frasersimons 's review for:

The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar

4.0

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This was really great. Duel timeline, coming-of-age, poetic, soul-searching protagonists. Peppered with lots of history of the region, specifically in the timeline 300 years ago. I think it becomes a lot more comprehensive, dynamic, and compelling in this format. Things never get old. One chapter you’re with a family in an impossible situation, choosing whether to flee a new home, or to stay in a conflict zone—the next you’re being told historical information, realizing what, beyond the human cost, is being lost. To say nothing of understanding the conflict better, of course.

Really great narration helped propel this along too. Great stuff.