This book was great in concept. I could very easily see the inspiration from both Knives out and the Inheritance Games. However, I really feel like it needed more editing or beta reading to refine the story and world building.
Tabitha was easily the best part of the book. I enjoyed her sarcastic but empathetic voice. The secondary characters were also pretty well done and added to the story. (I would've like more time spent showing the relationship between Tabita and her parents though).
However the world felt very flat and poorly developed. I couldn't even tell you where this story took place or anything about the town where Tabitha lived. She also seemed to have very little in her life outside of the magic which did flatten her character a bit.
There was also too much telling and not showing. We are told about Tabitha's fortune telling ability but never shown it. I am actually disappointed that she didn't use her abilities to solve the mystery in the end, it would've made so much more sense than what we got! We also had too much telling and not showing about the Soloman family and the relationships between the various members.
I will admit that I was kept guessing until the end about the culprit.
Overall, really great concept and main character. Needed more editing and building up of the world.
Tabitha was easily the best part of the book. I enjoyed her sarcastic but empathetic voice. The secondary characters were also pretty well done and added to the story. (I would've like more time spent showing the relationship between Tabita and her parents though).
However the world felt very flat and poorly developed. I couldn't even tell you where this story took place or anything about the town where Tabitha lived. She also seemed to have very little in her life outside of the magic which did flatten her character a bit.
There was also too much telling and not showing. We are told about Tabitha's fortune telling ability but never shown it. I am actually disappointed that she didn't use her abilities to solve the mystery in the end, it would've made so much more sense than what we got! We also had too much telling and not showing about the Soloman family and the relationships between the various members.
I will admit that I was kept guessing until the end about the culprit.
Overall, really great concept and main character. Needed more editing and building up of the world.