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Where the Rain Cannot Reach
Tair has never known what it means to belong. Abandoned at a young age and raised in the all-Elven valley of Mirte, the young Human defines herself by isolation, confined to her small, seemingly trustworthy family.
Abruptly, that family uproots her from Mirte and leads her on an inevitable but treacherous journey to the previous site of unspeakable Human atrocities and the current home of Dwarvenkind. Though Doman offers Tair new definitions of family and love, it also reveals to her that her very existence is founded in lies. Now, tasked with an awful responsibility to the Humans of Sossoa, Tair must decide where her loyalties lie and, in the process, discover who she wants to be... And who she has always been.
In their debut fantasy novel Where the Rain Cannot Reach, Adesina Brown constructs a world rich with new languages and nuanced considerations of gender and race, ultimately contemplating how, in freeing ourselves from power, we may find true belonging.
Abruptly, that family uproots her from Mirte and leads her on an inevitable but treacherous journey to the previous site of unspeakable Human atrocities and the current home of Dwarvenkind. Though Doman offers Tair new definitions of family and love, it also reveals to her that her very existence is founded in lies. Now, tasked with an awful responsibility to the Humans of Sossoa, Tair must decide where her loyalties lie and, in the process, discover who she wants to be... And who she has always been.
In their debut fantasy novel Where the Rain Cannot Reach, Adesina Brown constructs a world rich with new languages and nuanced considerations of gender and race, ultimately contemplating how, in freeing ourselves from power, we may find true belonging.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2021
3 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 6, 2021
Currently working on book two !
July 1, 2023
ENGLISH
I was definitely intrigued by the summary. It was up my alley without a doubt. However, there was something about the book that just did not click with me, and I think it is my fault.
Let me explain.
For starters, the beginning was very interesting to me regarding the characters and how they start as a sort of found family from the first line. I mean, I like found families, so seeing how this already starts from that point it rather different, so it caught my attention.
My problem with this was the information dumping all over the book. The world building is amazing, very detailed. However, there are paragraphs upon paragraphs of only information about other species, politics between societies, how the geography works… I prefer when things are shown rather than told that forward. So yeah, it was thought to read for me because it is something I dislike very much.
There is another thing I was not expecting, and I usually do not like. It felt like a DND game, as if the characters were players and the narrator was the dungeon master. This something that does not work for me, I tried reading books with that structure, but it makes me a bit uncomfortable, as if I was peering at someone else's private party.
But like I said at the beginning, the characters and the start of the book is fascinating. So I tried to follow the book, not minding the issue I had with it. I enjoyed the relationships, the unfolding of the story and the secrets. There are many good things with this, and it is something different for what I'm used to. This is good because I try to go outside my comfort zone as much as I can, and doing that I found some of my favourite books.
Overall, I think this could be good for people who do not mind info dumping, enjoy very complex and detailed worlds and even like DnD sort of games. This was not for me and I really am sorry I did not like it, but I see why so many people enjoy it.
-Ele
SPANISH
Lo primero es que la sinopsis me intrigó mucho. Sin duda, el libro me interesaba. Sin embargo, hay algo que no me acaba de encajar y creo que es cosa mía.
Me explico.
Para empezar, el principio me pareció muy interesante en cuanto a los personajes y cómo empiezan como una especie de familia encontrada desde el primer punto. Es decir, me gustan las familias encontradas, así que ver cómo empieza desde ese punto es bastante diferente, por lo que me llamó la atención.
Mi problema con esto fue el vertido de información a lo largo de todo el libro. La construcción del mundo es increíble, muy detallada. Sin embargo, hay párrafos y párrafos de información sobre otras especies, política entre sociedades, cómo funciona la geografía... Prefiero que me muestren las cosas a que me las cuenten. Así que sí, me costó leerlo porque es algo que me disgusta mucho.
Hay otra cosa que no me esperaba y que no me suele gustar. Parecía un juego de DND, como si los personajes fueran jugadores y el narrador el director de la mazmorra. Esto es algo que no me funciona, he intentado leer libros con esa estructura pero me incomoda un poco, como si estuviera espiando la fiesta privada de otra persona.
Pero como dije al principio los personajes y el comienzo del libro es realmente interesante. Así que intenté seguir el libro sin importarme esas cosas que no me gustaban. Me gustaron las relaciones, el desarrollo de la historia y los secretos. Tiene muchas cosas buenas y es algo diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada. Esto es bueno porque trato de salir de mi zona de confort tanto como puedo y haciendo eso he encontrado algunos de mis libros favoritos.
En general, creo que esto podría ser bueno para las personas a las que no les importa el volcado de información, disfrutan de mundos muy complejos y detallados e incluso les gustan los juegos tipo DND. No era para mí y siento mucho que no me gustara, pero entiendo por qué tanta gente lo disfruta.
-Ele
LINKS TO BE POSTED
I was definitely intrigued by the summary. It was up my alley without a doubt. However, there was something about the book that just did not click with me, and I think it is my fault.
Let me explain.
For starters, the beginning was very interesting to me regarding the characters and how they start as a sort of found family from the first line. I mean, I like found families, so seeing how this already starts from that point it rather different, so it caught my attention.
My problem with this was the information dumping all over the book. The world building is amazing, very detailed. However, there are paragraphs upon paragraphs of only information about other species, politics between societies, how the geography works… I prefer when things are shown rather than told that forward. So yeah, it was thought to read for me because it is something I dislike very much.
There is another thing I was not expecting, and I usually do not like. It felt like a DND game, as if the characters were players and the narrator was the dungeon master. This something that does not work for me, I tried reading books with that structure, but it makes me a bit uncomfortable, as if I was peering at someone else's private party.
But like I said at the beginning, the characters and the start of the book is fascinating. So I tried to follow the book, not minding the issue I had with it. I enjoyed the relationships, the unfolding of the story and the secrets. There are many good things with this, and it is something different for what I'm used to. This is good because I try to go outside my comfort zone as much as I can, and doing that I found some of my favourite books.
Overall, I think this could be good for people who do not mind info dumping, enjoy very complex and detailed worlds and even like DnD sort of games. This was not for me and I really am sorry I did not like it, but I see why so many people enjoy it.
