I come from the review school of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” and so generally avoid sharing my did not finish (DNFs) books. I’m a mood reader! Taste is subjective! Don’t yuck someone else’s yum! I’ve set books aside thinking I hate them and picked them up months later and fallen absolutely in love! So, yeah, this is very strange and uncomfortable for me, but this book made me so angry I have to share.
Basic synopsis: Nell’s estranged father passed away suddenly and now there’s a mystery about his final project she has to solve.
Edition note: I listened to the audiobook. Well, 74% of the audiobook. I stuck with it for so long because I’m battling a cold and it wasn’t too complex to follow on NyQuil. Narration was fine.
What did not work about this: oof where to start?? The beginning – this is supposed to be a book about obsession. These people are all VERY INTO maps. Devoted their entire lives! And no where in this book do I have any reason why. Give me a little passion, convince me that any of this is worth it. Next – the characters – I didn’t like anyone. No one’s motives made any sense. No one could communicate. The plot – cold leftovers. A group of passionate intense college students, tragedy strikes, group breaks up and swears secrecy. Now one is murdered thirty years later and his daughter is asking questions! The twist – here it’s supposed to be map stuff. But, again, none of the motives make any sense. Yes I didn’t finish and there was maybe something in the ending that would have tied it all together. I just didn’t care enough to find out.
AND!! This is really the most important part for me. The reason I threw my headphones across the room and returned the book to the library, muttering curse words. If your book involves magical realism, you have to get all the characters on board quickly. Or else you’re left with a book where 3/4 of the way through a main character still can’t believe what they’re seeing and keeps saying “no way what’s happening what is going on how did they do that what am I seeing this isn’t possible oh my god no way what’s happening what is going on how” and OH MY GOD NO STOP. I, the reader and audience, have bought the magic. I cannot go on every single characters full acceptance journey. It is annoying!
Also, if that is the point of your story, slowly unfolding the mystery, DO NOT START WITH AN AUTHOR’S NOTE THAT GIVES AWAY THE MYSTERY. COME ON THIS IS THE BIG LEAGUES. Because of that note, it takes nearly half of the book for Nell to know what you know. And you’re just going “duh duh duh omg duh duh duh”. Or at least I was. Until I noped the eff out.
I know this author has another book that I won’t be checking out. If you can’t help yourself and absolutely must read this, I strongly recommend skipping the authors note and maybe getting a print version so you can skim the repetitive bits.
