Scan barcode
library_kb's review
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I listened to this on audiobook, which was really well read. And, I did enjoy it, as long as I thought about parts of the book rather than the whole thing. I am unsure if I will continue on with the series, but I can see that some of my problems with this book will not show up in future books. My main problems with the book had to do with pacing and characterization. The pacing for this book really didn't work for me. I was really interested in the mystery set up at the beginning of the book, but then that was all put on pause for a very extended (like 40% of the book) flashback, which was interesting, but since I was waiting for the mystery to be solved, really slowed down the pace of the book for me. For me, I probably would have preferred the flashbacks to be interspersed with the present mystery. Similarly, I felt like the main character Maisie was kind of set up as a perfect character, brilliant, always knows the right thing to do/say, etc. Sometimes I felt like her perfection was overemphasized, and the depth of her characterization really always came from outside sources like her relationship with Simon. However, I could see that future books, which will need less setup on Maisie's background and can focus more on the mystery aspects. I did really enjoy the mystery (even if it wrapped up very quickly at the end, and used the explaining in retrospect trope that I don't love) and I really did enjoy the WWI historical aspects of the book, especially if I ignored the fact that there was an unsolved mystery still hanging over my head!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Grief, and Medical trauma