A review by philibin
Vandemere by Kimberley D. Tait

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 (4.0 Stars)

This was a YA modern fantasy based in the 1930's. I liked it. The story was engaging and interesting. The characters are unique and well developed. The pace was good throughout the book, and the end made me want to read the next book in the series.

I read the audiobook version of this and the narrator did a good job. His voice is soothing, so sometimes the dramatic scenes lacked that sense of "urgency" you might otherwise get from just reading it. But overall he was very good. The women and children voices were also done well (not always true with some male narrators), so it was easy to distinguish the dialog. I do hope the next book (Fire Horse) is also done as an audiobook.

This book should appeal to younger readers, or those who prefer character-driven fantasy in a modern setting. It has magic, young romance, teen angst, and don't forget about The Circus.

Full Disclosure: This book does use the term "Gypsy" to describe people. I know today many (but not all) Romani people consider this to be a slur. I do not think the author meant to use this as a pejorative. The author also includes other disclaimers about some disturbing content. Again, this is not graphic in detail as this is a YA novel, but it is included.