English language
Published June 20, 2022 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.
This is a completely different kind of book from Roanhorse, but... It's still Rebecca Roanhorse. I liked it a lot and would happily read more from this world.
Today’s word is “unexpected”: the book started off so, then kept right on unexpecting along different directions. First, the setting, unlike any world I’ve seen before. The conflict, which at first appears to be thinly-disguised evangelical whitemales against everyone else but then ... well, that remains part of the story, but it goes in other interesting directions.
Not everything made sense, either in the story or in hindsight. Not the motivations, or some logistics. But none were showstoppers: the story kept me going, enough so for me to defer a couple of my day’s priorities. It’s a great little novella, suspenseful and provocative. And fascinatingly compassionate—not in the hugs-and-I-care way, but in a deeper, more reflective and caring way.
And, oh, so much more I’d love to say but nope. No spoilers.
This had potential but it needed to be fleshed out a bit more. Celeste came across as naive and self-righteous and other characters weren't very developed. I would have preferred to have seen this story in a longer format.
