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serendipitysbooks's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Blue Bay Palace is a tale of doomed love set in the Mauritius. Maya comes from an impoverished background which she is determined to escape. But she catches the eye of an older, wealthier man and decides to work at the local tourist resort to be closer to him. When he enters an arranged marriage without even telling her, her mental state spirals, leading to obsession, then tragedy. This was a little overwritten, although in places that certainly reflected Maya’s mental state. But I did appreciate the insight into the class/caste dynamics in the Mauritius as well as the contrast and conflicts between the tourist resorts and the much poorer local communities. Appanah succeeded in creating a strong sense of place, especially the sea, the market, and the artificial resort environment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
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