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angielina's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I hate it when a book is sitting unread on your TBR for 3 years, and when you finally read said book, all you feel is regret for not having read it earlier. This being said, a certain level of maturity is required to appreciate this book. So maybe I don't have many regrets about waiting.
I love how intricately the author wrote this book. It's obvious she took her time writing all of these beautiful scenes (for the most part). The way she describes nature and the marsh in particular, I feel so connected to the characters and the beauty around them. The amount of research the author must have needed to write about the unique patterns of nature is impressive. However, not everything in this book is full of beauty, because just like the real world, things are ugly. Even though this is "fiction," the book captures that element amazingly.
The most important thing to note is that this book is not happy and positive. The book does not hesitate to hit you with strong themes of abandonment and isolation. Right off the bat, Kya, a six-year-old who lives with her family in the marsh, witnesses her mother abandoning her family. Her mother leaves Kya and her four siblings alone with their abusive and unstable father for seemingly no apparent reason. Immediately, all of her siblings leave the house, leaving Kya behind with the father. From that point on, she has to learn not only how to live by herself, but how to survive off the marsh.
In the beginning, however, we are also informed of the apparent murder of Chase Andrews, a former football star of their small town. Without hesitation, Kya Clark is accused of murdering him (because she's the weird marsh girl who was, for a short time, entangled with him). The book alternates between 1969 (Chase Andrews' murder) and Kya's life prior to being accused of murder.
If I'm going to be completely honest, the Chase Andrews plot was not at all that interesting, but still interesting enough to keep reading. The author's dedication to writing beautiful yet sad scenes just disappeared at the end of the book. It seemed like she was just retelling events that happened and not creating that atmosphere where we feel Kya's ultimate neglect by society and the repercussions of that.
The only reason this is a big deal is because I feel like books should get better as you near the end, not worse.
And also, Chase Andrews' murder trial did not really do any justice to Kya's character either. She never really grew or developed from this traumatic experience. Unlike things that happened to her in the past, it just seemed like nothing ever happened. It's like the author forgot she even wrote that part.
The romance was honestly the best part of the novel. Her lack of human connection in the earlier years of her life forced her to pursue other people's love, which ultimately ended up in betrayal and heartbreak. Kya's encounters with love were honestly the most realistic and best written scenes I've ever read in a book. None of what she witnesses seems superficial. It seemed genuine and contributed to the person she was. She was forced to chase after what she wanted instead of cowering and hiding.
Putting all the bad parts aside, there are so many lessons to learn from this book.
I hate it when a book is sitting unread on your TBR for 3 years, and when you finally read said book, all you feel is regret for not having read it earlier. This being said, a certain level of maturity is required to appreciate this book. So maybe I don't have many regrets about waiting.
I love how intricately the author wrote this book. It's obvious she took her time writing all of these beautiful scenes (for the most part). The way she describes nature and the marsh in particular, I feel so connected to the characters and the beauty around them. The amount of research the author must have needed to write about the unique patterns of nature is impressive. However, not everything in this book is full of beauty, because just like the real world, things are ugly. Even though this is "fiction," the book captures that element amazingly.
The most important thing to note is that this book is not happy and positive. The book does not hesitate to hit you with strong themes of abandonment and isolation. Right off the bat, Kya, a six-year-old who lives with her family in the marsh, witnesses her mother abandoning her family. Her mother leaves Kya and her four siblings alone with their abusive and unstable father for seemingly no apparent reason. Immediately, all of her siblings leave the house, leaving Kya behind with the father. From that point on, she has to learn not only how to live by herself, but how to survive off the marsh.
In the beginning, however, we are also informed of the apparent murder of Chase Andrews, a former football star of their small town. Without hesitation, Kya Clark is accused of murdering him (because she's the weird marsh girl who was, for a short time, entangled with him). The book alternates between 1969 (Chase Andrews' murder) and Kya's life prior to being accused of murder.
If I'm going to be completely honest, the Chase Andrews plot was not at all that interesting, but still interesting enough to keep reading. The author's dedication to writing beautiful yet sad scenes just disappeared at the end of the book. It seemed like she was just retelling events that happened and not creating that atmosphere where we feel Kya's ultimate neglect by society and the repercussions of that.
The only reason this is a big deal is because I feel like books should get better as you near the end, not worse.
And also, Chase Andrews' murder trial did not really do any justice to Kya's character either. She never really grew or developed from this traumatic experience. Unlike things that happened to her in the past, it just seemed like nothing ever happened. It's like the author forgot she even wrote that part.
The romance was honestly the best part of the novel. Her lack of human connection in the earlier years of her life forced her to pursue other people's love, which ultimately ended up in betrayal and heartbreak. Kya's encounters with love were honestly the most realistic and best written scenes I've ever read in a book. None of what she witnesses seems superficial. It seemed genuine and contributed to the person she was. She was forced to chase after what she wanted instead of cowering and hiding.
Putting all the bad parts aside, there are so many lessons to learn from this book.
hall2020's review against another edition
5.0
A story of lost youth, love, compassion, loneliness, strength, abandonment and the nature. Oh the nature, this book was so wonderfully written you could feel the evening breeze hit your cheeks, feel the marshy mud, cold and slimy squish through your toes, hear the bullfrogs and cicadas serenade you under the moon light.
Keep the tissue box close.
Is one life more valuable then another. Letting one go to waste and then having one end abruptly, what’s the difference? Sometimes people’s surprise you but mostly they act just the way you would expect.
Kya is proof that all a girl needs is a body of water, a book and to be left the hell alone!
Keep the tissue box close.
Is one life more valuable then another. Letting one go to waste and then having one end abruptly, what’s the difference? Sometimes people’s surprise you but mostly they act just the way you would expect.
Kya is proof that all a girl needs is a body of water, a book and to be left the hell alone!
enaria's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jas_grndggr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lkreader's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
rubythedreamer's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
At first the style of writing was challenging to follow but once I got into the story I absolutely loved it. A beautiful and hauting plot, about love, loss, loneliness and solitude.
jollyjord's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
jessisangle's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Racism