"The wolf is always at the doorstep. That is why we Watch."
This is most definitely a character driven book, and I am here for it. In the acknowledgments the author states that this book was written during the Pandemic - so she wrote a book about a girl living in a very secluded world of her own. While I am not quite ready to read pandemic-centered books, this story is well executed and has a focus on a closed society instead of a virus.
I liked the idea of how Endla came to be, and can easily see how things got warped over the generations. I think that the world building in this book was very good; everything is easy to picture and the small town vibes were immaculate. I even love the atmosphere of the creepy forest, and how everyone lives in quaint little cottages despite the island being large enough to take 2 hours to walk from one end to the other.
And the character development....well that is pretty great too. Like I said, this is definitely a character driven story. Leelo is fighting against what she was raised believing vs what she is seeing with her own eyes, and experiencing first love through it all. She definitely makes some poor decisions throughout this book, but she also goes through changes and has a great character arc. We also get duo POV from Jaren too, and we get to see this whole society and its customs through an "outsider" perspective.
This is definitely not an adventure book, and there is not a ton of action. This is a book about family, first loves, and a cult-y society that believes they are above all humanity. There is a bit of mystery and definitely secrets to be revealed, and I loved every moment of it. The story does feel a bit slow at points, but like I said....character driven story.
If I had to change one thing, I just wish we got to see more of the Endlan's magic - especially the singing. It is talked about more than it is shown, and I wanted to see it in action more.
Overall, this book had good vibes and I loved the story. The characters were well written, the world building is clear and easy to understand, and I liked the mystery woven throughout as well. I was fully invested in the lives of Leelo and Jaren, and think this is a well written standalone that does not leave me with many questions. I could definitely see myself reading this book time and again, and look forward to seeing what the author does next!
Content warnings: animal death, murder, death, animal sacrifice, death of a loved one, infidelity, blood
This is most definitely a character driven book, and I am here for it. In the acknowledgments the author states that this book was written during the Pandemic - so she wrote a book about a girl living in a very secluded world of her own. While I am not quite ready to read pandemic-centered books, this story is well executed and has a focus on a closed society instead of a virus.
I liked the idea of how Endla came to be, and can easily see how things got warped over the generations. I think that the world building in this book was very good; everything is easy to picture and the small town vibes were immaculate. I even love the atmosphere of the creepy forest, and how everyone lives in quaint little cottages despite the island being large enough to take 2 hours to walk from one end to the other.
And the character development....well that is pretty great too. Like I said, this is definitely a character driven story. Leelo is fighting against what she was raised believing vs what she is seeing with her own eyes, and experiencing first love through it all. She definitely makes some poor decisions throughout this book, but she also goes through changes and has a great character arc. We also get duo POV from Jaren too, and we get to see this whole society and its customs through an "outsider" perspective.
This is definitely not an adventure book, and there is not a ton of action. This is a book about family, first loves, and a cult-y society that believes they are above all humanity. There is a bit of mystery and definitely secrets to be revealed, and I loved every moment of it. The story does feel a bit slow at points, but like I said....character driven story.
If I had to change one thing, I just wish we got to see more of the Endlan's magic - especially the singing. It is talked about more than it is shown, and I wanted to see it in action more.
Overall, this book had good vibes and I loved the story. The characters were well written, the world building is clear and easy to understand, and I liked the mystery woven throughout as well. I was fully invested in the lives of Leelo and Jaren, and think this is a well written standalone that does not leave me with many questions. I could definitely see myself reading this book time and again, and look forward to seeing what the author does next!
Content warnings: animal death, murder, death, animal sacrifice, death of a loved one, infidelity, blood