A review by sf_23
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

2.5

I love magical realism, loved night circus, but this just wasn't it for me. The graphic racism and homophobia from a main character we were supposed to have sympathy for was both triggering and not cool. It seemed like it was just for effect? The key plot points that came from those instances could have been written in many other ways, or at the very least- revisited as "lessons learned" later in the book- instead they were never addressed.

It really felt like this book didn't hold up when it comes to emotional logic. Which is fine for a light-weight romance novel but was a bit disappointing. In particular, I wish there was a bigger emphasis on different types of love besides romantic.
Spoiler Ultimately, Flora chose flying over Henry... so she did chose love? while I get that wasn't the point of the book, the subtle messaging that a white man she just met is worth more than her biggest passion was.. not for me.


However, I will say I loved the way music was woven into the narrative. The author's descriptions and the way it's the central part of the novel definitely did it justice and I got goosebumps more than once. As a musician myself, I truly felt seen in those parts and loved the jazz club backdrop. 
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