-Ele
SPANISH
Lo primero es que la sinopsis me intrigó mucho. Sin duda, el libro me interesaba. Sin embargo, hay algo que no me acaba de encajar y creo que es cosa mía.
Me explico.
Para empezar, el principio me pareció muy interesante en cuanto a los personajes y cómo empiezan como una especie de familia encontrada desde el primer punto. Es decir, me gustan las familias encontradas, así que ver cómo empieza desde ese punto es bastante diferente, por lo que me llamó la atención.
Mi problema con esto fue el vertido de información a lo largo de todo el libro. La construcción del mundo es increíble, muy detallada. Sin embargo, hay párrafos y párrafos de información sobre otras especies, política entre sociedades, cómo funciona la geografía... Prefiero que me muestren las cosas a que me las cuenten. Así que sí, me costó leerlo porque es algo que me disgusta mucho.
Hay otra cosa que no me esperaba y que no me suele gustar. Parecía un juego de DND, como si los personajes fueran jugadores y el narrador el director de la mazmorra. Esto es algo que no me funciona, he intentado leer libros con esa estructura pero me incomoda un poco, como si estuviera espiando la fiesta privada de otra persona.
Pero como dije al principio los personajes y el comienzo del libro es realmente interesante. Así que intenté seguir el libro sin importarme esas cosas que no me gustaban. Me gustaron las relaciones, el desarrollo de la historia y los secretos. Tiene muchas cosas buenas y es algo diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada. Esto es bueno porque trato de salir de mi zona de confort tanto como puedo y haciendo eso he encontrado algunos de mis libros favoritos.
En general, creo que esto podría ser bueno para las personas a las que no les importa el volcado de información, disfrutan de mundos muy complejos y detallados e incluso les gustan los juegos tipo DND. No era para mí y siento mucho que no me gustara, pero entiendo por qué tanta gente lo disfruta.
-Ele
LINKS TO BE POSTED
June 10, 2023
3.5 upped to 4
It starts quite slow and then it takes speed and I read it as fast as I could.
Good storytelling, world building and plot development.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It starts quite slow and then it takes speed and I read it as fast as I could.
Good storytelling, world building and plot development.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
May 25, 2023
Where the Rain Cannot Reach is the first installment in an epic fantasy set in a multi-species world vaguely reminiscent of Middle Earth, but with fairies and many more genders.
While I enjoyed some aspects of the worldbuilding, particularly around the ways the different cultures butted up against each other, ultimately Where the Rain Cannot Reach fell flat for me in several ways. I disliked how much of the plot was propelled by keeping Tair in the dark about things, and not knowing the actual stakes of the journey the crew sets out on until pretty far into the novel made it hard for me to be invested in the outcome.
I also didn’t love the pacing or the writing style in Where the Rain Cannot Reach. The narration was inconsistently distant from the action, sometimes seeming immediate and sometimes at a far remove with no real rhyme or reason I could discern. The plot moves forward at a lurching pace, skipping over or summarizing things I would have liked elaborated. There were weird repetitions and poorly signposted flashbacks. I also found the constant reference to characters as “the Elf” or “the Human” to be kind of grating, but I’m fully aware that that’s kind of a personal thing.
All in all, Where the Rain Cannot Reach felt like a pretty solid second draft, not a finished novel, and that really impacted my ability to enjoy the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for the review copy
While I enjoyed some aspects of the worldbuilding, particularly around the ways the different cultures butted up against each other, ultimately Where the Rain Cannot Reach fell flat for me in several ways. I disliked how much of the plot was propelled by keeping Tair in the dark about things, and not knowing the actual stakes of the journey the crew sets out on until pretty far into the novel made it hard for me to be invested in the outcome.
I also didn’t love the pacing or the writing style in Where the Rain Cannot Reach. The narration was inconsistently distant from the action, sometimes seeming immediate and sometimes at a far remove with no real rhyme or reason I could discern. The plot moves forward at a lurching pace, skipping over or summarizing things I would have liked elaborated. There were weird repetitions and poorly signposted flashbacks. I also found the constant reference to characters as “the Elf” or “the Human” to be kind of grating, but I’m fully aware that that’s kind of a personal thing.
All in all, Where the Rain Cannot Reach felt like a pretty solid second draft, not a finished novel, and that really impacted my ability to enjoy the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for the review copy
May 24, 2023
Told in third person narrative, Where The Rain Cannot Reach by Adesina Brown is a good debut novel with a lot of potential. In my personal opinion, it was a mixture of good and bad.
To begin with, I appreciate the unique approach taken by Brown in portraying humans as the antagonists in Where The Rain Cannot Reach. Unlike many other fantasy narratives where humans are often portrayed as victims of other races, Brown challenges this convention by shedding light on the fact that humans themselves can be responsible for destructive actions. It serves as a thought-provoking reality check, considering the adverse impact our species has on the planet.
Another aspect I appreciated in Brown’s novel was their attempt to address significant contemporary social issues such as racism, gender, and sexual identity. As a poc bisexual cis female, I am always drawn to literature that provides representation and promotes awareness. However, while I value these efforts, I found that some of the incorporation of these themes felt overly explicit and intrusive. At times, it seemed to detract from the overall narrative and my enjoyment of the story. I believe a more skillful integration could have struck a better balance, allowing the themes to enhance the reading experience without overwhelming it.
On the other hand, I found myself dissatisfied with the world building and pacing in Where The Rain Cannot Reach. It felt like a rollercoaster ride, with inconsistent experiences. There were moments when the world building was masterfully executed, providing exquisite details, while at other times, it seemed lacking and insufficient. The pacing of the story was similarly erratic. There were instances where the narrative flowed smoothly, engaging me effortlessly, but there were also moments of sluggishness, where the story lagged, and instances of rapid acceleration, leaving me feeling disoriented.
Although I admired Brown’s inclusion of new languages in the narrative, I felt that it occupied a significant portion of the book without serving a necessary purpose. This focus on linguistic aspects detracted from addressing weaker aspects of the story that could have been given more attention.
