Reviews

Grey Dawn by Nyri A. Bakkalian

ceramicdove's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

amiablespecter's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Do you ever come across a book that seemed like it was tailor made for you? I devoured this story over a weekend and it left me wanting more. I could have used a little more time with the characters, both

Spoiler

prior to and during the early stage of Leigh and Chloë having a relationship before their truths cause a division

, but even without that, the characters felt incredibly real. 

I can’t wait to read more of Dr. Bakkalian’s work.

loonarune's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

stillinbeta's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cluckenbook's review

adventurous emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

girvinia's review against another edition

4.0

Chloe enlists in the army in the US Civil War, but then is transported to modern times. There in 2020, she meets Leigh, a trans woman with the same name and a lot of similarities to the cis woman she loved in the 1860s.
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Lots of queer characters – yay! Pretty much anyone who is on-page for more than two scenes is queer. Leigh of 2020 is Japanese American, and is not the only non-white character.
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Both Chloe and 2020-Leigh are veterans, and the author is a military historian. So there's more on-page battles than I like, even though it wasn’t actually that much. I feel like there were a number missed opportunities to investigate the characters, but OTOH I feel like if they felt real enough for me to want to see into their heads more, that’s a good sign.

Honestly, my only true beef with the book is that Chloe has apparently been in 2020 for six months before anyone offers her coffee!
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This is a solid addition to any f/f romance reading list, and we all need more trans stories with happy endings.

matth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I extremely loved this book. It’s a love story with a twist: time travel. People fall through time. In this case they move forward.