This book is short -
very short, 121 pages. And this is a problem.
It’s a problem
because this is either a stand alone book or the first book in a series. I’m on
record insisting it’s a bad idea for any book to start its series with a short
story or novella - your first book has to introduce all the hooks to draw us
in. It has to show your writing, introduce and establish the main character(s),
introduce and explore some of the world and preferably include a plot to
interest and fascinate in its own right as well so the book doesn’t feel like a
prologue. I don’t think you can do that in a novella. And as for a stand alone
- I think it’s a rare novella that can pack all this development in on its own
without a backing series.
And this book, I
think, sadly doesn’t challenge my belief here. We have Genevieve - an
interesting protagonist. She has an obvious supernatural background beyond her
adoptive parents (and, honestly, in any urban fantasy, an adopted child is
ALWAYS going to be a secret princess/demon/fairy/werewolf queen) but the hints
are delivered with neither subtlety or exploration because we don’t have the
space for that: we just have some moderately transparent references to being
afraid of iron. We also have an excellent depiction of Genevieve’s depression -
and the way it drags at her, the way depression haunts her, the way it casts a
pall over so much of her life. It’s really well depicted - but it’s hard to
truly appreciate it without it expanding over the rest of the story so much -
because there’s so little space. Genevieve has the foundation for being a great
character - and her art and vision as it creeps on and shows her more and more
was similarly very well done - but lacked wider context given the rest of the
plot.
She has what looks
like some good and diverse friends - Claudia is latina and even in the
relatively brief time she has to be developed her relationship with Genevieve
is strong. Another friend introduced is Persian (the writer also shows a level
of awareness of things like cultural appropriation but again not the room to
explore). There was also a latino policeman, Elliot, who she falls in with who
is supportive and helpful in the face of supernatural happening: but even here
we have a level of rushing that makes their relationship feel forced and even a
little creepy. Like, Genevieve seems to have a lot of casual off duty moments
with this guy which would work better if there was some foundation there
But all of these
characters are good and I’d ride happily with them through even an abbreviated
plot and hurried relationships - but here’s the main snag. The plot isn’t
really there… We have two supernatural guys (one of whom I’m mentally tagging
as designated love interest) trying to stop a big bad supernatural threat that
is consuming the realm and Geneveieve is our special chosen one who will stop
it. Fine
What do we know of
the other realm? It’s damp and shady. That’s about it.
What do we know of the
fae? They like damp and shady places
What do we know of
this guardian, Dara? Not so much. I mean, I know the mythology but not much
from the book.
What do we know of
Genevieve’s supernatural abilities, heritage or… anything?
The actual
supernatural elements of this book are just kind of absent? Genevieve has some
mystical accidents involving plants - but the actual nature of the conflict or
any real aspects of it are never discussed, explored or even hinted at. And
then the book ends.
The book introduces
Genevieve but not a lot else - and that’s frustrating because there’s a whole
lot here that could be excellent - her character, her friends and the small
amount of the actual plot and world building we saw. But we didn’t see enough -
and the book ended just when I thought it was beginning to start. I don’t have
enough supernatural hooks to invest me in the series. I have the story of
Genevieve, artists who sees things and has a plant thing: and she’s not a
boring character. But she isn’t enough: this story isn’t enough: either to
start a series or for the book to stand on its own.