Moreover, I observed a lack of substantial character development throughout the novel, extending to both the protagonist Tair and the supporting characters such as Silaa, Shianna, Alyn, Bonn, and Rose. As I mentioned earlier, while Brown made efforts to address social issues and introduce new languages, it felt as though there was insufficient focus on allowing the characters to evolve and strengthen, which is a crucial aspect of storytelling. Consequently, I found myself unsatisfied as a reader. The portrayal of the found family dynamic within the story also felt contrived and unconvincing, as there was insufficient exploration and growth in those relationships.
I find it fascinating when a book sparks numerous ‘why?’s, introducing an air of mystery and intrigue to the plot at the start. However, when the grand revelation finally unfolded, explaining the reasons behind all the secrecy, I shared the same perplexed and incredulous reaction as Tair. The explanation provided failed to convince me in any way. While I would like to delve into specific points and analyze them further, I must refrain from doing so to avoid spoilers. Let’s just say that I was thoroughly unimpressed with the overall plot.
In summary, Where The Rain Cannot Reach presents a promising debut novel with evident potential for growth. However, I felt that Brown attempted to tackle an excessive number of challenges within a single book, resulting in a somewhat diminished reading experience for me. Please note that my critique is not intended as an insult to Brown’s writing ability, as I believe she is a skilled writer. Rather, I believe that at times, a more focused approach could have enhanced the overall impact of the story. Sometimes, less can indeed be more.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to NetGalley, Atmosphere Press, and Adesina Brown for affording me the opportunity to read a copy of Where The Rain Cannot Reach. I must commend the remarkable artistry displayed on the book cover. The presentation of the Yellow Sun and the Red Sun with the dagger was truly captivating and visually appealing.
To begin with, I appreciate the unique approach taken by Brown in portraying humans as the antagonists in Where The Rain Cannot Reach. Unlike many other fantasy narratives where humans are often portrayed as victims of other races, Brown challenges this convention by shedding light on the fact that humans themselves can be responsible for destructive actions. It serves as a thought-provoking reality check, considering the adverse impact our species has on the planet.
Another aspect I appreciated in Brown’s novel was their attempt to address significant contemporary social issues such as racism, gender, and sexual identity. As a poc bisexual cis female, I am always drawn to literature that provides representation and promotes awareness. However, while I value these efforts, I found that some of the incorporation of these themes felt overly explicit and intrusive. At times, it seemed to detract from the overall narrative and my enjoyment of the story. I believe a more skillful integration could have struck a better balance, allowing the themes to enhance the reading experience without overwhelming it.
On the other hand, I found myself dissatisfied with the world building and pacing in Where The Rain Cannot Reach. It felt like a rollercoaster ride, with inconsistent experiences. There were moments when the world building was masterfully executed, providing exquisite details, while at other times, it seemed lacking and insufficient. The pacing of the story was similarly erratic. There were instances where the narrative flowed smoothly, engaging me effortlessly, but there were also moments of sluggishness, where the story lagged, and instances of rapid acceleration, leaving me feeling disoriented.
Although I admired Brown’s inclusion of new languages in the narrative, I felt that it occupied a significant portion of the book without serving a necessary purpose. This focus on linguistic aspects detracted from addressing weaker aspects of the story that could have been given more attention.
Moreover, I observed a lack of substantial character development throughout the novel, extending to both the protagonist Tair and the supporting characters such as Silaa, Shianna, Alyn, Bonn, and Rose. As I mentioned earlier, while Brown made efforts to address social issues and introduce new languages, it felt as though there was insufficient focus on allowing the characters to evolve and strengthen, which is a crucial aspect of storytelling. Consequently, I found myself unsatisfied as a reader. The portrayal of the found family dynamic within the story also felt contrived and unconvincing, as there was insufficient exploration and growth in those relationships.
I find it fascinating when a book sparks numerous ‘why?’s, introducing an air of mystery and intrigue to the plot at the start. However, when the grand revelation finally unfolded, explaining the reasons behind all the secrecy, I shared the same perplexed and incredulous reaction as Tair. The explanation provided failed to convince me in any way. While I would like to delve into specific points and analyze them further, I must refrain from doing so to avoid spoilers. Let’s just say that I was thoroughly unimpressed with the overall plot.
In summary, Where The Rain Cannot Reach presents a promising debut novel with evident potential for growth. However, I felt that Brown attempted to tackle an excessive number of challenges within a single book, resulting in a somewhat diminished reading experience for me. Please note that my critique is not intended as an insult to Brown’s writing ability, as I believe she is a skilled writer. Rather, I believe that at times, a more focused approach could have enhanced the overall impact of the story. Sometimes, less can indeed be more.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to NetGalley, Atmosphere Press, and Adesina Brown for affording me the opportunity to read a copy of Where The Rain Cannot Reach. I must commend the remarkable artistry displayed on the book cover. The presentation of the Yellow Sun and the Red Sun with the dagger was truly captivating and visually appealing.
August 6, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
I loved the diversity between the races and gender fluidity. Non-binary being such a normal thing in this book is heartwarming to see.
Seeing Tair grow and go through challenges between her family and destiny kept me turning the page. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
I loved the diversity between the races and gender fluidity. Non-binary being such a normal thing in this book is heartwarming to see.
Seeing Tair grow and go through challenges between her family and destiny kept me turning the page. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
February 4, 2022
I wrote a review of WTRCR @Luna Station Quarterly: http://lunastationquarterly.com/revie...
July 6, 2023
1 star
A Human that grew up around Elves (in a world filled with all types of fantasy species) with her small, diverse family is suddenly forced on the quest to save the rest of the Humans, and the other species.
I am very sad to say that I did not have a good time with this book...
While this book had a lot of potential, it feels like I read a high fantasy with at least 500 pages missing. For a book that has so many different species, a huge world, different cultures and languages, and so much more, it is very disappointing in the world building aspect of it. There is obviously some world building, but if you asked me now what I know of the world, I could not give you a coherent answer. To me, this book very much feels like an idea in the making and not a finished product. Also, I am very disappointed at how the magic system was handled. Since the MC knows NOTHING, neither do the readers. This is a fantasy book filled with magic, and I know nothing about it... I did very much like the queernormativity in this book. It is very much the core of this whole world, and it makes this book amazingly diverse in a very natural way. I am a big fan of languages in books, and this book had quite a few of them. Unfortunately, because of the general lack of world building, the languages did not manage to elevate this book.
