content warnings: suicide, death, loss of loved ones, animal abuse, sexual assault, gore, stalking, mutilation
representation: side gay character, side indian-american character

Before I even start talking about my thoughts, if you have never read this book then I need you to listen up: whatever you were told this book is about, forget it because it's probably misleading. I've been wanting to read this book ever since it came out and it was always described to me as magical realism where the main character was born with wings. While, yes, it is magical realism and the main character does indeed have bird wings, that's definitely not what it's about.

This is a multi-generational story told in the first-person perspective of Ava Lavender as she first tells the reader about her grandmother, Emilienne's, life, and then her mother, Viviane's, life before finally telling us her story. It's about love and loss, and the ways these three different women and those around them experience it.

The characters in this book, despite many not being likable, all somehow are interesting and endearing, and don't quite feel real but it works for the story as nothing quite feels real.

The biggest praise I've ever heard for this book is its writing, and with good reason. Leslye Walton's prose is gorgeous. The way she strings certain words together to form the perfect sentence, and her descriptions of emotions and inner thoughts are so heartbreakingly beautiful.

Unfortunately, there was just something missing with the plot. I didn't find it boring, persay, something just didn't click with me which honestly made me feel like DNFing it a few times. I've heard that the ending is controversial and that people either love it or hate it. Personally, I liked what it added to the story thematically and emotionally, even if it did tear my heart out in the process.

Yeah, I don't really know what else to say. I think my lack of enjoyment all boils down to it being sold to me the wrong way and something just not working for me.