Kirsty Logan

I was initially (briefly) disappointed that this novel has little connection to The Gracekeepers, despite being advertised that way. (Apparently they are a series in theme only). Kirsty Logan’s writing is beautiful, as are her characters, so all is forgiven.

This is a slow tale of a family’s grief, depression, and loss, but also of growth, adaptation, love, and renewal. Their daily mundane rituals and the little lies and big legends they tell each other, and themselves, out of love. And their enchanting, harsh fictional island home that takes and takes from its residents, but also anchors them—along with the reader.… (meer)

Once again I didn't check the bookjacket or equivalent before reading and was surprised at the world I found myself in.

Review in a word: atmospheric. I have a vivid mental image of this world, and it is misty and haunting. In my mind it's a pen-and-ink drawing; thin lines, shadows, an effective depiction of a mood, details left to be inferred by the imagination this drawing awakens. I am interested in the world this invokes.

The problem maybe is obvious - this wasn't a drawing, a still, but a story, and the story isn't enough for the book, maybe too sparse and sometimes too obvious. The world-building is so promising but so minimal, it doesn't fill that void either. There is a lot of promise in this writing and voice and imagination, and I might read another work, but I can't say I loved this one.

I do wonder... I've read stories that were very much a sketch that I found so brilliant and meaningful, and I've read stories that were heavy on a personal symbolism that I didn't understand at all. Maybe the author and I just don't have enough overlap.… (meer)