I thought we agreed as a society that we don't like this kind of vapid writing and pick-me girl attitude in our YA heroines? I thought this sounded interesting but the mc, the set up, the way her life and even her preferred name is high-jacked by an wealthy asshole. No thanks. I'm out.
Time of Death - January 23, 2024 - I have been trying to get through this for about 2 years, (didn't even realize) after making it to the 26% mark, I began skimming and read through to the (kinda predictable) end. Although this historical setting is unique, WWII in China following a German Jew, Ernest, and a Chinese woman, Aiyi, it still managed to feel like a West Side Story re-telling. I won't be counting it toward my reading goal this year.
1 Star I found the writing tedious and the story is told from many different perspectives leading up to an event that ends in tragedy(?) Tragedy question mark (well no, it IS a tragedy) because the story just ends and it seems like all this lead up to the Tragedy*, and then we don't even know what happens with all these characters we just spent all this time with. (I skipped to the end and read the last couple of chapters). All told, it feels like a long way around and with each new turn in perspective I found myself caring less and less about the outcome and the characters. Thats not to say that I don't care about learning about Native peoples or their culture or their struggles, but this story isn't going to be an avenue I take for those learnings. hard dnf for me