The plot and the flow of the book are very inconsistent. The main plot device is the fact that the MC knows nothing, and so the reader knows nothing as well. It is fun to use that device every now and then, but after the seventh "wtf is going on here?!", it gets boring and annoying. Not once while reading this did I wonder if I had a faulty copy of the book and if my chapters got jumbled or were straight up missing... Also, the ending is so rushed, undervelming, and very much makes no sense. I ended this book, and the only thoughts in my head were - what? how? and why?
The writing style is not bad per se, but it is very detached most of the time, with moments of connection to the characters, and the change between the two doesn't really make sense. I very much feel like the author is still searching for the writing style that works for them. They have potential, but they are not quite there yet. I do have to say that I discovered that my very strong pet peeve is when the characters are sometimes addressed by their names and other times by their species, like the Elf, the Human, etc. I never knew that that was something I would discover...
I do not care about the characters at all. They are superficial, and there is no character development. We are told there is, but it is nowhere to be seen. And the relationships are just there, with no buildup. There was a perfect found family potential that was set from the beginning and did not have to be created but only developed, and it was pushed aside for the whole mates thing that is in no way important.
Tair is just here. I have never read about a main character who is so unimportant. Everything is happening to and around her. She literally does nothing. And when she decides to do something, she still does nothing. I don't really see what the point of her is except to be able to use MC knows nothing, and so the reader knows nothing, as a plot device.
I honestly can't remember which one is Silaa and which one is Shianna. Which should not be possible since one is a village Elf, and the other is the heir of the Dwarves. Their role in this book is to show that there are mates here and how they function. And to keep everyone in the dark.
Alyn is interesting, but like everything and everyone, underdeveloped... There isn't much to say about him because, again, he is not really important.
We were told they are this amazing found family, and they really could've been, but it ended up with everyone just lying and hiding stuff for each other without ever resolving anything.
Bonn is the love interest. That is it. Their only characteristic is that they are Tair's mate. I still have no idea why that information was in any way important for this specific book.
The only character that had any depth at all in this book is Rose, but not even they could make this any better.
The character that I want to know about is the King. Nothing about him was really explained. The plot twist was actually unexpected, and it was the only moment I got intrigued, and then it just sped through without explaining anything. I would not mind reading a short story that would give us his backstory. For me, definitely the best and most interesting part of the book.
CONCLUSION
This was not a book for me. I didn't enjoy it, and I didn't have fun reading it. While this book has potential, it was not executed properly. If it were edited and more developed, this book could be a very good high fantasy...
There are good reviews for this book, and what doesn't work for me might work for you. I personally don't recommend this book, but for every book, I believe you should give it a try and see for yourself.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Human that grew up around Elves (in a world filled with all types of fantasy species) with her small, diverse family is suddenly forced on the quest to save the rest of the Humans, and the other species.
I am very sad to say that I did not have a good time with this book...
While this book had a lot of potential, it feels like I read a high fantasy with at least 500 pages missing. For a book that has so many different species, a huge world, different cultures and languages, and so much more, it is very disappointing in the world building aspect of it. There is obviously some world building, but if you asked me now what I know of the world, I could not give you a coherent answer. To me, this book very much feels like an idea in the making and not a finished product. Also, I am very disappointed at how the magic system was handled. Since the MC knows NOTHING, neither do the readers. This is a fantasy book filled with magic, and I know nothing about it... I did very much like the queernormativity in this book. It is very much the core of this whole world, and it makes this book amazingly diverse in a very natural way. I am a big fan of languages in books, and this book had quite a few of them. Unfortunately, because of the general lack of world building, the languages did not manage to elevate this book.
The plot and the flow of the book are very inconsistent. The main plot device is the fact that the MC knows nothing, and so the reader knows nothing as well. It is fun to use that device every now and then, but after the seventh "wtf is going on here?!", it gets boring and annoying. Not once while reading this did I wonder if I had a faulty copy of the book and if my chapters got jumbled or were straight up missing... Also, the ending is so rushed, undervelming, and very much makes no sense. I ended this book, and the only thoughts in my head were - what? how? and why?
The writing style is not bad per se, but it is very detached most of the time, with moments of connection to the characters, and the change between the two doesn't really make sense. I very much feel like the author is still searching for the writing style that works for them. They have potential, but they are not quite there yet. I do have to say that I discovered that my very strong pet peeve is when the characters are sometimes addressed by their names and other times by their species, like the Elf, the Human, etc. I never knew that that was something I would discover...
I do not care about the characters at all. They are superficial, and there is no character development. We are told there is, but it is nowhere to be seen. And the relationships are just there, with no buildup. There was a perfect found family potential that was set from the beginning and did not have to be created but only developed, and it was pushed aside for the whole mates thing that is in no way important.
Tair is just here. I have never read about a main character who is so unimportant. Everything is happening to and around her. She literally does nothing. And when she decides to do something, she still does nothing. I don't really see what the point of her is except to be able to use MC knows nothing, and so the reader knows nothing, as a plot device.
I honestly can't remember which one is Silaa and which one is Shianna. Which should not be possible since one is a village Elf, and the other is the heir of the Dwarves. Their role in this book is to show that there are mates here and how they function. And to keep everyone in the dark.
Alyn is interesting, but like everything and everyone, underdeveloped... There isn't much to say about him because, again, he is not really important.
We were told they are this amazing found family, and they really could've been, but it ended up with everyone just lying and hiding stuff for each other without ever resolving anything.
Bonn is the love interest. That is it. Their only characteristic is that they are Tair's mate. I still have no idea why that information was in any way important for this specific book.
The only character that had any depth at all in this book is Rose, but not even they could make this any better.
The character that I want to know about is the King. Nothing about him was really explained. The plot twist was actually unexpected, and it was the only moment I got intrigued, and then it just sped through without explaining anything. I would not mind reading a short story that would give us his backstory. For me, definitely the best and most interesting part of the book.
CONCLUSION
This was not a book for me. I didn't enjoy it, and I didn't have fun reading it. While this book has potential, it was not executed properly. If it were edited and more developed, this book could be a very good high fantasy...
