by Roshani Chokshi.
This is a very interesting and well-developed book that not only has a diverse and interesting group of characters, but also a very good heist-like plotline that has you intrigued from the beginning until the end.
I really like how diverse the characters are, they have very different personalities that makes this story feel very real. It’s rare to have people who are so different working together in YA books, and it’s refreshing that many of us can find someone to relate to in this book. And every character has a lot to bring to the story, too. It’s not like they are just there to be diverse, as I’ve found in many other books. Here, everyone has a role to play, an important role at that, and the story, and the plot, wouldn’t work without each and every character and their special skills and personality. Are they perfect? No. There are times when I feel like they come across as a little forced, a little too much “look how inclusive this book is”, which also makes the characters at times feel a little like caricatures. But I think that listening to this book rather than reading it helped with that too because the narrator did a good job at portraying the different characters.
I also find that the world is well developed and interesting and there are many aspects of this world that I’d love to further explore.
However, I listened to this as an audiobook, which with the narrators made for a compelling and interesting “read”. I enjoyed this tremendously. But, I also know that if I had tied reading it, I would have most likely put the book down. Reason for that is that I have a hard time with slow books. And this is a rather slow novel that sometimes take a long time getting to the point. It can be a little confusing and hard to understand.
I’d say this is a solid book with good characters and a well-developed plot. So, 4/5 stars.
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