A review by ashleysbookthoughts
Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What to even say about this book? Cantoras is evocative and beautifully written. DeRobertis masterfully provides the reader with tons of historical political context without bogging down the narrative or making you feel as if you’re reading a textbook. We’re given this information through the characters as it relates to their lives. 

This is an epic story of the power of friendship and the importance of having people who truly see you. It’s also about the dangers of silence and hiding and the toll they take. 

I adored the women in this story (particularly Flaca and Paz) and how different and human they all were. There are no saints here. Their lives, relationships, and choices are messy, which is why they feel so real. 

There are some tough themes in this book, including a lot of trauma, but it never feels gratuitous. DeRobertis focuses more on the effects of the trauma on her characters rather than describing the acts themselves in too much detail.
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