There are good reviews for this book, and what doesn't work for me might work for you. I personally don't recommend this book, but for every book, I believe you should give it a try and see for yourself.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2023
Creating a new and interesting fantasy world in the shadow of Middle Earth—a contemporary mountain built on hundreds of years of folklore that has thousands of similar worlds dusting its stony base, often little more than hillocks in valley consumed by its yawning shadow—has to be daunting, to say the least. Yet this world of faeries, elves, dwarves, and more does feel unique, and it feels realized and in some ways unknowably large. The world-building here was done well, our ignorance mirroring our untraveled protagonist, and so even though I felt the world is large, and understood by the author, there is still a lot of mystery to me, which is fertile ground for future installments in the series. There are whole magic systems that are mentioned just barely in passing, all of which we only can a glimpse of, living with one character the way we do, but it never felt like the author didn’t have a firm command of this world and how much they wanted to reveal to us.
Where this debut really shines though, is the characters. Again, we see everyone through the eyes of our protagonist, and that colors how we experience and understand them, but even with through that lens there is a good variety of complicated, engaging characters that feel like they fit in this world and are more than just place holders or archetypes. There are rich personal lives that we only get glimpses of, our perspective being limited, but it is enough to establish an interest and curiosity. It is clear there has been a lot of care that went into creating these characters, and the world and bodies and cultural ideas they live in, and that really compels investment from the reader.
The story itself is exciting. There aren’t a lot of untrodden paths in the fantasy-genre space, but this story manages to meander across a few different trails, bringing together prophecy and war and magic and fate and family in interesting ways. What does hold the novel back a little, though, is some of the writing, which feels overly expository and hand-holdy at places. It wasn’t ever bad, but there were definitely sections that felt like they could use a little more editing, more emotion and action and less mere description. The other thing that did pull down the rating for me a bit was that there just seemed to be numerous places where it wouldn’t be clear as to why things were happening or why decisions were being made except that they felt like formalities for the plot. The way characters disappear and reappear, and the totally unconvincing way our protagonist makes decisions and keeps changing their mind and rationale, just felt baffling. Not like a confused character in the middle of an unprecedented, life-altering situation, but rather someone following what seemed convenient to allow the action of the last half of that chapter to play out, only for their decision or ideas or actions to change in the next chapter to meet the needs of the next bit of story. Ideally I wanted to feel like the character went on an internal journey, too, that’s always the goal, but it just felt clunky. It felt like there was an outline of things that had to happen and the lines between plot points were never really fleshed out in smooth and convincing ways. It really felt like boxes being checked off as the story moved forward, and the characters’ internal development didn’t feel like it had equal priority. This led to things feeling very constructed, or orchestrated, it didn’t always feel like a naturally flowing story.
The writing was enough to kind of bring me down a little on this book. If you get frustrated or impatient with somewhat clunky writing, then you may sour on this novel a few chapters in. The authorial devotion to the characters and the rich world-building, along with the overall intrigue of the story and where it may go, is enough to rehabilitate my score a little. This is a very soft four stars for me, but the story feels too earnest and full of delight to give it less. What really lets it sit at four instead of three is that I care enough about the story to want to know what happens in the next installment, even if I hope some of the writing feels less compulsory and more natural or instinctive moving forward.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Atmosphere Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Where this debut really shines though, is the characters. Again, we see everyone through the eyes of our protagonist, and that colors how we experience and understand them, but even with through that lens there is a good variety of complicated, engaging characters that feel like they fit in this world and are more than just place holders or archetypes. There are rich personal lives that we only get glimpses of, our perspective being limited, but it is enough to establish an interest and curiosity. It is clear there has been a lot of care that went into creating these characters, and the world and bodies and cultural ideas they live in, and that really compels investment from the reader.
The story itself is exciting. There aren’t a lot of untrodden paths in the fantasy-genre space, but this story manages to meander across a few different trails, bringing together prophecy and war and magic and fate and family in interesting ways. What does hold the novel back a little, though, is some of the writing, which feels overly expository and hand-holdy at places. It wasn’t ever bad, but there were definitely sections that felt like they could use a little more editing, more emotion and action and less mere description. The other thing that did pull down the rating for me a bit was that there just seemed to be numerous places where it wouldn’t be clear as to why things were happening or why decisions were being made except that they felt like formalities for the plot. The way characters disappear and reappear, and the totally unconvincing way our protagonist makes decisions and keeps changing their mind and rationale, just felt baffling. Not like a confused character in the middle of an unprecedented, life-altering situation, but rather someone following what seemed convenient to allow the action of the last half of that chapter to play out, only for their decision or ideas or actions to change in the next chapter to meet the needs of the next bit of story. Ideally I wanted to feel like the character went on an internal journey, too, that’s always the goal, but it just felt clunky. It felt like there was an outline of things that had to happen and the lines between plot points were never really fleshed out in smooth and convincing ways. It really felt like boxes being checked off as the story moved forward, and the characters’ internal development didn’t feel like it had equal priority. This led to things feeling very constructed, or orchestrated, it didn’t always feel like a naturally flowing story.
The writing was enough to kind of bring me down a little on this book. If you get frustrated or impatient with somewhat clunky writing, then you may sour on this novel a few chapters in. The authorial devotion to the characters and the rich world-building, along with the overall intrigue of the story and where it may go, is enough to rehabilitate my score a little. This is a very soft four stars for me, but the story feels too earnest and full of delight to give it less. What really lets it sit at four instead of three is that I care enough about the story to want to know what happens in the next installment, even if I hope some of the writing feels less compulsory and more natural or instinctive moving forward.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Atmosphere Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC.
Overview: epic fantasy with a lot of potential that just fell furstratingly flat for me.
Some things worked for me in this book, and I want to address those first.
-Queernormativity: Brown uses the fantasy genre so well to show other ways of being and possibilities for identity, gender, love, and family that aren't confined to the binary. This is added to the story intentionally and elevates the worldbuilding.
-Language-building: This is a subset of the worldbuilding in the book. I found a lot of parallels to how Tolkien's stories integrate languages and linguistic/cultural diversity.
-Atmosphere: I felt very drawn in whenever we had scenes in nature; Brown describes those very beautifully.
