2 stars personal feeling
3 stars for writing/ style
Written quite well, I feel, but it not
touch me. I found it to have a smidgeon of that ancient folktale-like quality I associate with DiCamillo's works - a true story, but it never connected to me. I was never invested in the characters, swept away by the plot. It is darker than my average fare, filled with blood and death and shadows. With uneasy bargains and terrible decisions. It was was not for me, but it was written well.
"And we'll keep on living."
And so they did, not always without trouble but happily, and well, and for a long time thereafter.
Erin Bow is without a doubt an author to watch and I will certainly be picking up her next work.
The author's dedication made me cry though none of the book did (Taggle's death came close though):
This book is dedicated to my sister Wendy Ewell. Wendy drowned before she got to read the ending of this story, before she got to meet the niece she was looking forward to, before a lot of things. I could level a city out of grief. Instead I'll say: Baby sister, I miss you. This, my first novel, is for you.