lessthelonely
Written on Dec 19, 2021
Since I've seen enough driving license exams for today, I can review this book. I'm cutting it very close, considering this post is supposed to go live next Monday (it is currently July 22nd). There are a lot of books out there that I want to read this year, I have a Goodreads Challenge to complete and I don't really have an excuse that justifies not making reading one of my priorities.
Considering I wish to write a fantasy book myself - though Urban Fantasy -, reading books on this genre has been eye opening and has made me better understand the story I wish to tell in my book. My current problem has been what exactly I want to put in the book because a lot of it must be either reorganized or simply taken out.
This book was clearly plotted or the author had a very clear vision as to what she wanted to be the thick of it. Either one is enough, and we end up with a super tightly-told story. Not even the beginning, where you're mostly waiting for the synopsis to happen, is boring. It's hard to make a book engaging in the beginning when you're just building up to your premise, but Miss Lim did it and did it well.
Shiori is an amazing protagonist, and even beyond the clear plot points that were meant to be shocking, her character arc was insanely well written. Without becoming too self-aware and dropping terms we, as readers, would end up thinking about (namely: privilege, taking stuff for granted), there was thought put into her internal voice. You can see how she sees exactly what she did wrong before and why, even if she doesn't say it point-blank. At the same time, she's never really in a position where she falls into being annoying, considering we see how she ends up in every situation.
What should I talk about next? Probably the plot. Here's the thing, did this book surprise me with its plot twists? I would say so, yes. But surprise isn't always the goal of having a plot twist in your story. In this case, I would say one of the plot twists was added not because the author could or even thought it would be gasp-worthy, but because it served the story and made it even more consolidated. I applaud the author for that. Most of the time, writers try to surprise instead of trying to make sense.
The romance in this book is also swoon-worthy. This is one of those books where the love interest is very briefly described, and while you wouldn't say they're unattractive from their physical description alone, the truth is that their characterization is what pulls the full weight. I was on the verge of giggling like a teenager at many parts because yes, it is that good and because the love interest fully deserves it.
Finally, the brothers. I thought the book would have one of those journeys where because we have to rescue someone, they aren't really present in the book. That wasn't the case, and considering the main character has 6 people to rescue, I found the characterization of the characters being rescued incredibly sharp. Their personalities were distinct enough and more than being there, you could, yourself, sort of distinguish them.
All and all, this made Elizabeth Lim's other books enter my TBR. Easy must-read.