-Imaginative-ity (?): I think that Brown has so much potential to add to the epic/high fantasy genre and introduce a fresh and unique perspective while also using elements that readers of the genre are familiar with.
-Found/unconventional family (though the actual family was underdeveloped and the whole "mate" thing did not work for me at all.)
What didn't work for me:
-The characters
-The main character (Tair)
-The plot structure
-The pacing and time
-The dialogue and Tair's inner dialogue
-Tair's moral conflicts and circular character growth
-The main conflict
-The "chosen one" trope
-Constantly refering to characters by "The _____" (insert race of character)
-Infodumping, overexplaining, showing not telling
So much was going on, yet so little was going on. Tair is constantly in the dark, and because of that, the plot is deeply linked to that, so the reader is also in the dark while also facing a barrage of information that makes it hard to distinguish what is important and why everything is happening. Tair is the "chosen one" throughout the book, and when we finally see her going on her individual journey (because she basically has no autonomy before this), she still doesn't DO ANYTHING. We find out why she was so important all along, even though it doesn't make sense, and when we do find out and she confronts the Big Bads, the payoff in the last ten percent or so of the book is both over- and underwhelming.
I saw another reviewer describe this as a solid second draft, and I fully echo that sentiment. Does Brown and this series have potential? Yes, absolutely. I want them to keep on going and keep showing how fantasy is the perfect vehicle for imaginative queernormativity. Will I continue to read this series? Absolutely not. I can see myself picking up Brown's work in the future outside of this series, but I was tired out by this book and don't particularly want to read the next installments.
Overview: epic fantasy with a lot of potential that just fell furstratingly flat for me.
Some things worked for me in this book, and I want to address those first.
-Queernormativity: Brown uses the fantasy genre so well to show other ways of being and possibilities for identity, gender, love, and family that aren't confined to the binary. This is added to the story intentionally and elevates the worldbuilding.
-Language-building: This is a subset of the worldbuilding in the book. I found a lot of parallels to how Tolkien's stories integrate languages and linguistic/cultural diversity.
-Atmosphere: I felt very drawn in whenever we had scenes in nature; Brown describes those very beautifully.
-Imaginative-ity (?): I think that Brown has so much potential to add to the epic/high fantasy genre and introduce a fresh and unique perspective while also using elements that readers of the genre are familiar with.
-Found/unconventional family (though the actual family was underdeveloped and the whole "mate" thing did not work for me at all.)
What didn't work for me:
-The characters
-The main character (Tair)
-The plot structure
-The pacing and time
-The dialogue and Tair's inner dialogue
-Tair's moral conflicts and circular character growth
-The main conflict
-The "chosen one" trope
-Constantly refering to characters by "The _____" (insert race of character)
-Infodumping, overexplaining, showing not telling
So much was going on, yet so little was going on. Tair is constantly in the dark, and because of that, the plot is deeply linked to that, so the reader is also in the dark while also facing a barrage of information that makes it hard to distinguish what is important and why everything is happening. Tair is the "chosen one" throughout the book, and when we finally see her going on her individual journey (because she basically has no autonomy before this), she still doesn't DO ANYTHING. We find out why she was so important all along, even though it doesn't make sense, and when we do find out and she confronts the Big Bads, the payoff in the last ten percent or so of the book is both over- and underwhelming.
I saw another reviewer describe this as a solid second draft, and I fully echo that sentiment. Does Brown and this series have potential? Yes, absolutely. I want them to keep on going and keep showing how fantasy is the perfect vehicle for imaginative queernormativity. Will I continue to read this series? Absolutely not. I can see myself picking up Brown's work in the future outside of this series, but I was tired out by this book and don't particularly want to read the next installments.
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June 19, 2023the evils Humanity committed were certainly more than mere mistakes.
I felt that we received a lot of convoluted information in the beginning but it was either ill-paced or haphazardly strung together. The story itself had merit and I was very interested in it, but the way it was presented just did not vibe well with me. There was a lot of repetition and some of the sentence structure felt bland. The way this story was told didn't allow me to feel apart of the tale - I felt very much kept at a distance from the characters and the plotline, not unlike our main character. It very much felt like I was being told about the story instead of being part of the story which made it difficult for me to really get into it.
”It is in the refusal to defend others that one loses their ability to defend themself”
Our MC is young but I found that with them constantly being kept in the dark, they weren’t able to have strong character growth, I was confused that even during important scenes, characters refused to “let them in on it”. As for the other characters, I liked them well enough but once again I wanted more; to me they felt bland, very one dimensional. In fantasy, especially in “whole new worlds” I really need the characters to feel real, to be able to fully understand their emotions in a world so different than reality.
Much of her life had been crowded by noise - noise meant to hide the silence beneath the surface.”
Author clearly has the ability to write poetic verse and give the story depth but there just isn’t enough to paint a full picture. And with a story such as this - a story that clearly has a strong premise, what we are given just isn’t enough. Every time I saw this ability I craved it in the rest of the story but it poked through at random parts like sunlight through clouds. It wasn’t consistent, which was disappointing.
I did enjoy the complexities of the different communities and realms, I also could appreciate the need and feelings of wanting to belong to something but feeling other. Once our MC started on their adventure you could see the story start to come together but at 70% of the way through the book, thats a little long to wait for things to start feeling more seemless. I really think that author has the ability to create a great story but the set up of this one made it fall short for me.
I felt that we received a lot of convoluted information in the beginning but it was either ill-paced or haphazardly strung together. The story itself had merit and I was very interested in it, but the way it was presented just did not vibe well with me. There was a lot of repetition and some of the sentence structure felt bland. The way this story was told didn't allow me to feel apart of the tale - I felt very much kept at a distance from the characters and the plotline, not unlike our main character. It very much felt like I was being told about the story instead of being part of the story which made it difficult for me to really get into it.
”It is in the refusal to defend others that one loses their ability to defend themself”
Our MC is young but I found that with them constantly being kept in the dark, they weren’t able to have strong character growth, I was confused that even during important scenes, characters refused to “let them in on it”. As for the other characters, I liked them well enough but once again I wanted more; to me they felt bland, very one dimensional. In fantasy, especially in “whole new worlds” I really need the characters to feel real, to be able to fully understand their emotions in a world so different than reality.
