A review by raptorq
The Maw by Taylor Zajonc

  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

I don't usually leave written reviews but this book is... so bad I want to save someone the struggle. I don't think the author even realizes how racist and culturally insensitive it is, among other things: colonial explorer obsession, the basis for the MC's relationship with the love interest being that she was his student traumatized by the power dynamic. What. Not to mention the Nazi reenacting, tribal tattooed white guy side character who everyone is mildly annoyed by but turns into a saviour. I was strung along by moderately interesting descriptions of geology and caving (the main plot sounds like a drug trip about connectedness the author had one time and wanted to base everything on) but everything falls apart when characters interact. Felt like a lot of self-insert fantasies all the way through to the end. Don't get me started on the dream sequences. 
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