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bibliobrandie's review against another edition
3.0
pearlbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ssinforshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
4.0
I find myself on top of Coconut Hill, in front of the view of the shimmering blue sea - inviting, magical, but dangerous.
[All quotes are from the ARC, subject to change in the final edition.]
4.9 stars
Content warnings:
Spoiler
animal attack; implied animal death; injury and violence; near-drowning; past loss of a loved one; sexism in sportThis was such a gripping, bingeable read full of strong, witty narration in an immersive Bajan setting! The culture is vividly depicted, through language (English and Bajan creole), delicious sounding-food (I started looking up cou-cou and flying fish recipes partway into the book!), lifeways and of course, the fascinating folklore. It was also cool to see how Bajan food and geography are similar/different to Guyana where Josephine's dad was raised.
This was a lot more tense/scary than I expected - though I am also listening to a horror audiobook, which might have something to do with it - and the way that the antagonist transitions from annoying to subtly menacing to flat-out terrifying is very impressive. There are numerous magical and folkloric elements/references that pop up, and I really enjoyed how seamlessly the fantasy starts soaking into the contemporary more and more. This book had a great array of emotions - at some points I laughed out loud, other times pressed my hand to my aching heart and still other times wanted to swear at my Kindle. There are some serious topics (e.g. grief, sexism, attempted murder to name a few) but overall this book was so heartwarming and uplifting.
Softly smiling with hands on cheeks
I loved the characters; they felt so real and distinct, especially Josephine and I really enjoyed watching her arc develop. Both Josephine and her father must come to terms with the devastating loss of her mother, the fear of getting hurt and it was really satisfying to see how their arcs parallel each other sometimes. The side characters all had clear voices and personalities too, with standout figures being Josephine's best friend Akhai, his mother Miss Mo, their teacher Miss Alleyne (gosh I loved her so much) and the librarian Mrs Edgecombe, whose reading style I can totally relate to! There is casual diversity too: Josephine's dad has a bad knee, her cricket coach is fat (and not written to diminish his athletic capability) and her best friend Akhai is autistic. Even the antagonist turned out pretty complex too.
"Every coin has two sides! Like all powerful creatures, they are as dangerous as they are generous."
That said, I did get a little confused as to their motives near the end...I can't specify for spoilery reasons but I would have loved to get a little more closure on that.
Overall an excellent contemporary fantasy - my first introduction to Caribbean folklore and Bourne's work, and certainly won't be my last!
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, Shakirah Bourne and Edelweiss for an ARC for an honest review.
after_hours_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
dominicangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kalaha1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ngreader's review against another edition
4.0
An absolute BANGER of a book! I loved the exploration of different cultural folklore as well as the exploration of grief over the loss of a parent and how all the members of a family react to it. Love, love, LOVED this book!
Spoiler
contains mentions of magic and adults kissingcallme_tippy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Such a cute read with great themes about loss, grief, and healing while still being uplifting and funny!
mrs_bookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
I hope you love it too!