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45 reviews

Sydney

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Sydney is Currently Reading

Sydney is currently reading

Beloved

by Toni Morrison

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May 23, 2025 07:05PM

Sydney is currently reading

Theory (The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming #1)

by Sienna Tristen (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in January 2020

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Sydney said: " *This review contains very minor spoilers (the name of a being unique to the world, and my brief opinion on the story structure)

Speak of this to no one.

My god. I just finished this book so this is going to be a whirlwind of thoughts and sloppy gramma *This review contains very minor spoilers (the name of a being unique to the world, and my brief opinion on the story structure)

Speak of this to no one.

My god. I just finished this book so this is going to be a whirlwind of thoughts and sloppy grammar that I’m going to try to form into coherent sentences, but I want to get it all out now while it’s still fresh.

This book is the kind of story I wish I could’ve written.

It’s simply one of the most original, creative, and masterfully put together books I’ve encountered. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but this book reads in the same way that "All the Light We Cannot See" was for me. It feels like each word was meticulously and painstakingly selected for each individual appearance. You can practically feel the love, effort, and energy that went into each paragraph as it oozes out of the pages.

I will add, before I proceed further, that I am a big fan of this kind of storytelling. This book is definitely a slow burn, and for me that was a lovely trait because the characters became my friends and I wanted to spend more time with them, but if you’re not into that sort of thing perhaps this book isn’t for you. Or perhaps it can be the book that helps you learn to love that sort of pacing. Who can know?

The writing is an inexplicable combination of easy-to-read, while also being stimulatingly complex. The whole book reads like one big poem, it's ambiguous in all the right spots just enough to let your mind fill in the gap how you please, but direct and specific when it needs to be. Tristen puts complex emotions into such relatable words that I hereby publicly accuse her of being a shalledra with the ability of mind reading. With so many modern books I feel like there is always more to a scene, or description, or conversation that has been left untapped or was trimmed in order to make the book more efficient, thereby sacrificing atmosphere. This book leaves all of those small details and goodies for you to devour at your leisure. But I never felt like I was being bogged down, everything flows perfectly; a sweet little stream spilling sweet little secrets.

This book isn’t “great” in the sense that I cried, or screamed, or hurled it across the room. And there wasn’t a big climax with blinking lights and a marquee announcing its arrival and departure. It’s great in that it grabs hold of your heart and imagination (gently) and takes you on a journey. It’s a modern fairytale that is like the comfort of your home after a long journey. It’s a living-breathing story that you don’t just read then put on your shelf; you experience it.

I thank Tristen and all that were involved in the making, and ongoing creation, of this mysterious new world. I’m also really grateful this has opened my eyes to the world of indie books, and I’m definitely going to be exploring them more.

I’m so happy to hear there will be more to come in this story (I mean how could she not write more we have only just begun!) and I will be here for it when that day arrives at last. ...more "

Jan 24, 2020 04:24PM · see review