S.J. Ryan’s Reviews > Leaven of Malice > Status Update

There is a sweetness to this book and to Tempest-Tost, especially between the young characters. People speak very frankly and sometimes hurtfully, but there is a love beneath it all.

It just occurred to me that Norm’s named that because he believes he is a normal person. Also interesting commentary on ideas of normality from Davies here. I like his disregard for pop psychology and the idea of normal behaviour.

There are so many characters and I love how each one enters into the story in their own way— people in a small town are all connected, and one person’s (or in this case two people’s) problem is everyone’s business.

The end of part three is excellent— so far in the book so little had happened but people reacting to the engagement notice (this is not a bad thing!). Part three finally brings the pair together and adds some stark humanity to how they both feel, and especially how Pearl is being treated poorly by every person in this scenario.