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A review by hazelnut_starlight
House of Badawi by C. J. Khemi
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For a debut novel, it was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the concepts, as well as the setting. The author pulled from her own roots and gave us a story set in Indo-Caribbean culture. Our main character, Valxina, is determined to rise above the circumstances of her birth in order to follow her dream. We are given mystery, intrigue, queer representation, and a diverse cast.
However, given the marketing the author did, it fell short of my expectations. The plot line moved much too quickly, and there were a couple of spots where the story felt disconnected. I really wished the author had flushed things out more. I understand our MC only works/interacts with a very limited part of the overall society, but I felt lost when it came to how the societal structure is designed in this world. There just wasn't enough to this novel to keep me thoroughly engaged. It was like roast chicken and mashed potatoes - only the chicken was overcooked and there wasn't any gravy.
However, given the marketing the author did, it fell short of my expectations. The plot line moved much too quickly, and there were a couple of spots where the story felt disconnected. I really wished the author had flushed things out more. I understand our MC only works/interacts with a very limited part of the overall society, but I felt lost when it came to how the societal structure is designed in this world. There just wasn't enough to this novel to keep me thoroughly engaged. It was like roast chicken and mashed potatoes - only the chicken was overcooked and there wasn't any gravy.