Ward has absolutely gorgeous writing. I did not expect her to give the mom a point of view as well. She handled that with care and clearly established the distinctions between the two narrators. Ward never has easy topics in her books so be forewarned but the writing is heartfelt and profound.
I had a feeling from the moment I pulled this book out of the package that I would probably not like the book. (I received it as one of the options in a book subscription that I cancelled a couple years ago.) I know that the saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover” but in this case – and in many cases – the cover embodies the text inside. Not only is the world building woefully inadequate but the book also features a slightly nauseating insta-love relationship. This one will definitely leave my home library.
I really enjoyed this book. Lloyd-Jones created a hauntingly beautiful world with dangerous fae. I appreciated the three different perspectives even though I did not expect then and because of the time it took for me to realize that there were two different male perspectives. Also, I really appreciate that Lloyd-Jones definitely went there (spoilers) in that moment in the closing chapters of the book.
I loved the voice that Evison gave the narrator. I also appreciated how Evison developed the main character and his relationships.I would have rated this book a little higher though if the reveals did not feel a little too much like completely undoing the previously carefully laid groundwork.
This book is utterly heartbreaking. Jaye did an excellent job weaving together the two timelines of these interconnected narrators. As Jaye mentions in her author’s note, the existence and lives of Black people in Britain prior to the wave of post-colonial migration rarely gets discussed. She explored it brilliantly here. I will definitely pick up more books from her in the future.
Hannah knows how to craft a narrative that pulls hard on the heartstrings. The narrative explores the ramifications of undiagnosed and untreated PTSD on the people who love the person who suffers from PTSD. I do not know if I will read more from Hannah though because, based on this and The Women, sometimes the narrative feels a teensy bit exploitative.
