Kam
So this was a charming read! I was initially skeptical of the first-person POV, but as it went on it was clear the author knew what they were doing in that regard, and the narrator/protagonist’s voice played a large role in just how enjoyable I found this book. I did personally think she lied a bit too much, and I thought she got away with things a bit too frequently, but I didn’t really mind it - especially since it all caught up with her in a fairly realistic manner in the novel’s climax.
I enjoyed the moments of office drama the novel portrayed, and I kind of found myself wishing that there had been more moments involving the messiness of working in a corporate environment. Regardless, what was presented in the novel felt mostly realistic, and fun to read about. The antagonists had a bit of the caricature about their portrayal, but then again, I know of people who ARE like them, so it’s easy to forgive their somewhat-cartoonish villainy.
I also appreciate the way racism and discrimination against Native Americans was portrayed in this novel. The way microaggressions (and, in one instance, outright aggression) were used in the story to create tension and drama was pretty well done. It ties back into the office drama thing, because it shows just how careless people can be at one’s workplace, and one always has to choose whether to speak up (and risk one’s relationship with one’s colleagues) or keep quiet (and continue to expose oneself to more microaggressions and other similar poor treatment).
The romance was, thankfully, pretty fun and well-paced; I was especially pleased with the way the author took the time to develop the connection and sexual tension between Ember and Danuwoa before having them sleep with each other. However, while reading the protagonists’ relationship develop was definitely the highlight of the novel, I was also really delighted by their connection to their respective families. I was especially fond of the moments between Ember and her brother Sage; the way the author used their complicated relationship to develop Ember’s character further was nicely done. Walela, Danuwoa’s sister, is also a delight, a true ray of sunshine; her relationship with her older brother serves as a method of character development, rounding out Danuwoa’s personality - useful, given that the reader doesn’t get any insight into his thoughts because of the first-person POV.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are well-portrayed, for the most part, and the office drama felt pretty spot-on for the sorts of things that happen in corporate working environments. And while readers will likely enjoy the romance, I think the best character moments happen in those moments when the protagonists are dealing with their families. This is not the most action-heavy of reads, but it is a pleasant read regardless.
Originally posted at kamreadsandrecs.tumblr.com.
So this was a charming read! I was initially skeptical of the first-person POV, but as it went on it was clear the author knew what they were doing in that regard, and the narrator/protagonist’s voice played a large role in just how enjoyable I found this book. I did personally think she lied a bit too much, and I thought she got away with things a bit too frequently, but I didn’t really mind it - especially since it all caught up with her in a fairly realistic manner in the novel’s climax.
I enjoyed the moments of office drama the novel portrayed, and I kind of found myself wishing that there had been more moments involving the messiness of working in a corporate environment. Regardless, what was presented in the novel felt mostly realistic, and fun to read about. The antagonists had a bit of the caricature about their portrayal, but then again, I know of people who ARE like them, so it’s easy to forgive their somewhat-cartoonish villainy.
I also appreciate the way racism and discrimination against Native Americans was portrayed in this novel. The way microaggressions (and, in one instance, outright aggression) were used in the story to create tension and drama was pretty well done. It ties back into the office drama thing, because it shows just how careless people can be at one’s workplace, and one always has to choose whether to speak up (and risk one’s relationship with one’s colleagues) or keep quiet (and continue to expose oneself to more microaggressions and other similar poor treatment).
The romance was, thankfully, pretty fun and well-paced; I was especially pleased with the way the author took the time to develop the connection and sexual tension between Ember and Danuwoa before having them sleep with each other. However, while reading the protagonists’ relationship develop was definitely the highlight of the novel, I was also really delighted by their connection to their respective families. I was especially fond of the moments between Ember and her brother Sage; the way the author used their complicated relationship to develop Ember’s character further was nicely done. Walela, Danuwoa’s sister, is also a delight, a true ray of sunshine; her relationship with her older brother serves as a method of character development, rounding out Danuwoa’s personality - useful, given that the reader doesn’t get any insight into his thoughts because of the first-person POV.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are well-portrayed, for the most part, and the office drama felt pretty spot-on for the sorts of things that happen in corporate working environments. And while readers will likely enjoy the romance, I think the best character moments happen in those moments when the protagonists are dealing with their families. This is not the most action-heavy of reads, but it is a pleasant read regardless.
Originally posted at kamreadsandrecs.tumblr.com.