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A review by stephxsu
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
Did not finish book.
I felt the writing was actually quite good--smooth and compulsively readable--but the story lacked in worldbuilding and characterization. While Eva's world--and our knowledge of her world--remained confined to her small cottage in England, I was okay with it. I felt compelled to read and learn more about this fascinating, head-strong girl whose life is not her own.
Unfortunately, when the story began to attempt to add in "outside" elements to Eva's life--the new Bangalore setting, that creepy evil dude who's her "maker" or whatever--my credulity crumpled. I didn't like that the so-called villain was so stereotypically villainous that I pictured him dressed in all black, with unwashed hair, long tapered fingers, and an inability to control his maniacal chuckles. I didn't like that Eva's new life as Amarra in Bangalore was over in the span of approximately 20 pages, as she tries--and fails--to do even a half-assed job at the assignment she's been preparing for her whole life. I lost all respect for Eva (as a character, not as a person; as a person I still feel bad for her) at this point, for she never seemed to comprehend how dire her situation was, how much hinged on her ability to "pass" as the real Amarra.
As I put the book down to give myself a break from the train wreck it was becoming, I never felt compelled to pick it up again, and the more I thought about it, the less I enjoyed what I had read so far.
Unfortunately, when the story began to attempt to add in "outside" elements to Eva's life--the new Bangalore setting, that creepy evil dude who's her "maker" or whatever--my credulity crumpled. I didn't like that the so-called villain was so stereotypically villainous that I pictured him dressed in all black, with unwashed hair, long tapered fingers, and an inability to control his maniacal chuckles. I didn't like that Eva's new life as Amarra in Bangalore was over in the span of approximately 20 pages, as she tries--and fails--to do even a half-assed job at the assignment she's been preparing for her whole life. I lost all respect for Eva (as a character, not as a person; as a person I still feel bad for her) at this point, for she never seemed to comprehend how dire her situation was, how much hinged on her ability to "pass" as the real Amarra.
As I put the book down to give myself a break from the train wreck it was becoming, I never felt compelled to pick it up again, and the more I thought about it, the less I enjoyed what I had read so far.