This book had me in the first half, not gonna lie. But I’m going to include the quote that turned things around for me. “Although their faces were covered, Norah could see they were darker-skinned people, the color of bronzed sand.” Nothing wrong with the quote itself, right? But then the rest of the story happens. And as Norah is whisked deeper into the land of Kharav and pulled into the customs of their people, it was like the beginnings of colonialism. Norah, in this land with people of bronze skin. They kill and murderer without thought and it is so unlike the North where she and her fellow pale people live. The bronze skinned people take multiple wives and go in various states of undress which the North shames.

And meanwhile this king, which she has mixed feelings for, is forgoing customs, bending rules, allowing Norah to break terms of their agreement, all because he fancies her. Every complaint Norah has about the customs of Mikael’s people, he addresses and changes. It didn’t sit right with me.

It put a bad taste in my mouth and really underlies the importance of sensitivity readers. We have seen time and time again where people of darker complexion are seen as “savage” and “uncivilized” because their ways are not what white people are used to. And though this story may not use those terms, it’s written in between the lines. If someone from a marginalized community of color had read this, maybe it would’ve been caught. Maybe someone of a marginalized community did read this and saw no error. But I take that and raise changing the rhetoric we continue to spit in the world that white is pure and good and dark is bad.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Things We Inherit by Draven Aurora

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book had me second guessing the impulsive thoughts in my head. Joy is better than me because the things me and Buttercup would’ve done together…
This story was very interesting to me and I think a lot of people could relate to it. Having this dark thing inside you that you try to suppress. Joy didn’t have the luxury.

The dynamic is interesting to say the least. Buttercup completing Joy’s dark whims without a clear go ahead, but hesitating on the things she needed most…

Almost out to sabotage her the same way Joy believed most of her family was against her. Until she fully embraced Buttercup.

I really enjoyed this story. And though tragic, I really enjoyed the ending and I can’t wait to see what the next book brings!!

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tiombaby's reviews 307 reviews

tiombaby's reviews
307 reviews