A review by mrtvavrana
The Foundling by Stacey Halls

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.0

 

The Foundling is the third and probably also the last book by Stacey Halls that I have read. After I was slightly disappointed with The Familiars and Mrs. England turned out to be a lovely read, The Foundling has really, really, disappointed me. 

 

The book starts with a great mystery, but a couple of chapters later you solve it, even without paying much attention. And then the issues begin. 

 

Halfway through the book, I was so fed up and annoyed I nearly DNF´d it. Some of the characters introduced did not really have any significant roles (even if the author hinted towards it), or their role was misleading. We never learned much about Bess´ brother or the doctor, who I assumed would be a crucial part of the story and Bess´ biggest ally. 

 

Look, I really liked the concept, but the execution was lacking. Characters were one-dimensional and dull, their relationships quite underdeveloped, and the pace dragged until the last few chapters, when the speed of the book went from 0 to 100 immediately. And then it ended abruptly, in a very unrealistic and not at all fulfilling way. 

 

Many things at the end did not make that much sense to me.

Like, how was Bess able to walk free after being a wanted criminal for so long? What made her brother be such an ass? What was the point of the random sexual assault scenes? Why did Alexandra so easily give up her child after all the trouble and pain she went through after Bess kidnapped her? How the hell did Bess build such a strong mother-daughter relationship with Charlotte in only a few weeks? What happened to Abe, Bess´ father? Why did the doctor initially support Bess but then end up siding with Alexandra? Is it because Bess is a poor, lower-class trash? What was the whole story between Bess and Lyle, and how did the relationship even happen?

 

So many questions and no answers. I definitely do not recommend this book. That is, unless you want to be disappointed and annoyed.