Much of her life had been crowded by noise - noise meant to hide the silence beneath the surface.”
Author clearly has the ability to write poetic verse and give the story depth but there just isn’t enough to paint a full picture. And with a story such as this - a story that clearly has a strong premise, what we are given just isn’t enough. Every time I saw this ability I craved it in the rest of the story but it poked through at random parts like sunlight through clouds. It wasn’t consistent, which was disappointing.
I did enjoy the complexities of the different communities and realms, I also could appreciate the need and feelings of wanting to belong to something but feeling other. Once our MC started on their adventure you could see the story start to come together but at 70% of the way through the book, thats a little long to wait for things to start feeling more seemless. I really think that author has the ability to create a great story but the set up of this one made it fall short for me.
June 6, 2023
This is a great fantasy read, where the story itself is a whirlwind, but sticks to really strong themes like belonging and identity.
Tair was left in the dark wood when she was a child. She is raised in the elven valley of Mitre by an Elf, a Dwarf and a Fell, her protectors and her family. Each have their own roles in raising and protecting her, but unbeknown to the rest of the family, the dwarf Shianna had an extra role to play but in her bid to protect Tair, she has hidden some truths that will tear the family apart. Human kind have committed horrific atrocities against all non-human, and Tair has a key role to play in righting those wrongs.
Did I love Tair? Nope! She came across as a little bit if a brat, and twice chastised herself for not making more of an effort to get to know the people around her. However, as the story progressed and her morals and beliefs became more apparent, she started to grow on me. I think that’s the sign of good writing, loving a book where the main character gets under your skin in whatever ways.
I loved the use of gender neutral pronouns throughout. I love the way that the various languages were actually written on the page and explained through characters responses, very skilfully done. Made a very refreshing change to simply saying which language is being spoken. It’s a short one which really packs a punch. I found myself laughing and even shed a tear or two! I couldn’t put it down.
The only downside of this book is that there doesn’t seem to be any plans for a sequel, I’ll keep my eyes peeled though!
Tair was left in the dark wood when she was a child. She is raised in the elven valley of Mitre by an Elf, a Dwarf and a Fell, her protectors and her family. Each have their own roles in raising and protecting her, but unbeknown to the rest of the family, the dwarf Shianna had an extra role to play but in her bid to protect Tair, she has hidden some truths that will tear the family apart. Human kind have committed horrific atrocities against all non-human, and Tair has a key role to play in righting those wrongs.
Did I love Tair? Nope! She came across as a little bit if a brat, and twice chastised herself for not making more of an effort to get to know the people around her. However, as the story progressed and her morals and beliefs became more apparent, she started to grow on me. I think that’s the sign of good writing, loving a book where the main character gets under your skin in whatever ways.
I loved the use of gender neutral pronouns throughout. I love the way that the various languages were actually written on the page and explained through characters responses, very skilfully done. Made a very refreshing change to simply saying which language is being spoken. It’s a short one which really packs a punch. I found myself laughing and even shed a tear or two! I couldn’t put it down.
The only downside of this book is that there doesn’t seem to be any plans for a sequel, I’ll keep my eyes peeled though!
June 26, 2023
TL;DR: Refreshing queer worldbuilding let down by a story and style that needed some additional work
(eARC provided by Netgalley)
I will always appreciate when a book like Where the Rain Cannot Reach showcases queerness in its fantasy worldbuilding; it's great that this book explores how gender, sexuality, and the language used for those things are culturally contingent. However, this novel does not feel right narratively: the pace is strained by large bits of exposition, quick actions, and characters appearing and disappearing. The romance in particular feels bizarre, coming out of nowhere (I am a very hard sell on the idea of "mates", and it does too much heavy lifting here). More pressingly, with regards to the central quest, I just never bought into it; characters can definitely have flawed plans, but Tair's intended role here seemed so illogical that it couldn't be real (indeed, it is reliant upon very late and rapid revelations). I left its hurried conclusion feeling frustrated and confused rather than intrigued by where the series might go next. A shame, as a lot of the key pieces here make a lot of sense, but it just feels like it needed to be revised a fair bit further.
Rating breakdown
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
3/10 in personal rating system
(eARC provided by Netgalley)
I will always appreciate when a book like Where the Rain Cannot Reach showcases queerness in its fantasy worldbuilding; it's great that this book explores how gender, sexuality, and the language used for those things are culturally contingent. However, this novel does not feel right narratively: the pace is strained by large bits of exposition, quick actions, and characters appearing and disappearing. The romance in particular feels bizarre, coming out of nowhere (I am a very hard sell on the idea of "mates", and it does too much heavy lifting here). More pressingly, with regards to the central quest, I just never bought into it; characters can definitely have flawed plans, but Tair's intended role here seemed so illogical that it couldn't be real (indeed, it is reliant upon very late and rapid revelations). I left its hurried conclusion feeling frustrated and confused rather than intrigued by where the series might go next. A shame, as a lot of the key pieces here make a lot of sense, but it just feels like it needed to be revised a fair bit further.
Rating breakdown
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
3/10 in personal rating system
June 20, 2023
Where the Rain Cannot Reach
Doman's Despair #1
Scfi-fi & Fantasy
Adesina Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The start of the book was a little too slow for me. It made it hard for me to become completely engaged from the beginning. The pacing did improve but it did feel a little inconsistent.
The world building was ok. It was more detailed in some areas than others. I liked that this wasn't the typical humans vs the fae/other mythical creatures where the humans are the victims and being oppressed. In this book, the humans are just as dangerous and responsible for horrible things happening too.
The characters were ok. I didn't connect to any of them in particular but that may be because it didn't feel like there was much character growth.
I think this book has a lot of potential. While it isn't 100% for me, I can see that other people might enjoy it.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*
Doman's Despair #1
Scfi-fi & Fantasy
Adesina Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The start of the book was a little too slow for me. It made it hard for me to become completely engaged from the beginning. The pacing did improve but it did feel a little inconsistent.
The world building was ok. It was more detailed in some areas than others. I liked that this wasn't the typical humans vs the fae/other mythical creatures where the humans are the victims and being oppressed. In this book, the humans are just as dangerous and responsible for horrible things happening too.
The characters were ok. I didn't connect to any of them in particular but that may be because it didn't feel like there was much character growth.
