★ 3.5 stars ★

content warnings:

Spoiler

major character death(s), panic attack, mention of cancer, mention of suicide

rep:

Spoiler

pansexual Black? MC [Claire], Black/multiracial (?) MC [Leto]

I had such high hopes based on the premise and first few chapters, but ultimately I was somewhat underwhelmed, relative to how much I wanted to love this one. It's still a better-than-good read with interesting worldbuilding — though there were so many elements and I didn't feel like they all quite fit together — and a likable enough cast — though the characters mostly felt a bit flat, which is ironic given the metanarrative about character development; part of the problem might be that so much of the plot feels like it's happening to the characters, rather than happening because the characters make deliberate and significant choices.

Still, I did like the way this handles the books-within-the-book trope, and the matter-of-fact pansexual representation. I have a feeling a certain pairing will get together before the end of this series, and I do think their romantic relationship could use more development in the meantime; that said, I liked that romance wasn't a major aspect of the plot of this book.

All things considered, I'm invested enough to pick up the next one.

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CONVERSION: 9.3 / 15 = 3.5 stars

Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 5 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5