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A review by kitvaria_sarene
The Summer Goddess by Joanne Hall
4.0
This one was something quite different!
I loved the diversity, the different POV, the female lead and the cultures. Asta is a great main character, who can be both strong and weak, filled with rage and love.
The story progressed from a small village where quite some of the people are taken for slaves, and takes off across the sea and two different lands. Asta promises to get them back - and we join her on the long hard journey that follows.
At times I thought the characters a bit too naive (there surely is good in almost anyone!) for the hardships they did live through - and some of the troubles were resolved too easily, so it felt a tiny bit artificial, but overall the plot and characters kept me well immersed in the world and story.
The plot is bloody and brutal in some places - but not just for the sake of it, but because it does fit the story. The balance between family bonds, friendship, blood and revenge was just right for my taste. It didn't feel overly emotional, or gorey - and the different cultures were explored in a way that didn't feel like a moral that was meant to come across, but leaves the reader to ponder, reflect and take away different things from the book.
Definitely recommended, especially if you want to read a fantasy far away from the "white male protagonist" for a change!
I loved the diversity, the different POV, the female lead and the cultures. Asta is a great main character, who can be both strong and weak, filled with rage and love.
The story progressed from a small village where quite some of the people are taken for slaves, and takes off across the sea and two different lands. Asta promises to get them back - and we join her on the long hard journey that follows.
At times I thought the characters a bit too naive (there surely is good in almost anyone!) for the hardships they did live through - and some of the troubles were resolved too easily, so it felt a tiny bit artificial, but overall the plot and characters kept me well immersed in the world and story.
The plot is bloody and brutal in some places - but not just for the sake of it, but because it does fit the story. The balance between family bonds, friendship, blood and revenge was just right for my taste. It didn't feel overly emotional, or gorey - and the different cultures were explored in a way that didn't feel like a moral that was meant to come across, but leaves the reader to ponder, reflect and take away different things from the book.
Definitely recommended, especially if you want to read a fantasy far away from the "white male protagonist" for a change!