I think this book has a lot of potential. While it isn't 100% for me, I can see that other people might enjoy it.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*
June 9, 2023
This book was a slow go for the first half. The book really attempts to incorporate a gender inclusive world, however, the delivery on this was overdone. So much so, that not only did character descriptions get lost, but I felt that the book could have been shortened at least 1/3 with the unnecessary continuous reinforcements of the gender acknowledgments. The plot, which I will note, was overall good, was completely lost in this. The last 1/4 of the book started to finally pick up pace and become engaging. There were some major plot holes, and a lack of believability in some of the actions (or inactions) of the main stakeholders in this book. However, because of the cliffhanger, I would read the sequel.
June 4, 2023
Where the Rain Cannot Reach jumps right in to a world of incredible world building and lots of lore and characters. This is very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit with links to dwarven and Elven culture, however this is obviously very unique in its own right.
I did enjoy the overall plot and characters and thought this sounded really unique, however I struggled with the writing style/prose and pacing somewhat and I wish it was slightly shorter. I do however this will be a big hit for a lot of fantasy fans and many people will love this new world full of interesting characters.
I did enjoy the overall plot and characters and thought this sounded really unique, however I struggled with the writing style/prose and pacing somewhat and I wish it was slightly shorter. I do however this will be a big hit for a lot of fantasy fans and many people will love this new world full of interesting characters.
June 15, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
Where The Rain Cannot Reach is a slow-to-start tale of finding- yourself, where you belong, and family.
It's well written, with wonderful world building, but I think it could have stood to be longer and better developed. The characters that surround Tair all have complex motives and desires, something I would have liked to see better explored, though I understand that the limited third-person POV leaves less room for that.
Overall, while slightly lacking in places, Where The Rain Cannot Reach is a good debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more from the author.
Where The Rain Cannot Reach is a slow-to-start tale of finding- yourself, where you belong, and family.
It's well written, with wonderful world building, but I think it could have stood to be longer and better developed. The characters that surround Tair all have complex motives and desires, something I would have liked to see better explored, though I understand that the limited third-person POV leaves less room for that.
Overall, while slightly lacking in places, Where The Rain Cannot Reach is a good debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more from the author.
June 18, 2023
Thank you, Atmosphere Press, Adesina Brown, and NetGalley, for the ARC.
This world is amazing. Adesina did a fantastic job world building. I love the relationships between the characters. This is a high fantasy that will keep you guessing what is happening. Tair is learning who she is and how she fits into this world.
The world-building was really good, even though it made for a slow start in the book. It took me about 20% into the book to start picking up. But once it does, it is hard to put down.
I recommend reading this book.
This world is amazing. Adesina did a fantastic job world building. I love the relationships between the characters. This is a high fantasy that will keep you guessing what is happening. Tair is learning who she is and how she fits into this world.
The world-building was really good, even though it made for a slow start in the book. It took me about 20% into the book to start picking up. But once it does, it is hard to put down.
I recommend reading this book.
October 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Where the Rain Cannot Reach, is an inspired debut novel! This story explores the themes of belonging, loneliness, and identity. I enjoyed the world-building, and I adored Brown's vision. Initially, I struggled with the writing style, but that isn't a bad thing, it just took some time to get used to. Overall, I think that the novel was great and I can't wait to see what Brown produces in the future.
June 15, 2023
Excellent read, interesting world-building, and a whirlwind of a time. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and its breakout use of gender-neutral language. As readers, we too often find ourselves focused on fabricating the identities of the characters without letting the story do it for us. Brown crafts Tair's story in Where the Rain Cannot Reach in a way that forces the readers focus to on the page itself - a refreshing writing style overall. I look forward to reading Brown's future works.
June 15, 2023
Thank you to netgalley for the copy of this book!
I'm a bit late to the game, but absolutely astonished by this debut novel. It's a great fantasy read and is rooted in a universal longing to belong. I won't lie and say that this book didn't have its flaws, but to me... you get into a fantasy book without expecting some clunky pacing- it's the name of the game. I really enjoyed this and can't wait for the sequel!
I'm a bit late to the game, but absolutely astonished by this debut novel. It's a great fantasy read and is rooted in a universal longing to belong. I won't lie and say that this book didn't have its flaws, but to me... you get into a fantasy book without expecting some clunky pacing- it's the name of the game. I really enjoyed this and can't wait for the sequel!
October 14, 2023
2.75/5 stars! I wanted to like this book. The cover was pretty and the premise was interesting. But man the pacing was a slog. There would be random occurrences of action and then an absolute drag to get to the next point in the story where anything was happening. That being said, I really enjoyed the ending. So if you're patient, there's eventually a payoff.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 23, 2022
Loved this! Some traditional fantasy lore with a fun twist. Lots of curve balls in the story line. Sometimes feels too close to allegory, but it's helping me reexamine some of my perspectives on humanity and life. Beautifully written and rich for discussion with my book club!
May 30, 2023
i received an ARC of this!
when i read the acknowledgments and saw the author was under 20 lots of things about it clicked in for me - attempts lots of things but doesn’t necessarily pull them all off? but has an energy and a potential to it. interesting?
when i read the acknowledgments and saw the author was under 20 lots of things about it clicked in for me - attempts lots of things but doesn’t necessarily pull them all off? but has an energy and a potential to it. interesting?
June 11, 2023
Lots of feelings, lots of thoughts but not really a whole lot to words. I loved the world building and all of the information that was given while being weaved into the plot/story. I liked the twists towards the end too. If I could give 6 stars I would.
June 7, 2023
I love good imagery at the beginning of a book. It sets the mood for the rest of the book in my opinion. A slow start up but a very interesting and great told story. I enjoyed this read.
September 24, 2023
it was a little hard to get into the rhythm at the beginning and the changing pov's was sometimes confusing, but I loved the story it felt whimsical and chid-like in a sense but also very grounded in the characters and the world. I really enjoyed Tair's character she felt smart and clever and very self-aware of her situation and how much responsibility she has and took it on in a very realistic way. I wished we had more time with Bonn but hopefully, that's in the next installment. This was a very unique story that felt foreign and familiar at the same time and made me feel like I was in a true fantasy.
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