![]() ![]() Just before her ninth birthday she was running along the beach, landed on broken glass, and her foot was partially severed. At age eight she was hit by a car while riding her bike home and her head was cut open. ![]() Sandra Ruttan was a walking disaster in her formative years. Hot Take: Brown shows tremendous promise as a new leading voice in YA fantasy, and I look forward to seeing how things progress for Malik and Karina. Karina isn’t always the easiest character to like, but I appreciate how she contrasts with Malik and ultimately, she has a strong growth arc. ![]() I felt Brown did this because some of the unexpected developments advanced the plot, prompted character growth, and created new tensions. This is a delicate balancing act Brown pulls off with expert skill, because the challenge with defying expectations is to still satisfy the reader. Brown built anticipation, but also threw some curveballs, which kept me on my toes. You want to see the couple get together or friends reunite. I appreciate books that build anticipation and use it as a tool. This was an easy book to get into and follow, and it was thoroughly engaging. Strengths: Brown builds her world and her characters meticulously. The Nitty Gritty: Potential star-crossed lovers could be doomed when their fates collide, and one’s survival depends on the death of the other. ![]()
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