Remembrance has a plot that, if well crafted, could be one of the greatest historical fantasies ever written. That said, it fell short for me. It took me nearly a month to read; simply because every time I came to a "present" chapter (Gaelle's POV), I would just get bored and put it down.
To understand the past, the author gives you Gaelle and Winter in this tug-of-war of what in the world is happening. I felt confused at times because the story unfolded backwards and then forward again.
I loved the historical bits. Not for the actual "history", but for the beautiful portraits the author weaved into the narrative. I'm not one for info dumps, but that is exactly what saved this novel for me. The grand landscapes of Haiti, and New Orleans in all of its splendor. Even Remembrance, where everything happened, was nothing short of mesmerizing.
If you enjoyed Ta-Nehisi' The Water Dancer, for its fantasy aspects, then Remembrance has some of its own. I'm sure getting to combustible levels will appeal to you in some way. It was actually pretty cool.
The story could have been a little more tightly packed in spots, but it is not bad for a debut. If you love historical fiction with some fantastical elements thrown in, you may enjoy this book.
To understand the past, the author gives you Gaelle and Winter in this tug-of-war of what in the world is happening. I felt confused at times because the story unfolded backwards and then forward again.
I loved the historical bits. Not for the actual "history", but for the beautiful portraits the author weaved into the narrative. I'm not one for info dumps, but that is exactly what saved this novel for me. The grand landscapes of Haiti, and New Orleans in all of its splendor. Even Remembrance, where everything happened, was nothing short of mesmerizing.
If you enjoyed Ta-Nehisi' The Water Dancer, for its fantasy aspects, then Remembrance has some of its own. I'm sure getting to combustible levels will appeal to you in some way. It was actually pretty cool.
The story could have been a little more tightly packed in spots, but it is not bad for a debut. If you love historical fiction with some fantastical elements thrown in, you may enjoy this book.