kirisuna
This book entirely lived up to, and possibly surpassed, the hype. The writing was superb — Barker has an eerie ability to make even the most gruesome scenes almost beautiful in the description. I could see the entire narrative playing out behind my eyes like a movie, which at times was shocking and disgusting. I loved the completeness of each time period’s version of their world. I loved that the turtles were woven throughout, that we were given tastes of the reality behind the illusion as the characters themselves became more aware. I appreciated that the relationship built between the two MCs wasn’t romantic but almost like a soul bond. It was fascinating to me that both of their mothers attempted to murder them at least once. And with the final chapter’s explanation everything became so clear, with the breadcrumbs appropriately placed throughout to not make it feel like the rug was ripped from underneath you.
That being said, my only criticism is that final twist. If the turtle loved the children so much, why would she try to kill Sen to protect Lee? Even if she was losing them to each other, there was no clear reason she’d have that favoritism. And it made sense that she was able to save Sen when she was slain by her father — she was super close by the house. But assuming, based on the fact that she whispered to Lee’s father to go to the house behind the sword ferns implying that the actual location of the house in Japan mattered and her admission that with the tide going out her magic waned, how did she save Lee when he overdosed? I understand that he supposedly fell over the stairs, or was meant to originally. Which makes me think that maybe Matt wasn’t a person at all but was her stepping in to save him. But that wasn’t explicitly implied, so how could her reach extend so far to America when she can’t even stabilize the house when the tide goes out? This was the only weak link in this story, and the only thing knocking it down from a 5. But it is not a small thing, unfortunately.
Regardless, this story was a win. I will absolutely be reading the rest of her work and know I will be thinking about this novel for a long time.
This book entirely lived up to, and possibly surpassed, the hype. The writing was superb — Barker has an eerie ability to make even the most gruesome scenes almost beautiful in the description. I could see the entire narrative playing out behind my eyes like a movie, which at times was shocking and disgusting. I loved the completeness of each time period’s version of their world. I loved that the turtles were woven throughout, that we were given tastes of the reality behind the illusion as the characters themselves became more aware. I appreciated that the relationship built between the two MCs wasn’t romantic but almost like a soul bond. It was fascinating to me that both of their mothers attempted to murder them at least once. And with the final chapter’s explanation everything became so clear, with the breadcrumbs appropriately placed throughout to not make it feel like the rug was ripped from underneath you.
That being said, my only criticism is that final twist. If the turtle loved the children so much, why would she try to kill Sen to protect Lee? Even if she was losing them to each other, there was no clear reason she’d have that favoritism. And it made sense that she was able to save Sen when she was slain by her father — she was super close by the house. But assuming, based on the fact that she whispered to Lee’s father to go to the house behind the sword ferns implying that the actual location of the house in Japan mattered and her admission that with the tide going out her magic waned, how did she save Lee when he overdosed? I understand that he supposedly fell over the stairs, or was meant to originally. Which makes me think that maybe Matt wasn’t a person at all but was her stepping in to save him. But that wasn’t explicitly implied, so how could her reach extend so far to America when she can’t even stabilize the house when the tide goes out? This was the only weak link in this story, and the only thing knocking it down from a 5. But it is not a small thing, unfortunately.
Regardless, this story was a win. I will absolutely be reading the rest of her work and know I will be thinking about this novel for a long time.