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purplepenning's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Science-fantasy academia with a little bit of hope punk? I understand the comparisons to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies, but don't be drawn in by the House in the Cerulean Sea comparison (or A Marvelous Light, really). This is a quiet, scholarly-toned epistolary that lets small measures of mystery and taut adventure seep in around the margins before finally being awash with other worldly mystique.
It's a little slow for my tastes (and I wish I would have realized that it wasn't a standalone before I started it) but I'm glad I stuck with it. The writing is excellent and the characters finally won me over (despite my annoyance at the excessive self-deprecation in the majority of the letters!).
It's a little slow for my tastes (and I wish I would have realized that it wasn't a standalone before I started it) but I'm glad I stuck with it. The writing is excellent and the characters finally won me over (despite my annoyance at the excessive self-deprecation in the majority of the letters!).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
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