Ally
This is a debut novel, set in a reimagined but familiar version of the colonized Caribbean. Sofia is a recently freed-woman, who is determined to find her brother, who went missing along with their (former) master years ago. They visited the vacation island of Isla Bestia, where guests experience a luxury Carnaval for the duration of their stay, and haven't been seen since. Sofia and Adelina, her white best friend, set off for Isla Bestia, determined to solve the mystery, but get swept into the Carnaval experience themselves.
The book excels when we're caught up in the fever dream of the Carnaval nights and when Sofia is trying break through the confines of her own mind to figure out exactly what's going on. I loved the incorporation of indigenous mythology and the aspects of vengeance & reclamation of power. There were parts where I couldn't put the book down because I was so enthralled.
But without revealing any spoilers, some of it just didn't completely come together for me. That and instances where the prose felt a little forced were my biggest cons. As not a huge fantasy reader, this is exactly the type of fantasy I DO like though!
This is a debut novel, set in a reimagined but familiar version of the colonized Caribbean. Sofia is a recently freed-woman, who is determined to find her brother, who went missing along with their (former) master years ago. They visited the vacation island of Isla Bestia, where guests experience a luxury Carnaval for the duration of their stay, and haven't been seen since. Sofia and Adelina, her white best friend, set off for Isla Bestia, determined to solve the mystery, but get swept into the Carnaval experience themselves.
The book excels when we're caught up in the fever dream of the Carnaval nights and when Sofia is trying break through the confines of her own mind to figure out exactly what's going on. I loved the incorporation of indigenous mythology and the aspects of vengeance & reclamation of power. There were parts where I couldn't put the book down because I was so enthralled.
But without revealing any spoilers, some of it just didn't completely come together for me. That and instances where the prose felt a little forced were my biggest cons. As not a huge fantasy reader, this is exactly the type of fantasy I DO like though!