A review by sheva
A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

If nothing else this book proves that you have no idea going into a book whether it'll be formative. Between reading this in middle school and Elfquest in kindergarten, I have no idea how I'm able to find any books I like, period. It has all of these elements: fast pace, light world building, institutionalized polygamy and child marriage, too-easy Cinderella-esque romance-- there are simply no other books I've read like it. It is neither fantasy or science fiction, but not concretely something else (not truly alternate history, not in a specific linchpin way). It's hard to call it fantasy when they talk about detecting syphilis with microscopes, or science fiction when the subplot features tracking a handful of cannons on rafts, steamboats, and horses. Perhaps you could simply call it romance, but I don't think looking within general romance would find another book like this-- especially since this book is an obvious and textbook "swap the genders" type deal.

The writing feels effortless and simplistic, the characters easily described to the point of shallow, but it works. I have no idea what to do with my regard for this book.