Okay, so. I liked it, but... I needed it to be about twice as long.
For once I don't mean this in the simple 'I wanted more' sort of way, though I did/do. I mean that this book would have been much stronger had it been given more room to grow, and had the plot not been cut where it was for cliffhanger purposes.
See, here's the thing - this is a book fraught with emotionally complicated situations and revelations, and yet the action moves so quickly that those emotions never really get explored. Take the most basic concept outlined in the blurb: two sisters who will have to fight each other to the death. We get a bit of insight into their relationship and how it has changed over the years, but while Evalina felt well-developed and her memories of Isadora as children hinted at Isa's depth, in the present day her sister came off flat, with simplistic motivations and little sense of agency, and that in turn made the conflict between them less interesting and engaging.
Overall, I felt like the emotional aspect of this story ended up being told, not shown, as the plot barreled on at full speed ahead, and that's a real shame because it distracted from an otherwise excellent read. Give me at least another hundred pages for Joy to expand on character development and relationships between rapid-fire plot events and I would have absolutely adored it. Here's hoping the sequel gets more room to grow!
(p.s. still utterly in love w/ the cover, even if Eva's tattoos are the wrong color.)
For once I don't mean this in the simple 'I wanted more' sort of way, though I did/do. I mean that this book would have been much stronger had it been given more room to grow, and had the plot not been cut where it was for cliffhanger purposes.
See, here's the thing - this is a book fraught with emotionally complicated situations and revelations, and yet the action moves so quickly that those emotions never really get explored. Take the most basic concept outlined in the blurb: two sisters who will have to fight each other to the death. We get a bit of insight into their relationship and how it has changed over the years, but while Evalina felt well-developed and her memories of Isadora as children hinted at Isa's depth, in the present day her sister came off flat, with simplistic motivations and little sense of agency, and that in turn made the conflict between them less interesting and engaging.
Overall, I felt like the emotional aspect of this story ended up being told, not shown, as the plot barreled on at full speed ahead, and that's a real shame because it distracted from an otherwise excellent read. Give me at least another hundred pages for Joy to expand on character development and relationships between rapid-fire plot events and I would have absolutely adored it. Here's hoping the sequel gets more room to grow!
(p.s. still utterly in love w/ the cover, even if Eva's tattoos are the wrong color.)