A review by andyblake
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

This debut novel by Natalia Hernandez was delightful. The world is a rich tapestry of Latiné cultures in a fantasy setting. The Name-Bearer follows the main character after through 3 distant stages of her life: childhood, teenage years, and into young adulthood. I appreciate how each time period feels different not only for the main character herself but also for the reader, with different characters and emotions coming in and out of her life throughout it all. My only small complaint is that there were a few points where Hernandez seems to tell through exposition rather than show through story, but I think this is mostly because of the vast world that she has created and the many ways in which the story interacts with it. I'm definitely going to be reading the sequel when it comes out!

Disclosure: I was provided with a digital advanced reader copy from the author.