roselaina
In the author's note at the end, Cashore mentions that this was originally conceived and written as a Choose Your Own Adventure book. It probably should have stayed that way. This format did not work for me at all. There are a lot of positive qualities in the story and the writing, but for the last 2/3 of the book, I was too bored and annoyed to appreciate them. Hence why it took me 3 months to slog through all 440 pages.
I will certainly pick up Cashore's future projects, but this one was, quite simply, a mess.
I was so excited for this book, but. No. No no no no no no no.
This wasn't some cute, quirky plan. This girl was sociopathic, and her whole justification was a MESS (that is NOT how feminism works, oh my gosh).
I thought I was going to write a really long review, because I have a lot of thoughts. But I'm just so relieved that it is finally over that I would really rather put the whole thing behind me.
I gave it a second star because I enjoyed the writing style and a few other things. And because the author referenced the dad's house on the original Parent Trap, which has been my dream house for two decades. So. There's that.
Definitely mixed feelings about this one.
It was a mystery...but not.
It was stunningly written...but needed a better editor.
I liked parts of it...but certainly not all.
Honestly, the story was probably closer to 2-star territory, but the writing itself was so incredible (even though she desperately needed SOMEONE to go, “Hey, you realize you already told them this like 10 pages ago? So you don't need to do it again, probably.”) that I knocked it up a star. Particularly when it came to the nature and animals, her words were absolutely stunning, each one chosen and arranged with care, sure to evoke the most visceral response possible. They were unflinchingly brutal one moment and conveying a breathless sense of awe the next. Regardless of my overall feelings on the book, I am impressed by Geni as a writer and will be on the lookout for more books by her.
