and ends up
marrying a man with a compulsive gambling problem. The daughter, who has long struggled with her mental health, travels back to Hong Kong to receive an unexpected inheritance from a – to her – complete stranger. I really enjoyed this heavily character driven story. Every time I read a book like this, I’m reminded that I really need to pick up more literary fiction works like this.
Hayden does a phenomenal job chronicling the 2015 migrant crisis in the Mediterranean driven by the first hand accounts communicated to her personally by the migrants themselves, some of them actively attempting the perilous crossing. It’s a challenging read but well-written and something more people need to read.
