Forty Words for Love

I just finished Forty words for love by Aisha Saeed and here is my review

A tragic death brings darkness and despair to a magical place that was once brimming with life, love and magic. Now the people are devoid of life and energy and no tourists come and now the townspeople are struggling.

At the heart of it all are 2 teens. Yas and Raf. Yas is a child born of the town and Raf was a migrant whose whole community moved after their home was destroyed. Moonlight bay was once welcoming but since the death... the townsfolk and the migrants are at odds with each other.

The teens have been friends since Raf arrived 10 years ago but things are evolving for the two. The forest elders have warned Raf that falling in love with outsiders will lead to consequences but can they find a way to be together without devastating everything around them?

The prose was devastatingly beautiful and I was hooked almost right away. The detailed imagery brought some lovely landscapes into my brain and I love that!

The magical realism that runs through the pages was a real joy for me. It's one of my favorite sub-genres and this book kept me engaged all the way through. The pace was slower than I normally like but I think it worked ok here.

The love affair between Yaz and Raf was kinda cute and lighthearted and thankfully, wasn't overdone.

It felt a little Romeo and Julietish and I didn't mind that at all. The ending felt a little unfinished but all in all a decent read.

4 stars

Thank you @penguinrandomhouseca for my gifted copy