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A review by yellowbinge
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Publishing date: 12.11.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a great debut novel. So much depth. Great worldbuilding. And the vibes. The vibes are splendid. This felt like a blend of heavy metal imagery with a splash of apocalypse and steampunk. I for sure have not read something like this before.
Let's talk about the important stuff: romance. The romance had a presence like 20% in, and got all the spotlight for the final 50%. It was really sweet, no spice. I wish they had a slower burn and a little less miscommunication. I think I whispered "JUST SAY IT" at least 5 or 6 times while reading. Because, if someone just said what they were gonna say there would be no conflict. Although ...
Our main character is so conflicted. Like, this man does not know what is happening, how to solve anything, or what to do about the people around him. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't annoying like it usually is for me when the MC is clueless. He has his reasons, and gets amazing growth. You do need to read a lot of pages of "damsel in distress" before that.
The overall plot? Pretty good. Had a nice little twist I had suspicions about, but it caught me slightly off-guard anyways. And the way we learn more about the world and how things work together with our clueless character? MUAH. Absolutely terrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.5 stars, A tier. This is a great debut novel. I can't give it the full 5 stars as the romance aspect took up a little too much of the plot for me, but for the romantasy (strong emphasis on the ROM) peeps this might land a lot better. I do recommend it regardless. Stunning debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a great debut novel. So much depth. Great worldbuilding. And the vibes. The vibes are splendid. This felt like a blend of heavy metal imagery with a splash of apocalypse and steampunk. I for sure have not read something like this before.
Let's talk about the important stuff: romance. The romance had a presence like 20% in, and got all the spotlight for the final 50%. It was really sweet, no spice. I wish they had a slower burn and a little less miscommunication. I think I whispered "JUST SAY IT" at least 5 or 6 times while reading. Because, if someone just said what they were gonna say there would be no conflict. Although ...
Our main character is so conflicted. Like, this man does not know what is happening, how to solve anything, or what to do about the people around him. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't annoying like it usually is for me when the MC is clueless. He has his reasons, and gets amazing growth. You do need to read a lot of pages of "damsel in distress" before that.
The overall plot? Pretty good. Had a nice little twist I had suspicions about, but it caught me slightly off-guard anyways. And the way we learn more about the world and how things work together with our clueless character? MUAH. Absolutely terrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.5 stars, A tier. This is a great debut novel. I can't give it the full 5 stars as the romance aspect took up a little too much of the plot for me, but for the romantasy (strong emphasis on the ROM) peeps this might land a lot better. I do recommend it regardless. Stunning debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and War
Minor: Confinement and Abandonment