A review by wenwanzhao
Daughters of the New Year by E.M. Tran
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’m always intrigued by books that have an non-chronological timeline, and the backwards nature of Daughters of the New Year definitely felt important to the story that was being told. The more we went back in time, the more I felt like the book was moving away from our reality, which was a bit trippy but not un-enjoyable.
The immigrant child anecdotes in this story can seem a bit tiresome at times, but it seems unfair to blame someone for retelling an honest experience. The book thrives in its second part, where we delve into the ancestors of the characters we are originally introduced to. It’s fascinating to see how the present we are introduced to comes into play.
I admit to expecting more closure on the arcs of the three sisters centred in the blurb, but I suppose it’s just more reason to never trust a summary written by a publisher. Tran’s writing is evocative without being overbearing, and it kept me more hooked into a book than I have been in a while.
The immigrant child anecdotes in this story can seem a bit tiresome at times, but it seems unfair to blame someone for retelling an honest experience. The book thrives in its second part, where we delve into the ancestors of the characters we are originally introduced to. It’s fascinating to see how the present we are introduced to comes into play.
I admit to expecting more closure on the arcs of the three sisters centred in the blurb, but I suppose it’s just more reason to never trust a summary written by a publisher. Tran’s writing is evocative without being overbearing, and it kept me more hooked into a book than I have been in a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Pregnancy, Murder, Death of parent, War, Racism, and Death